We continue to monitor COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in our communities. Read the most current information about prevention, testing and where to go if you're sick.

COVID-19 Information

Cruising Again: Thanks to MoBap Heart Experts, A Couple’s Voyage Resumes

Lori Bell set sail again following a 69-day hospitalization

When a progressive eye disorder called keratoconus sent Lori Bell on a gradual path toward becoming legally blind, she and her husband, Don, made a pledge.

The avid travelers would expedite their efforts to see it all—by boat.

Lori, a 66-year-old retired nurse, and Don, a retired member of the Air Force, love to take cruises. They introduced the thrill to their adult son and daughter. Since 2018, the Bell family completed multiple voyages together.

Then a medical emergency interrupted.

A dizzy feeling

A trip to a regional Emergency Department in October 2023 with what Lori assumed to be dizziness caused by dehydration turned into something much more serious.

Her heart was failing. She needed multiple stents—but first she would have to be stabilized enough to receive them. The longest, hardest trip of Lori’s life was underway.

Lori was transferred to Missouri Baptist Medical Center, where doctors found a 90% blockage in her left main coronary artery and a 95% blockage in her left anterior descending artery, which is known as the “widow maker.”

Before stents could be placed, Lori experienced cardiac arrest, requiring 40 minutes of CPR and controlled electric shocks to revive her. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and a small heart pump temporarily took over for Lori’s heart, pumping blood for her so she could stay alive.

Lori was unresponsive for weeks, forcing Don and his children to have hard conversations about how to best honor Lori's wishes if her condition did not improve.

“We didn’t want to paint Lori in a corner,” Don says. “I knew she would not want to be bedridden for the rest of her life.”

A question answered

It was during this uncertain time when Don says he sat by Lori’s side and asked his wife for a sign.

“I said, ‘Lori, can you squeeze my hand?’ Don says. “And she squeezed my hand. She responded.”

Linda Schulte, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, became an encouraging presence to the Bells throughout Lori’s recovery

“Give it time,” Don recalls Dr. Schulte advising the family. “It takes time.”

“She became my hero,” Lori says of Dr. Schulte. “And she still is.”

Slowly but surely, Lori started getting better. Her heart stabilized enough to receive multiple stents. She was able to transition off machine assistance as she gained strength. Her progress allowed her to move from the Intensive Care Unit to Long-Term Acute Care.

Through it all, Lori and Don leaned on a care team headlined by Dr. Schulte, BJC Medical Group cardiologist Bradley Witbrodt, MD, and BJC Medical Group interventional cardiologist Adam Shpigel, MD.

Each played a pivotal role in Lori’s journey from near-death experience to resilient recovery.

“What I want to stress is, I’m here because of them,” Lori says. “They could have given up on me, and I would have been gone. But they let me keep going, and I’m back to pretty much me. I’m so grateful to the entire staff.”

A special trip

After 69 days at MoBap, Lori returned home in January 2024. Precautionary checks of her heart since then have raised no concerns with her doctors.

A big test came in May 2024, when Lori and Don boarded their first cruise together since Lori’s emergency. Together, they soaked up the Caribbean sun.

Since then, they have been to Barcelona, Morocco, and the Bahamas. Recently, they joined their children on another Caribbean tour. Portugal and England are in their upcoming plans, as their 43rd wedding anniversary nears.

Lori sets sail with a thankful heart, and a message to anyone who senses something isn’t quite right.

“Before I retired, I was a registered nurse, so I was not the best at acknowledging I needed to go to the doctor,” she says. “Go to the doctor and get checked. Don’t wonder. Don’t wait. Even if you don’t know what’s wrong, if you suspect anything, go in and let the doctors look. To everyone who reads this, please go get checked.”

For more information on our Heart Center in St. Louis or to schedule an appointment at MoBap, please call 314-996-5433 or 800-392-0936.

Don and Lori Bell

Don and Lori Bell pose for a photo during a cruise ship adventure in 2024

Related Heart Content

Find a Doctor or Make an Appointment

Our new search tool will help you choose a doctor or health care provider that is best for you or your family.

Search Now

Cardiac Testing at Missouri Baptist Medical Center

Diagnosing a heart condition often requires a combination of cardiovascular diagnostic and screening tests. These advanced tests can often determine the existence, type and severity of heart disease.

