Quadruple-Bypass Patient Calls On Oklahoma Women To Monitor Heart Health

An Oklahoma woman is sending a message to other women taking care of the people they love.

She doesn't want them to neglect their own health the way she did. 

"It is a love story. It is Valentine's story," said Jeannie Buck Smith. 

15 years of marriage and Jeannie Buck Smith will tell you every day, felt like she was living a wonderful dream.

"We were so happy," said Jeannie. 

That dream ended on July 29th, 2020, when her husband Ronnie died of pneumonia.

The pandemic hit and Jeannie was left to navigate her grief and eventually her own bouts with COVID and pneumonia--- on her own.

It was time to come back to Oklahoma, surrounded by family.

"My heart- hurt so bad because I lost the love of my life- I never really realized, how much your heart grieves," said Jeannie. 

Once Jeannie got back to Oklahoma she scheduled a checkup---an appointment that kept getting canceled while she was taking care of her husband when they lived in Florida. 

"She sent me to a cardiologist. She said, 'I think we have some issues we need to look at,'" said Jeannie. 

She ended up having quadruple bypass surgery.

"There was just a huge support system calling out to me, that I was going to make it- you can do this---- and I just feel so privileged," said Jeannie. 

Now--her heart is on Oklahoma women, who might have put off checkups of their own.

"I want women to know, they are high risk. We usually put ourselves on the back burner of life....and everyone including women my age, needs to have a physical," said Jeannie. 

Once Jeannie healed from surgery, she thanked the team at St. Francis Heart Hospital who saved her life.

"I had a huge valentine box of candy," said Jeannie.  

She gave it to her medical team--- while wearing a Rocketman costume!

"This doctor, my surgeon- they are very serious people, and I don't think they get to laugh a lot," said Jeannie.  

Valentine's looks different now that her husband's passed--- but Jeannie tells me, she looks around at her life and all she sees is love.

"And I need to give it back. And I do," said Jeannie.