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HiGH-RiSK firsts
Her age is 95, “but inside doctors here to agree with the
she is much younger” cardiologist at the other hospital,”
Maria recounts. Instead, “he
Esther Barbieri is the oldest heart patient Dr. Robert James Cusimano has ever told us that if he were going to
operated on – and now she’s dancing again! operate on a 94-year-old lady,
it was going to be my mom.”
Esther Barbieri was Unquestionably, the most striking on her own after becoming a
turned away for surgery thing about Esther Barbieri is widow in 1969. She immigrated “The main risk was that I
by other hospitals how young she looks. A youthful, to Canada at the age of 66 would have been wrong about
before meeting Dr. radiant glow sweeps across her and, outside of regular visits her outcome,” says Dr. Cusimano.
Robert James (R.J.) elegant face and belies her age. to her home country, lives in “Most patients and families
Cusimano, cardiac the Greater Toronto Area with can accept death, especially in
surgeon at the Peter She is the matriarch of a her youngest daughter. high-risk situations. The more
Munk Cardiac Centre. huge, close-knit family – nine difficult outcome is prolonged or
children, 30 grandchildren, 46 Her journey to the Peter permanent disability,” he says.
great-grandchildren, five great- Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC)
great-grandchildren – scattered came almost by accident. “In her case, any neurological
across three different continents. impact such as stroke or
In July 2014, she had a heart memory loss would have been
A native of Peru, Esther has attack – the first health scare the absolute worst case. That
been a picture of health for of her life. Visits to two other is why we surgeons are so
almost all of her 95 years. Active, hospitals eventually led to her happy when our patients wake
independent, a lover of dance being fitted with a stent. Things up normally after an operation,
and travel, Esther is also an avid improved, but only for a short whether we show it or not.”
walker – known to outrun just time. She had several worrisome
about anyone to catch the bus. episodes in the months to Esther became the oldest
follow, including fainting spells patient Dr. Cusimano has
She was a seamstress in her and shortness of breath. ever operated on. Her overall
homeland, raising her children good health, physical strength
“The cardiologist at the and heart health history –
other hospital told us she all positives – were key to
couldn’t be operated on, that Dr. Cusimano’s decision.
her heart had been damaged,”
says Maria Barbieri, the eighth The Barbieri family waited,
of Esther’s nine children. wondered, wished and paced
during the 3.5-hour procedure,
“He was going to prepare which happened on November
a report to let doctors here [at 26, 2014. “We were drinking
PMCC] know that there was coffee like crazy,” remembers
not much to do. He wouldn’t Maria, tears welling.
touch her because of her
age. It was devastating. It “When Dr. Cusimano came
was like all the doors were out, he came out with both his
closed,” recalls Maria. thumbs in the air, smiling. We
knew right away everything
Esther’s valve was in urgent was okay,” says Maria.
need of replacement. She went
into cardiac arrest during one “He told us, ‘Your mom is 94,
hospital visit, but she came back. but inside she is much younger.’”
She was referred to the PMCC “Now that her heart is fixed,
in November 2014, where doctors she faces a prolonged survival
determined she wouldn’t be a with a good quality of life. At that
candidate for a Transcatheter age, quality of life is our primary
Aortic Valve Implantation goal. She will likely not die from
(TAVI) procedure. The race to heart disease, so she may live for
find another option ensued. many years,” says Dr. Cusimano
Enter, Dr. R.J. Cusimano, a “There is no word to describe
cardiac surgeon at the PMCC. how grateful we are,” says Maria.
In tandem with a medical “Total elation,” adds Maria’s
team, he decided surgery husband, John Simpson.
was the only option.
In January 2015, Dr. Cusimano
“We were expecting gave Esther the green light
to go dancing – one of her
passions. And just three months
after surgery she was in Lima,
Peru, where she stayed until
Mother’s Day to celebrate
with family there. Her next big
adventure? Esther has been
planning to travel to Italy to
visit Maria’s three brothers.
Adds Dr. Cusimano: “She is
supposed to send me a postcard
on her 100th birthday. That
may very well happen.”
Winter 2016 7
