Fran

Fran Norris Scoble was first diagnosed with a heart murmur as a teenager. Years went by without any cardiac concerns. “It wasn’t serious, so I didn’t think about it very much,” she says.

When she was older, Fran began annual checkups to track any changes to her heart function. At this year’s appointment, something alarming showed up on the echocardiogram. She was referred to interventional cardiologist Gregory Giesler, MD, a Huntington Hospital-affiliated physician. Fran’s aortic valve had narrowed and wasn’t allowing sufficient blood to pass from her heart to her body — a serious condition called aortic stenosis.

Facing a potentially life-threatening condition, Fran underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR — a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. Dr. Giesler performed the procedure at Huntington Hospital.

“When they wheeled me into the operating room, I was stunned,” says Fran. “From just a quick look at the technology involved, I could tell it was a very complex procedure.” The TAVR procedure was a complete success and she went home the next day. Today, she is stronger with a fully functional heart.

“There was a personal touch from every single person I interacted with at Huntington Hospital,” Fran says. “Dr. Giesler was reassuring throughout the entire process, and the nurses who cared for me were attentive and encouraging.”

Fran is deeply appreciative of Sue Duquette, our TAVR coordinator. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone better at their job than Sue,” she says. “She can answer any question you have, and she’s the perfect blend of pragmatism and compassion.

“I can never thank the team at Huntington Hospital enough,” Fran says. “They’ve given me a chance to watch my grandsons grow up, to have more happy days with family and friends, and to have more years of feeling healthy and strong.”

Learn more about transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) by finding a cardiologist affiliated with Huntington Hospital.