Recovering from a cardiac episode, like a heart attack, doesn’t have to be a solitary journey. Providence Holy Cross patient, Mary Fleetwood, discovered that earlier this year when she joined the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program following a stent placement.
Surrounded by fellow patients committed to improving their heart health, Mary completed 48 sessions at the hospital. Improving not only physically but also mentally, she became a trusted support to fellow rehab patients. "It truly is a community,” she shares. “It's a fellowship; we keep each other going.”
The Providence Holy Cross cardiac rehabilitation program is tailored for individuals who have experienced a cardiac event within the past year. It includes personalized exercise plans, stress management support, nutrition counseling, continuous heart monitoring and one-on-one guidance from a team of cardiac care specialists.
Most importantly, the program allows cardiac patients to connect more deeply with one another, offering mutual support and encouragement throughout their heart recovery journey.
Providence Holy Cross recently unveiled a new and expanded cardiac rehabilitation gym doubling its previous capacity. Equipped with more state-of-the-art exercise machines, including a weight machine and hand weights, the gym provides patients like Mary with enhanced resources for recovery. This is just another way the hospital is advancing heart health in the northern San Fernando Valley.
As her rehabilitation journey concludes, Mary is preparing to return as a volunteer at the cardiac rehab gym. Inspired by her community of fellow patients, she aims to help new patients understand how to use the equipment and offer encouragement by sharing her own progress and recovery.
Mary’s journey underscores the transformative power of cardiac rehabilitation — promoting heart health recovery while building a community of support and growth.
To learn more about the Providence Holy Cross cardiac rehabilitation program, please call 818-496-4595.
