Close to His Heart

Christo and his trainer Monique. Watch his video below.

Christo has always had Sutter Health close to his heart. On Dec. 15, 1966, he was brought into the world at Sutter Memorial Hospital. Although he was born with a heart murmur, Christo had an active childhood playing football and competing in athletics.

In his early 20s, fatigue led Christo to a consultation from a physician. He was diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve which obstructed the blood flow from his heart to the rest of his body. He needed a valve replacement and, at that time, Forrest Junod, M.D., cardiac surgeon with Sutter Memorial Hospital, was one of the leading surgeons to perform valve replacement surgery.

Surgery was successful, but Christo did have to begin taking an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots, one of the known risk factors with valve replacement therapy.

Fourteen years later, Christo suffered a mild stroke and subsequent aphasia, a neurological condition caused by damage to the portions of the brain that are responsible for language. In order to overcome the affects of aphesia, he had to work on his health by continuing his exercise regime and starting speech therapy. Soon after, he was able to resume his career in real estate.

While at his office in 2007, Christo had a severe migraine and suddenly lost his speech. His assistant called 911 and Christo was rushed to Sutter Memorial Hospital. When he arrived, the stroke team immediately took action and evaluated Christo for tPA, a clot buster, which he received. He was also taken in for emergent surgery to mechanically remove a clot from his brain, a special procedure performed by a neuro-Interventionalist.

“That surgery saved my life,” said Christo. “I immediately felt less pain and could breathe easier. And following surgery, Tess and Michelle, the stroke nurses, visited me and educated me about what to expect following a stroke and my surgery. They were very good to me.”

Christo was also visited by Jonida, a physical therapist, to test his reflexes. After not receiving any reaction on the left side of his body, he was diagnosed with hemiparesis. Jonida began therapy with Christo to help him regain strength and function on his left side.

When Christo was released from the hospital, his insurance required him to use another health care provider for his therapy and follow-up care. But he was excited to learn his brother knew Jonida’s father and after they connected with her through this personal connection, Jonida took time out of her days to go to Christo’s home to continue the progress they were making on his leg.

As part of his rehabilitation for stroke, Christo began seeing members of Sutter Neuroscience Institute, including Shawn Kile, M.D., a cognitive neurologist, and Nicklesh Thakur, D.O., a movement disorder specialist. He started botox for his post-stroke spasticity, cognitive testing and medication to improve his focus, and he was referred to the specialists at Sutter Rehabilitation Institute in Roseville for physical therapy.

“I have some many specialists working together to help me regain function,” said Christo. “The team at Sutter Rehabilitation Institute really pushed me to attain a higher level of function. They have a different approach to care and I think it has accelerated my recovery.”

Thanks to his perseverance, Christo is on the road to recovery. He swims, is in the gym with his personal trainer or working with his physical therapist almost every day. He was appointed chair for the American Lung Association Fight for Air Stair Climb and will participate in the race up Sacramento’s tallest building, the Wells Fargo Center, as a way to remind himself what he overcame to get there.

“I am making progress every day,” said Christo. “Soon I hope to find a job within Sutter to help give back to the organization that has been a part of me my whole life.”