Cindi Stearns has always put her family first. She never imagined there would be a day she couldn’t.
“Maybe I was in denial about heart attacks,” Stearns said. “But I never expected it to happen to me.”
Everything changed just before Thanksgiving. After caring for her grandson all day, Stearns felt a little “off” but ignored it. As she went to bed, she noticed an unusual sensation in her chest.
She mentioned it to her husband, Phil, expecting it to pass. It didn’t.
“I started having a burning sensation across my chest and back that traveled up to my jaw,” she said. “I knew something was really wrong.”
Stearns was taken to an SSM Health emergency room. Her vital signs and EKG appeared normal, but lab results told a different story.
Further testing revealed serious issues, and doctors performed a triple bypass surgery.
“I didn’t feel the heavy chest pain or typical heart attack symptoms people talk about,” Stearns said.
The diagnosis shocked Stearns. Despite a family history of heart disease, she thought she was active and healthy.
“Looking back, I think the warning signs were quietly adding up,” she said.
During her hospital stay, Stearns says the compassion she experienced left a lasting impression.
Nurses stayed with her during moments of fear and offered small comforts — like back rubs and aromatherapy — to help ease her anxiety.
“I’ve been to a lot of places but have never had such quality care,” Stearns said. “They truly showed compassion and care for me.”
After returning home, Stearns felt guilty and fearful as she reflected on warning signs she may have missed. Starting Cardiac Rehabilitation felt overwhelming.
“I was embarrassed and angry my first day in exercise class,” she said. “I didn’t think that I belonged there.”
Those feelings quickly faded. Her SSM Health Cardiac Rehab team provided encouragement, education, and support focused on realistic and sustainable lifestyle changes.
“I believe you meet people for a reason,” Stearns said. “I was meant to get help from that team.”
After completing all 36 rehabilitation sessions, Stearns strengthened her heart and regained confidence.
“This experience taught me I have to take care of myself, too,” she said. “I can’t keep giving others the pieces of my heart if I’m broken.”
Stearns’s story is a reminder that heart attack symptoms—especially in women—aren’t always obvious. Learn more about heart and vascular care.
