Photo Credit: Houston Methodist Cypress HospitalHealth
A new reason to give thanks: Heart patient reflects on life, faith and recovery
What began as a simple walk to the mailbox turned into a life-changing journey for Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital patient Corey Charles. During this season of thanks, Charles is now sharing his story of faith, recovery and gratitude after surviving a near-fatal heart blockage at just 42 years old.
On Dec. 27 of last year, Charles noticed something unusual — shortness of breath and tightness in his chest, while walking to his mailbox. Despite returning to the gym and pushing through the discomfort, his fatigue and chest tightness persisted. When he struggled to complete a fun run with his daughter weeks later, he knew it was time to seek help.
His first visit to a local clinic led to a diagnosis of acute bronchitis, but after weeks with no improvement, Charles and his wife decided to find a primary care physician.
“As a primary care physician, I listen closely to my patients’ concerns and recognize when symptoms may signal something serious,” Dr. Megan Arthur, primary care physician at Houston Methodist said. “By coordinating his care and referring him to the right specialists, we were able to get him the life-saving treatment he needed. This experience highlights the importance of teamwork and collaboration across specialties to achieve the best outcomes for our patients.”
“Dr. Arthur really listened,” Charles said. “She wanted to get to the root of what was going on and referred me to both a heart and lung specialist.”
Cardiologist Dr. Azfar Sheikh discovered abnormalities in Charles’ heart test results and suggested a stress test. The stress test revealed that while resting, his heart appeared normal, but blood flow drastically dropped during exertion — a sign of a serious blockage.
“When the cardiologist told me, ‘Mr. Charles, you have a blockage and it’s life-threatening,’ I was shocked,” Charles recalled. “But I also knew I was in the right place.”
A follow-up angiogram and CT scan confirmed 99.9% blockages in two major arteries, requiring urgent surgery. Despite heart disease running in Charles’ family, he never thought it would happen to him.
Charles faced the surgery with remarkable calm. “I wasn’t afraid,” he said. “My faith in God is strong. I just prayed, trusted my doctors, and prepared myself mentally for recovery.”
This September, Charles underwent an open-heart surgery at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital known as a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft to restore blood flow to his heart and avoid suffering a heart attack. His cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Deepak Malhotra, completed a double bypass by utilizing a blood vessel from his leg to make a detour around the blockages which had restricted blood flow to his heart.
“Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is often the difference between life and death for patients with severe blockages,” Malhotra said. “In Mr. Charles’ case, restoring blood flow through a double bypass, on a beating heart, not only prevented a major heart attack but gave him the opportunity to return to a full, active life. It’s incredibly rewarding to see patients recover and embrace life.”
Following surgery, Charles woke to the voices of his wife and brother telling him how proud they were, he said: “My whole perspective on life changed. Even getting out of bed, taking a shower — you realize how much you take for granted. I’m thankful for every moment.”
He hopes his story encourages others not to ignore subtle warning signs and to seek medical attention early. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, schedule an appointment today.
“I’m exceptionally grateful for my life, my wife, my brother, my children, my care team and everyone who helped me through this,” he said. “I’m from New Orleans — I’ve got the heart of a lion. I won’t let anything stop me.”
Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital is a full-scale, acute-care hospital that opened in March 2025. Located in the heart of Cypress along Highway 290, the hospital offers state-of-the-art rooms featuring leading technology like ambient intelligence and remote monitoring. The 105-acre campus opened with 100 beds, 18 emergency room beds, 9 operating rooms, 18 childbirth center rooms, 8 neonatal ICU rooms and an on-site laboratory.
Source: Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital
