Patient Stories
Heart problems ran in Robert Osborne’s family, and his history of heavy drinking and smoking increased his risk. After not feeling well for about a month, Robert took a turn for the worse.
“His legs were all swollen again and they had been turning blue-ish black and that was working its way up his legs,” said Maureen Osborne, Robert’s wife.
Robert was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in December of 2016.
With Maureen by his side, Robert went to the hospital on December 9th, and doesn’t remember the next seven weeks at all.
“At one point, almost everything that could go wrong was starting to go wrong,” Maureen explained.
Robert was rushed to two local hospitals near Penn Yan, and then was transferred to the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute. Before he was transferred, the cardiologist on duty that afternoon said, “I can’t really treat everything here. He needs to go to Rochester General.”
At Rochester General, Robert and Maureen met with Scott Feitell, MD, who said, “Give me some time. I can turn this around.”
“He wasn’t just talking - he was right,” Robert said, “He did what he said he’d do.”
Robert quit smoking, quit drinking, and even goes to the gym now. He went from being in a bed, not knowing anything, to walking two and a half miles a day. “I’ve done everything for the positive.”
“I credit Dr. Feitell for that. I owe him my life. The most I can do is thank him from the bottom of my heart.”
