Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia - (Page 4)

Outliving our Heart ValVes These vital gatekeepers can and do wear out. Fixing one used to mean open-heart surgery, but no more By Karen Doss Bowman Turning 90 years old last April hasn’t slowed down Bertha Lichliter of Winchester, Va. To celebrate her birthday, Lichliter rode on the back of a three-wheeled motorcycle in her community’s Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Firefighters’ Parade. She works as a full-time cashier at Lowe’s and is the home improvement chain’s second oldest employee among nearly 300,000 stores nationwide. She works not because she has to, but because she likes staying active. Two years ago, however, heart problems caused a setback for the normally spry Lichliter. She noticed that even light activity caused her to become winded, and she just didn’t feel well. Lichliter was referred to the University of Virginia Health System, where interventional cardiologist Scott Lim, M.D., determined that she had 4 Vim & Vigor • SP R I N G 2 012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia
Life in Balance
Healthy Dose
Outliving Our Heart Valves
Rewiring Relief
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
Jennifer Hudson, Grammy-winning recording artist
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
Virtual Health
Moving On
For This Traveling Man, Dialysis Is No Roadblock
A Good Move

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - University of Virginia