At Missouri Baptist Medical Center, our Cardiac Diagnostics Center is equipped with advanced technology and expertly trained staff to conducts these tests. Your test results will be evaluated by a board-certified cardiologist on staff at MoBap and discussed with your physician to tailor a treatment plan for your specific condition.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Dr. Stewart Gets a “Second Chance at Life” After Heart Attack

Todd Stewart, MD, is no stranger to critically ill patients and life-saving procedures. As a spinal neurosurgeon and chief of neurosurgery at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, it’s all in a day’s work. But it came as a shock when he suffered a life-threatening heart attack last year.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart Matters: Father-Son Heart Surgery Strengthens Bond

When the need for surgery arose, this close-knit family made the decision to travel to St. Louis for a second opinion and care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap). However, Matt and Bill never expected to be in the hospital at the same time, much less have heart surgery on the same day.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Washington University Heart Failure Center at Missouri Baptist

At the Washington University Heart Failure Center at Missouri Baptist, we use a team approach to develop an individualized plan of care for you to manage your disease.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Helps Tom Return to the Basketball Court

Tom Caspari thought he was too healthy to have a heart attack.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

MoBap Celebrates 1,000 TAVR Case Milestone

On December 6, 2022, Missouri Baptist Medical Center performed its 1,000th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

“We are proud to reach this milestone,” says Michael Mauney, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at Missouri Baptist. “MoBap was among the first medical centers in the nation to adopt this procedure following FDA approval in Fall 2011.”

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure for replacing a stenotic (tight) aortic valve in which the aortic valve narrows, reducing blood flow from the heart to the aorta. This procedure can also replace failed artificial aortic and mitral valves. TAVR is a treatment option to be considered for those with severe aortic stenosis, including many with worn-out surgical valves.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Cruising Again: Thanks to MoBap Heart Experts, A Couple’s Voyage Resumes

When a progressive eye disorder called keratoconus sent Lori Bell on a gradual path toward becoming legally blind, she and her husband, Don, made a pledge.

 

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

From High Risk to High Hope: How Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s New Hybrid Operating Room Changed the Life of a St. Louis Security Guard

Jason Broomfield, 61, a St. Louis Metro Link security guard, had always been nervous about hospitals and needles. But when Jason began experiencing difficulty breathing and unbearable stomach pain, he was left with no choice. He headed to the Christian Hospital Emergency Department to get answers.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Stock photo of young family in kitchen preparing healthy meal

Online Heart Health Assessment

Are you at risk for a heart attack? Learn about your risk factors with our online heart health assessment tool and find help for improving your results.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Mitral Valve Replacement

When Tina needed a new mitral valve, she benefited from BJC HealthCare’s collaborative approach to care that connected her with a multidisciplinary team of heart specialists. Her journey included seamless coordination between medical teams at two BJC HealthCare facilities: Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap).

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack can make a big difference. The faster someone having a heart attack can get care, the better the outcomes.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Saving Heart Muscle, Saving Lives

In 2008, cardiologists at Missouri Baptist Medical Center developed the Heart LifeLine Alliance in partnership with rural hospitals, medical helicopter and ambulance services.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Dr. Higano continues to follow up care with Ira.

An Alliance to Save Lives by Saving Time

On Dec. 5, 2017, 57-year-old Ira Schalk began to feel nauseous on his job at a lead mining operation near Viburnum, Mo. For days he had felt tired, but thought it might be the flu. It wasn’t.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Her Heart Health

A woman's heart is different. Many women may not experience chest pain. Their warning signs are non-specific and often easily overlooked. 

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Early Heart Attack Care

Did you know that heart attacks have beginnings and these beginning signs occur in more than half of all heart attack patients? Learn the important early signs and symptoms.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart Health Tips

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.  There are several risk factors that contribute to heart disease.  Some risk factors, including gender, age and family history are uncontrollable, while other risk factors can be modified with lifestyle changes.  Learn how you can make changes to improve your heart health.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Swing the Hammer Event Celebrates Construction of Cardiovascular Hybrid Operating Room Suite

In June 2024, Missouri Baptist Medical Center held a “Swing the Hammer” event to celebrate the construction of the new cardiovascular hybrid operating suite, which is scheduled to open in December.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Understanding Arrhythmia

We want to help you understand everything there is to know about arrhythmia, why they occur, how they are diagnosed and treated, and what options may be right for you.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Arrhythmia Center

At the Arrhythmia Center at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, we want to help you understand everything there is to know about arrhythmia, especially finding the right treatment just for you. Our goal is to keep you and your heart healthy.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Starting Your Heart Health Journey

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for "men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States." However, heart disease can be present with no symptoms until a significant event happens, like a stroke or heart attack.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart LifeLine Alliance

As a leader in heart care, Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s cardiac specialists partner with rural hospitals and medical helicopter and ambulance services to offer the region’s leading heart attack network, saving heart muscle and lives.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

An Unexpected Journey of the Heart

When it came time for LaTisha (Tish) Smith of Belleville, Ill., to tell her family that she was having surgery, the hardest conversation was with her 9-year-old son, Lee.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Cardiac Surgery Center: World Class Care, Close to Home.

Missouri Baptist Medical Center continually ranks among the top hospitals for cardiac surgery in the nation. Known for exceptional heart surgery outcomes, we are one of the few programs in the U.S. to consistently receive the Society for Thoracic Surgeons' highest 3-star rating.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Recovery is a Journey

Scott Winder had been having trouble breathing and wasn’t sleeping well. Like many people do, he dismissed the symptoms until one day at work, his suddenly racing heart, sweating and worsening breathing problems sent him to the  Emergency Department at Parkland Health Center in Farmington.

Scott walked through the doors of the emergency room and collapsed.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right