Compassion in Every Beat

For Don Putnam, some of life's best moments happen standing knee-deep in a Montana river, fly rod in hand.

At 92 years old, he still looked forward to every fishing trip. The rhythm of the water. The quiet of the outdoors. The simple joy of being surrounded by nature. Closer to home, he enjoyed hiking the Sierra foothills and staying active alongside his wife, Sandy.

But when fatigue and shortness of breath began keeping him off the trails and out of the water, Don knew something wasn't right.

Years earlier, he had survived a heart attack and undergone bypass surgery. Now, nearly two decades later, new symptoms were making everyday activities more difficult. Determined to regain his strength and independence, Don turned to John Muir Health for answers.

There, he met Dr. Ramesh Veeragandham, Co-Director of Cardiovascular Surgery, who discovered that Don faced a complex challenge. He needed both a second coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure and a valve replacement. Performing both procedures at the same time carried significant risk, particularly given Don's age and unique anatomy.

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Dr. Veeragandham and his team developed a carefully customized plan designed specifically for Don.

“With Don’s heart and aorta located unusually close to his breastbone, we needed to tailor our approach for safety and precision,” Dr. Veeragandham explains.

The team performed the bypass surgery first. Three weeks later, after Don had regained strength, they completed a minimally invasive valve replacement procedure through the groin. To further reduce risk, Don was placed on a heart-lung machine through an incision below his collarbone—a technique chosen specifically for his anatomy.

Every step of the process was carefully planned with one goal in mind: helping Don return to the life he loved.

Don spent two weeks recovering at John Muir Health, where the expertise of his care team was matched by their compassion.

“They were always smiling,” Don says of the nurses who cared for him. “Despite being constantly interrupted, they never complained. You could tell they truly love their jobs.”

For Sandy, who has shared more than seven decades of marriage with Don, watching his recovery unfold brought tremendous relief.

“If I could say anything to Dr. Veeragandham, it would be ‘thank you,’” she says. “Don is still here because of your ability to perform miracles.”

Just two months after surgery, Don was back where he belonged.

In Montana.

Fly-fishing.

For Dr. Veeragandham, that is the ultimate measure of success.

“Don’s recovery was a true team effort,” he says. “Seeing him back out in nature doing what he loves—it’s the best outcome we can hope for.”

Today, every cast Don makes carries a renewed appreciation for life, health, and the people who helped make his recovery possible.

Advanced cardiovascular care requires exceptional talent, innovative techniques, and a commitment to delivering the right treatment for every patient. Philanthropic support helps ensure that patients throughout our community have access to that level of expertise close to home.

For Don, the impact is measured in simple but meaningful moments: time with Sandy, walks in the outdoors, and days spent casting into the rivers he loves.

And for that, he is deeply grateful.