"Beating Heart"

At St. Mary's of Michigan Medical Center, we perform more off-pump "beating heart" surgeries than any other hospital in the region. This is a procedure where surgeons operate on your heart without the use of the heart-lung machine. Only hospitals with the most experienced clinicians can perform this type of surgery. Off-pump surgery patients typically recover more quickly than traditional open-heart patients.
Support Group Fourth Thursday of the month (except November and December)
6:30 p.m.
Main lobby, Health Education Center
St. Mary's of Michigan Medical Center (click here for directions) Join fellow open heart patients and their families for an opportunity to share questions and concerns about open heart surgery. Participants benefit from speakers and special programs, in addition to networking.    

Each year, St. Mary's of Michigan hosts a reunion with open heart patients and their Sir Koff-A-Lot teddy bears - stuffed animals that serve as breathing splints to help patients take deep breathes and cough after surgery. Each reunion is a celebration of life and healthy hearts!   The Teddy Bear Reunion is typically held the Sunday before Valentine's Day. Be sure to mark your calendars!