The Corvia Patient Ambassador Program connects individuals considering RESPONDER-HF trial participation with patients who have received the Corvia Atrial Shunt in a clinical trial and can offer peer support.
Amy is a full-time working mom, grandmother, and passionate advocate for women’s health who knows firsthand the toll that heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) can take on quality of life.
Journey to HFpEF Diagnosis & Trial Participation
Once an active San Diegan who hiked, boxed, and practiced yoga, Amy found herself struggling to walk on the beach or up a hill without breathlessness. After years of misdiagnoses and persistence, she was referred to Scripps Clinic, where she was diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and enrolled in the REDUCE LAP-HF II trial where she received the Corvia Atrial Shunt in 2020.
Why Amy is a Patient Ambassador
Amy understands the importance of patient education and communication when considering trial participation. “Ask questions, get informed, and don’t give up. The right care—and the right team—can change everything.”
Corvia Atrial Shunt recipient, 2016 Medical University of South Carolina
Jimmy is a devoted father, proud grandfather, and retired salesman and paramedic who once faced an uncertain future with heart failure.
Journey to HFpEF Diagnosis & Trial Enrollment
At age 56, Jimmy had his first heart attack. After a successful triple bypass, he managed well—until the breathlessness, fatigue, and swelling returned. Eventually diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), Jimmy’s daily life became a struggle. Everyday tasks became exhausting, and he lost the ability to care for his yard, walk to the mailbox, or enjoy simple pleasures like golf. “I felt like a burden,” he says. “My symptoms made me feel useless and unproductive.” In 2016, Jimmy enrolled in the REDUCE LAP-HF I trial at MUSC and became one of the first U.S. patients to receive the Corvia® Atrial Shunt.
Why Jimmy is a Patient Ambassador
Jimmy is grateful for the care team and research that helped improve his own quality of life, and he hopes his story can make the process feel a little less uncertain for others. “If my experience can help someone feel more confident about taking that next step, it’s worth sharing.”
Corvia Patient Ambassadors are individuals who have volunteered to share their personal experience living with heart failure and participating in a clinical trial involving the Corvia Atrial Shunt. They are not medical professionals, and the insights they provide are based solely on their own experiences. The information they share is not intended to be medical advice and should not replace guidance from a qualified healthcare provider. Individual experiences can vary, and not all patients will have the same outcomes. Always speak with your doctor to determine what treatment options are right for you.
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