By Brenna Keller
NKyTribune associate editor
The Cincinnati Heart Mini-Marathon and Walk will be held this Sunday, March 15. But patients at St. Elizabeth in Edgewood celebrated early with their own In-Unit Heart Mini in the Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
The In-Unit Heart Mini allowed patients to get moving without ever having to leave the unit.
This is the second year for the event, which aims to jump start patients’ heart journeys with a lap through the unit.
The Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit was transformed into the festive atmosphere of a mini-marathon. Two balloon arches marked the start and finish lines. Between the arches, unit staff lined the hallway waving pompoms and cheering on patients as they walked to the finish line.
Each participant’s name was announced over the microphone, celebrating their triumph. The first patient to complete the walk wore a heart costume. He completed the walk multiple times, clearly enjoying the festive environment.
Other patients were more emotional. One woman crossed the finish line with tears streaming down her face.
At the finish line, each patient received a gift bag and a commemorative Heart Mini race medal. Around ten patients participated in the In-Unit Heart Mini.
To ensure patient safety, each participant was assessed for mobility prior to the in-unit mini. Staff determined which patients could walk independently, and which would be supported by hospital associates. During the race, patients wore a heart monitor.
The event was organized by Christine Gregorio, an Executive Assistant with St. Elizabeth. Gregorio is not just an employee with the hospital; she also volunteers with cardiac patients. For her it’s personal. She was once a cardiac patient at St. Elizabeth.
Gregorio had open-heart surgery nine years ago. She went to the doctor for what she believed was a routine checkup, only to learn that she was in heart failure.
Following her surgery, Gregorio had what she described as an “impactful” conversation with her cardiologist. He told her how fortunate she was, because he was able to fix her cardiac problem. Most cardiac patients are chronic and always will be chronic.
That conversation motivated Gregorio to work with cardiac patients. She wanted to provide a patient perspective for those in the hospital.
According to Gregorio, an important part of the In-Unit Heart Mini is getting patients up and moving. Heart patients are encouraged to get moving right away. Gregorio was walking the night she had open-heart surgery. She described the event as “a great motivator for [patients] to start their heart journey.” They can move on to cardiac rehab more aware of how to be heart healthy.