Upon flying into Portland for business on June 17, 1999, Michael Hiles experienced chest pain and was subsequently admitted to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with a large aneurysm of his aorta. Although he had required heart surgery at age 1, and again at age 16, Mike hadn’t experienced any other problems until that June day.

His condition deteriorated to near death, requiring open heart massage and resuscitation via the emergency cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. His previously placed graft had completely ruptured. Thankfully his wife, Laura, arrived from their home in Indiana just before he entered the OR. Miraculously he survived. And while his return to life included learning to live as a paraplegic, today his life is full, and he remains active as Vice President of Research for Cook Biotech in Indiana.