Terry Langford: A story of strength and devoted care

Terry Langford has always been a woman on the go. When she began experiencing shortness of breath and tightness in her chest, she knew something wasn’t right. Her symptoms ultimately led to emergency surgery. 

“We’ve been together for 46 years. I can’t imagine life without her, and I thought we were going to lose her,” shares her husband, Steve Langford, with tears in his eyes as he recounts the moment. 

Terry had been dealing with an irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath for several weeks while going about her daily activities. On Wednesday, June 18, she noticed the chest pain worsening and decided to visit the emergency department at TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital. 

“We were immediately taken back for care. There was no wait time — just dedicated nurses and physicians trying to help me,” Terry says. 

The care team quickly ordered an ultrasound of her heart and a CT scan of her lungs. The scan revealed significant blood clots in both lungs. 

Dr. Roshan Mathew, an interventional cardiologist at Centennial Heart at Greenview, performed emergency surgery on Terry to remove the blood clots, ultimately saving her life. “If he hadn’t acted immediately, I wouldn’t be here today,” Terry recalls. 

“When Dr. Mathew came into the waiting area and told me he had successfully removed the blood clots and she was going to be fine, I hugged him,” Steve says. “The care we received has been more than excellent. The staff members are kind, caring and genuinely concerned about your well-being.”

Terry felt immediate relief following the surgery. “We always choose TriStar Greenview, and we will continue to do so,” she shares. 

Now recovering at home, Terry continues her healing journey — a true testament to the power of resilience and a care team that treats you like family.