Don’t call Ally Smith Babineaux the “Bionic Bride” anymore — call her “Miracle Bride.”
The 23-year-old Texan has beaten the odds once again by undergoing a successful heart transplant just as her life hung in the balance.
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Artificial hearts giving hope, saving lives
What happens when you are dying of heart disease, and you won't live long enough for a transplant? Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's has a new go-to plan: the artificial heart. ABC13's Christi Myers reports:
Sudden Cardiac Death in Student Athletes
Dr. Paolo Angelini, Medical Director of the Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies, discusses sudden cardiac death in student athletes on Latina Voices: Smart Talk (HTV video 11:00).
Successful Implantation of a Continuous-Flow Total Artificial Heart
Doctors at THI report a medical milestone — Patients needing artificial hearts may soon get ones that don't beat.
THI first in Texas to offer procedure that could help eliminate a major cause of heart-related stroke
THI at SLEH is the first in Texas and one of only a few in the nation to treat patients with a new catheter-based procedure that uses sutures to tie off the left atrial appendage (LAA), which is known to be a major source of blood clots that may lead to stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
'Bionic Bride' loses her title, gains new lease on life
The Texas A&M student first made headlines when doctors at the Texas Heart Institute installed a Left Ventricular Assist Device. Now she is a heart transplant recipient. See the video report (February 11, 2011) from KHOU.COM on Ally Smith Babineaux. Update October 12, 2011—Ally today. Read more . . .
Effective treatments for heart failure include cardiac implantable electronic devices
Heart failure contributes to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year, but there are many ways to treat this serious condition. In this Fox 26 interview, Dr. Mehdi Razavi, director of electrophysiology clinical research at Texas Heart Institute, describes treatments using cardiac implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers and ways to overcome risks of infection. View the video (3.14 min.). (February 2011)
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital heart transplant recipient Esmeralda Miranda recently experienced a very special moment in her family's life and agreed to share it with us in this video for the season.
Bionic bride's wedding was emotional 'rebirth'
Nearly a year to the day from when THI patient Ally Smith Babineaux almost passed away, she said "I do" in front of her family and friends, an event her mother calls a "rebirth." Ally discusses beating the odds and her new life as a wife with TODAY's Matt Lauer. View video on Today website.
A world leader in the development of heart assist devices
O. H. "Bud" Frazier, MD, discusses how he became a pioneer in the development of heart assist devices at the Texas Heart Institute and why they play an important role in the treatment of heart failure. (Video 5:00 min.)
THI and Houston ISD announce medical research program
THI's Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies (CCAA) launches research program that involves voluntary screenings of 10,000 Houston area middle-school students for certain difficult-to-detect, congenital heart abnormalities thought to predispose young people to Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). (Video 2:22 min.) Read the press release.
Weight-loss surgery prevents diabetes, reverses heart disease?
In this HealthCheck special report from ABC13, Dr. Reynolds Delgado, THI cardiologist, and Dr. Heinrich Taegtmeyer, THI professional staff, discuss the implications of weight-loss surgery and its potential for reversing heart disease. Read the report at ABCLocal.com. (September 9, 2010)
Patient supported by the HeartMate II device preparing for her wedding
The Today Showand People magazine feature Dr. Roberta Bogaev and Ally, a THI heart failure patient supported by the HeartMate II device, who is preparing for her wedding next month. Read the story and view the video at TODAYshow.com. (May 26, 2010)
African-Americans and Women—At High Risk for Heart Disease
View the video (7:40 min.) from KRIV-TV's program Black Voice. "Heart disease poses a serious threat for people all across the United States, but for African-American women, the risk is particularly high." The interviewer speaks with Dr. Pranav Loyalka, Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital cardiologist, and Wanda Alexander, heart transplant recipient. (April 2010). Wanda's story is told in the video (7 min.), "One Woman's Story of a New Heart." See also on this website: Women and Heart Disease, and Heart Disease Risk Factors
One Woman's Story of a New Heart
View the video (7 min.) that tells Wanda Alexander's story. After waiting on the transplant list for years, she received a new healthy heart just 4 months ago at the Texas Heart Institute. Dr. Stephanie Coulter, THI cardiologist, helps tell the story for the CBS show, The Doctors, and the video features THI transplant team members Dr. Bud Frazier and Dr. Roberta Bogaev along with Wanda's family. (March 2010) See also on this website:Heart Transplantation, and Heart Transplant Program Celebrates 25 Years of Success
More Doctors Moving to Houston
In a HealthCheck special report by Christi Myers, ABC13, Texas Heart Institute is cited by Houston-based cardiologist Dr. Rupa Puttappa as being one of the attractions for doctors considering a move. Read the article and view the video. (April 30, 2010)
Tour the Megaheart
View the video tour (3:30 min.) of the World's First Megaheart model. Dr. Stephanie Coulter, Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, leads the tour for the CBS show, The Doctors. Follow a blood cell as it travels through the heart encountering the lungs, heart valves, the aorta, and coronary arteries. (March 2010) See also on this website:Anatomy of the Heart
Heart Assist Device benefits 21 year old cardiomyopathy patient
View Fox 26 newsinterview (5:15 min. video) with cardiologist Stephanie Coulter, MD and heart failure patient Allyssa Smith. Thanks to the HeartMate II device developed in large part at THI, Allyssa is moving on with her life and sharing her story to help raise awareness of heart disease in young women. (December 2009) See also on this website:Women and Heart Disease, and Heart Assist Devices
On Women and Heart Disease
View the video (3:55 min.) from Fox TV on Women & Heart Disease. "Most people realize heart disease is a very common killer in the U.S. But did you know that men and women need to keep different things in mind when it comes to avoiding or surviving it? In this Ask the Doctor segment, Dr. Roberta Bogaev with Texas Heart Institute has some information that you have never heard before." (February 2010) See also on this website:Women at High Risk
Prevention Really Works Against Heart Disease
View the video (5:36 min.) from greatday Houston about preventing heart disease. Dr. Stephanie Coulter, Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, urges everyone, especially women, to know "what happens when you don't treat your heart right and what you need to do to protect your heart." (February 2010) See also on this website:Heart Disease Risk Factors
Heart Disease Knows No Season
View the video (2:05 min.) from Channel 13's Health Check on the increased risk for heart attack during big events. "Super Bowl Sunday is similar to the holiday season when people often overindulge and postpone their normal activities in favor spending more time on the sofa watching the game," said Dr. Pranav Loyalka with Texas Heart Institute. "People get so involved in the game and related social activities they often ignore symptoms until it's too late."(February 2010) See also on this website:Doctors Caution: Guard Your Heart on Big Game Days
Clinton Prognosis Excellent After Stent Procedure
View a video (3:32 min.) interview from Fox News with THI cardiologist Dr. Biswajit Kar on the stent procedure of former President Bill Clinton with an in depth look at the procedure and underlying heart disease. (February 2010)
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