Author: Sherry Farney
Carri Martin found herself in a challenging situation. She didn’t have health insurance or a doctor for almost a decade. It was especially challenging because she needed to take her heart health seriously due to family history. Then, a routine eye exam in February 2024 changed everything.
“They took my blood pressure, and it was elevated enough so that they told me it was serious and I should go see my doctor,” said Carri. “I started looking for someone to go to. I eventually found a primary care physician and got a check-up. That turned into appointments with specialists to determine what was wrong with me.
“My doctor didn’t refer me to a cardiologist right away because I had an EKG that I passed. I was experiencing a few different things, like excessive sweating, and we thought it could be menopause.”
Fast forward to late summer 2025. Carri’s primary care doctor referred her to a cardiologist. During that appointment, she failed the stress test performed in the office. It took such a toll that she needed oxygen to recover. She was immediately scheduled for a heart catheterization. The procedure showed two blockages, which meant she needed bypass surgery, commonly called open heart surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
“I have several people in my family with heart issues,” said Carrie. “My dad had open heart surgery at age 47, and I have a brother who had it at age 50. Now here I was getting it at 52.”
The procedure took place at McLaren Flint on October 7.
“Open heart surgery is a major procedure that takes up to three months for proper recovery and healing,” said board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon Omar Habib. “For Carri, I had to take a vein from her arm and another from her chest to use to redirect the blood going in and out of the heart, where the blocked arteries were.
“Carri is young and I think it’s important to remind women that heart disease is still the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Stay on top of your blood pressure and cholesterol, especially if you have a family history. “
Once she was nearly a couple of months into her recovery, Dr. Habib recommended Carri take part in cardiac rehabilitation so she could continue getting stronger, learn about medications and reading food labels, be confident in her recovery, and be motivated to be healthier moving forward.
Carri regrets not paying attention to her body sooner and is now facing the new year with a new commitment to her health.
“When you have something like this happen, it really puts things into perspective,” said Carri. “I never want to go through this again. I’m feeling motivated to keep myself and my heart healthy. You never know what could have happened if I hadn’t found a doctor and pursued getting answers to my health problems.”
To learn more about McLaren Flint’s comprehensive heart program and the team of specialists available, visit mclaren.org/flintheart1.