Patient Receives Life-Changing Care at Lahey Clinic

Patient Sees Dramatic Improvement in Quality of Life

After years of living with symptoms that worsened significantly while stationed in Hawaii, Elizabeth Wessman traveled more than 5,000 miles to seek care at the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Center of Excellence at Lahey Clinic.

There, Dr. Martin Maron and his team provided what had eluded Elizabeth for years — a clear and confident diagnosis of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Dr. Maron’s compassionate communication, thorough evaluation, and willingness to spend nearly two hours explaining the condition and treatment options was life-changing. When medication did not provide adequate relief, the Lahey cardiac surgery team worked closely with Elizabeth to plan a septal myectomy, accommodating family scheduling needs.

Throughout the process, team members, including administrative staff members Sue Vertente and Briana Drago as well as advanced practitioners, including Dr. Prem Shekar, provided extraordinary support navigating complex insurance approvals, demonstrating the dedication and advocacy that define the program.

"I am forever grateful to the cardiac surgery team for providing exceptional clinical expertise while never losing sight of the human side of care," Elizabeth said. "Dr. Shekar’s detailed preoperative discussions, personal reassurance and direct communication with my family and me before and after surgery helped build confidence and trust during a stressful experience.

"Following surgery, the multidisciplinary team continued to provide attentive care, including close postoperative support from the outpatient physician assistant, whose accessibility and guidance helped me navigate recovery with confidence."

Four years later, Elizabeth has noticed a dramatic improvement in her quality of life, enjoying activities such as hiking, skiing and kayaking without limitations. Despite living thousands of miles away, she consistently felt supported by the Lahey team. The cardiac surgery program is "professional, compassionate, highly skilled, and worthy of recommendation to anyone seeking specialized HCM care."