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

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. Just two years earlier Lee and his sister, Leah, age 6, had lost their dad and Tish’s husband.

"I didn't want to give my kids too many details because I didn't want to scare them" Tish said. "I tried to reassure them...I had to let them know I was going to be okay and would be here for them."

Tish underwent a mitral valve replacement surgery at Missouri Baptist Medical Center on Sept. 20 and was indeed okay, but things didn't go quite as she expected.

Path to Diagnosis

Tish, who was 38 at the time, first became suspicious that she might be facing a health concern when she lost weight between her OB/GYN and primary care physician appointments in March and July 2016. She wasn't dieting or trying to lose weight.

"My primary care physician ordered blood work and an X-ray, which showed an enlarged heart," she recalled.  Tish didn't have common symptoms associated with her diagnosis, such as swelling of the ankles and shortness of breath, so it was somewhat of a surprise to her and her doctors. "I really felt fine, but I was told my heart was working at about 40 percent and I would need to have surgery to repair it," said Tish, a human resources professional.

She was referred to Missouri Baptist cardiothoracic surgeon James Scharff, MD, who explained her options of either a mitral valve repair or replacement.

"We always try to repair the mitral valve when we can because it often leads to better outcomes," said Dr. Scharff, who also explained that a replacement would have required Tish to remain on anticoagulation medications for the rest of her life.

Once Tish had prepared her children, her parents and her sister, she was as ready as she could be for her surgery.

"I was scared but I knew I would be in good hands at Missouri Baptist, and I trusted Dr. Scharff," she said. "The plan was that I would have surgery on a Tuesday, be hospitalized for a few days and go home."

While her mitral valve repair surgery went well, her heart was unfortunately too weak to pump blood on its own and Tish required life-saving ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a temporary support system used to assist with heart and lung function for patients.

Dr. Scharff's colleague, Missouri Baptist cardiothoracic surgeon and ECMO specialist Joshua Baker, MD, joined him in caring for Tish. She remained sedated and on a ventilator for four days in the ICU.

"ECMO allowed her heart to rest and strengthen so it could effectively pump blood like it should," Dr. Scharff said. "If it weren't for our ability to provide her with life-saving ECMO, she might not have survived."

Road to recovery

Tish came out of sedation and was removed from the ventilator on the Saturday after her surgery. She said during this time her parents and sister stayed by her side with her kids, trying to give them as much normalcy as possible.

"I'm feeling blessed. Although it was a little rough at first, I am doing well," Tish said. "I owe so much to the doctors and especially the ICU nurses, who were awesome." Tish recalls how nurses went above and beyond to help her reach out to her children.

"The ICU nurses found an iPhone and helped me FaceTime with my kids and reassure them," she said.  "I couldn't talk because the tube had just been removed from my throat, but they could see for themselves that I was fine. It meant so much to me that the nurses took the time and effort to do this."

Although Tish's maternal grandparents both passed away from heart attacks, she said no one could tell her for sure why this occurred.

“Today her prognosis is excellent, and her heart muscle has strengthened quite nicely” said Dr. Scharff.

"I can't thank everyone enough for what they did, especially the ICU nurses. They made me feel like I was the only one on the floor," she said. "When I went back to visit a few weeks later, they all were so happy to see me doing well. They not only took care of me, but also my family."

Tish said there is no doubt that Missouri Baptist was where she needed to be; she thanks everyone who cared for her and ensured she would be there for her kids for years to come.

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

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

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

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
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

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

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

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

Recipes for Your Health

Tasted, tested and analyzed by dietitians at Missouri Baptist Medical Center

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Missouri Baptist Heart Center Symposium: Unstable STEMI Patient

Friday, February 28, 2025
8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - Chesterfield
16625 Swingley Ridge Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017

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

Did You Know?

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available, many people wonder whether it's right for them. BJC HealthCare wants you to have the information you need to make the right decision for yourself and your loved ones.

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

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

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

Heart Valve Surgery Gives New Lease on Life

Looking forward to resuming their active lifestyle in 2022, Connie and Arlin have two trips planned early in the year. Connie said that her heart surgery has given her a new lease on life. "Every time I'm at Missouri Baptist, I feel cared for, listened to and taken seriously. I always tell people that if you have heart problems, go to MoBap."

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

Living (Well) With Congestive Heart Failure

Follow these tips to live a healthier life with congestive heart failure.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Melissa and Chris post on the sofa with family photos all around.

Early Intervention Makes the Difference

Melissa Ham’s voice is still a little shaky when she recalls being told that her husband, Chris, had about a 1-in-3 chance of surviving the heart attack that occurred at their home on July 13, 2016.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Treating Coronary Artery Chronic Total Occlusion

The treatment options at the Missouri Baptist Heart Center continue to advance, and our patients have access to the latest technologies and treatment options. 

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart Valve Center: Your Heart in Good Hands

If you have been diagnosed with a heart valve problem, you are not alone.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Getting Clara to the Beach

Clara Freeman anxiously anticipated attending her oldest granddaughter's beach wedding.

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

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