Alexander C. grew up watching his father and brother battle debilitating stomach issues. While he knew it was a problem, he figured it was normal and manageable based on their experiences. Throughout his adolescence, he’d deal with bouts of stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, and occasionally it would become so severe he’d go to the…

In 2012, after giving birth to her youngest son, Kassandra Y. was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a hereditary disease that affects the heart muscle and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. Although cardiomyopathy is a very serious condition, Kassandra and her family had no idea the journey…

The Madrid couple didn’t know that their five hour drive to Albuquerque would lead to open-heart surgery. Arturo and his wife Pilar traveled from their cozy home in Anthony, New Mexico (located close to the border in southern NM) to seek better treatment and a recommendation for Arturo’s poor heart condition at the Heart Hospital…

Arturo Madrid, 82, is doing exceptionally well after undergoing the first LVAD implant procedure performed in New Mexico at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center on December 19, 2017. Arturo and his wife Pilar waged a long and frustrating battle with Arturo’s deteriorating health to no avail until a patient referral led them…

Joleen Trujillo, 66, has had many opportunities to surrender to debilitating health issues, yet she has persevered and still works hard to overcome her obstacles. A mother of two sons and grandmother to eight, the Albuquerque resident has battled multiple sclerosis (MS) for the past 28 years. “I have relapsing-remitting MS,” explained Trujillo. “I suppose…

Thoughtful ‘thank you’ letters for team members remind us of the important work we do every day and that each interaction matters. We recently received a letter from Lily Colmenero, whose husband Cesar is battling the effects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with bravery, determination and a willingness to work hard against this debilitating disease. MS…