Fort Walton Beach Medical Center

"My surgery gave me 20 more years of life"

“From the office staff, the pre-op staff, cardiovascular team, to the surgical team, every single person at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center was so compassionate. My surgery gave me 20 more years of life.” — Mark Parish, Cardiovascular Surgery Patient

Mark Parish’s history of heart disease really started in 1991 with his dad, who was 60 when he fell over at the kitchen table with an aortic aneurysm. So when Mark’s older brother turned 60, he got checked and was monitored for about four-to-five months before he too eventually had the same surgery. Being told this disease was hereditary, Mark felt he needed to get checked when he turned 60 — that was October 2019.

Mark was tested and not only was his aortic valve coming apart, but also his EKG showed it was totally shot and blood was going both ways. His two main arteries were 70% blocked. This is when his wife started doing research for the best cardiovascular surgeon in the area — and they found Dr. Eric Sandwith and Dr. Amit Patel at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.   

“When we walked into Dr. Sandwith’s office the week of Thanksgiving, we didn’t have a referral, nothing. They took us right in, looked at our test results, and they immediately started ordering more tests,” Mark said.

Mark had to have four procedures to get his heart back to normal — repair the aortic aneurysm, replace the aortic valve and two coronary artery bypasses. After surgery, Dr. Sandwith told his wife this was the real deal. Mark had run out of time, so getting checked when he did helped save his life. His condition was that close. Mark and his wife said, “From the office staff, the pre-op staff, cardiovascular team, to the surgical team, every single person at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, was so compassionate. The staff would answer every question we had — and we had a lot.”

On Dec. 26, Mark had four heart procedures.

“My surgery gave me 20 more years of life. That was the best Christmas present ever. How could it not be?” said Mark.

Mark and his wife say they are a lot happier these days, and they appreciate life a little bit more than they did before. Mark loves boating, riding motorcycles, woodworking and spending time with his wife, Karla, and his dog, Jake.

For a physician referral or more information, call (850) 864-0213

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center

1000 Mar-Walt Drive Fort Walton Beach FL 32457 | (850) 862-1111 | fwbmc.com