Frankfort mom gets lifesaving diagnosis after shortness of breath
Six stairs. That’s all it took for Vivian Tandy to realize something was wrong.
At 33 years old, the active Frankfort mom had always considered herself healthy. But when shortness of breath and chest pain began interrupting her daily routine, she trusted her instincts.
Vivian is all too familiar with heart disease. She watched her mother battle the condition for years before losing her at just 47.
“My mom missed out on the birth of my child, me getting married, you know, all the big career moves I’ve made,” said Vivian. “I miss my mom every day and I could not imagine leaving my 11-year-old behind.”
Coming from an immigrant family, Vivian learned of the importance of knowing your family health history and to advocate for yourself, lessons she carries with her today.
When her symptoms began, she didn’t ignore them. After calling Frankfort home for 11 years, Vivian turned to Frankfort Regional Medical Center for answers.
“If it weren’t for Frankfort Regional Medical Center, I could be dead right now,” said Vivian. “The professionalism, the way I was listened to, the level of care, everything was top notch.”
Vivian made an appointment with Dr. Sihau, a cardiologist at Frankfort Regional. Initial testing came back normal, but Vivian continued to advocate for herself. She continued asking questions and seeking answers. She credits Dr. Sihau for listening closely and remaining committed to finding the cause of her symptoms.
After undergoing a CT Angiogram, a test that uses a CT scan and contrast dye to detect abnormalities, Dr. Sihau discovered a rare genetic heart disorder called Anomalous Coronary Artery. This is a rare condition in which the artery feeding the heart muscle is on an abnormal course.
“I have only seen two of this kind of anomaly in particular in my last 35 years,” said Dr. Sihau.“She is quite fortunate that she came when she did.”
After undergoing open heart surgery in October, she began cardiac rehabilitation at Frankfort Regional to rebuild strength and stamina. The nationally recognized program provides medically supervised exercise, education and support to help patients safely return to daily activities while reducing future heart risks.
For Vivian, cardiac rehab has been about more than physical recovery.
“I feel so welcome and warm. I have only been here for two or three weeks, but I feel so invited in that I feel like I’ve known everyone forever,” said Vivian.
Today, Vivian continues prioritizing her health. Between work, school drop-offs and her daughter’s busy schedule, she makes time for lunch or evening walks with her husband and meal planning centered on fresh fruits and vegetables.
After receiving a clear three-month checkup, her family is planning a celebratory trip to Walt Disney World Resort. She has even started training for the 2027 Disney Princess Marathon, a goal that once would have felt out of reach.
“We can’t be here to do these things if we can’t take care of ourselves,” said Vivian
Frankfort Regional is proud to be part of Vivian’s journey and honored to support her recovery as she returns to the life she loves.