Heart attack survivor credits Baylor doctor for a second chance at life
Ben Aguilar considered himself healthy. At 57, he was running marathons, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol and doing everything he could to stay ahead of a family history of heart disease. So, when chest pain struck one morning in May 2023, he brushed it off.
For two days, Aguilar kept going — pushing through the pain at work, stopping only briefly at an urgent care clinic. The medical provider urged him to go straight to the hospital, but Aguilar, stubborn and determined, ignored the advice.
It wasn’t until the third day, with the pain in his chest growing unbearable, that he finally decided to make the 20-minute drive from his home in Spring to St. Luke’s Health – The Woodlands Hospital.
“I parked as far away as I could from the ER entrance,” Aguilar said. “Looking back, I don’t know why I did that. I was in so much pain — like an elephant was sitting on my chest.”
A nurse spotted Aguilar in the parking lot, clutching his chest, and immediately rushed to help. She quickly bypassed registration and wheeled him straight back to an emergency bay. Within minutes, Aguilar was in the cardiac catheterization lab, where doctors confirmed the severity of his condition: a major heart attack.
Dr. Vivek Patel, assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, performed Aguilar’s triple bypass surgery.
“Each of his three arteries was 80% blocked, including the left anterior descending artery — often called the ‘widowmaker,’” Patel said. “This wasn’t about lifestyle. Ben was doing the right things. His strong family history of heart disease played a major role.”
The surgery took three and a half hours, and by the end, Patel had successfully restored blood flow to Aguilar’s heart.
Patients like Aguilar often can expect a hospital stay of about a week, followed by 12 weeks of outpatient cardiac rehab. By six weeks post-surgery, most patients return to work, driving and their regular routines. Aguilar, who was 55 at the time, left the hospital after a week and started his journey back to wellness.
While Aguilar isn’t running marathons these days, he continues to stay active with three-mile walk/runs and has embraced a stress-free lifestyle. He’s also committed to his cardiac medications, designed to protect his heart and prevent further plaque buildup.
Patel stresses the importance of proactive screening for individuals with a family history of heart disease.
“If you have a family member who had a heart attack or bypass surgery, see a cardiologist 10 years before the age they were diagnosed,” Patel said.
Aguilar now shares his story with others in hopes of encouraging them to take chest pain seriously.
“Looking back, I could have missed out on so many things. I’m so grateful to be here — to have a second chance. I just want everyone to know: don’t wait. Get checked out. And take care of each other,” Aguilar said.
By Tiffany Harston, senior communications associate in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery
