Search for Answers Brings Louisiana Woman to Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute

In 2018, 59-year-old Crisann Surrena was in the middle of a big life change. She was preparing to move from Louisiana to Texas and was on the road when she began having trouble breathing, setting off a chain of events that would eventually bring her all the way to Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute.  

“I was on the road back to Texas when it just came over me,” Crisann says. “It was like I couldn’t get a full breath of air.”  

Crisann pulled off the road and called her boyfriend for help. What she doesn’t remember is the visit to the local urgent care or Emergency Department. Her next memory is in the ICU of a Louisiana hospital—weeks later.  

“I woke up and thought it was the next day,” Crisann says. In reality, she had spent 44 days in the ICU battling the flu and pneumonia. During that time, doctors noticed irregularities in her heart and referred her to a local cardiologist after she was discharged.  

An unexpected diagnosis 

The cardiologist ordered an angiogram, a specialized X-ray procedure to identify blockages in the heart. That revealed a chronic total occlusion (CTO) in her left anterior descending artery, which is a complete blockage of one of the main arteries supplying blood to the heart. A CTO typically develops slowly and is caused by a cholesterol buildup. Over time, it can lead to ongoing chest pain, reduced quality of life, and put you at a much higher risk of heart failure. Patients who smoke or have diabetes or high blood pressure are typically at a higher risk of developing a CTO.  

Due to the extent of the blockage, Crisann’s CTO proved difficult to treat. Over the years, she made multiple trips to specialists across Texas and Louisiana, but none were confident enough to operate. Finally, in 2025, one physician was direct with her.  

“He told me I needed to see someone who handles the hardest cases out there,” she says. “And he wrote down three physicians in three cities: Chicago, Seattle, and Kansas City.” 

Kansas City was the closest, and the physician was J. Aaron Grantham, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute with deep specialty experience in CTO. In fact, Dr. Grantham has developed a novel treatment for treating severe cases of CTO and helped position Saint Luke’s as a national expert in the condition.  

Once again, Crisann and her boyfriend hit the road in search of answers.  

A better experience 

Even before she arrived at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City in September 2025, Crisann had a good feeling about it.  

“Saint Luke’s thought of everything,” she says. “They sent me so much information on where to go, when to arrive, even recommendations on where to stay and eat in the area. They thought of things I wouldn’t have known to ask.” 

During her consultation with Dr. Grantham, Crisann was impressed by his knowledge and demeanor. “He was honest from the beginning,” she says. “He said he was comfortable doing the procedure, but he outlined the very real possibility that it might not work. I appreciated that.”  

Crisann was scheduled for a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure the next day. Using access points through the wrist and groin, Dr. Grantham carefully worked to open the blockage in her left anterior descending artery with tiny balloons as a temporary measure to restore blood flow.  

“This was a challenging case of CTO,” Dr. Grantham says. “But Crisann was determined, and our team was committed to doing our very best for her. I’m very proud of the result, and I know she is, too.”  

A newfound relief 

When Crisann woke up after the procedure, she remembers hearing the words she had been waiting for: It’s open. 

“They told me, and I started crying,” Crisann says. “I didn’t realize how much emotion I had bottled up over this, but I let it out in that moment.”  

A day later, she left the hospital with a new lease on life, knowing she had taken a big step toward a healthier life. She went back home to Louisiana, where she was able to resume working with no downtime. A few weeks later, she returned to Dr. Grantham to replace her temporary balloons with permanent stents.  

Looking ahead 

Today, Crisann continues to rebuild her strength. She completed a cardiac rehabilitation program in Louisiana, joined a gym to stay in shape, and became a grandmother. Crisann is quick to recommend the Heart Institute to anyone seeking advanced heart care—with a side of compassion and hospitality.  

“I had never been to Kansas City, but I felt right at home there,” she says. “Everyone I met was friendly and welcoming. And if I ever need anything else, I know they’ll be there for me.”  

Comprising nearly 100 board-certified experts in cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, and critical care anesthesia, Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute is a national leader in the detection and treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO). Each year, we perform more than 100 CTO procedures and more than 50 angioplasty procedures for patients who are not candidates for bypass surgery. We have led national, multicenter studies of these techniques and publish multiple papers each year advancing insights into treatment of these patients. 

Get more information about the Heart Institute.