Adventist HealthCare

Fayaz Shawl, M.D., director of interventional cardiology at Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Md., performs the first MitraClip procedure at the hospital.

Story by Betty Klinck

One in 10 people over the age of 75 have a leaky heart valve called mitral valve regurgitation. Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Md., is the first hospital in Montgomery County to offer a minimally invasive heart procedure to fix the problem without surgery.

Story by Shannon Kelly / Photos by Brad Barnwell

After years of being homeless and drug-addicted, Stephanie Grant finally hit rock bottom. "I was sick and tired of being sick and tired," she says. "I had the audacity to tell God, 'If you exist, prove it. Fix me. And by the way, God,'" she laughs, "'don't send me to a church to do it.'"