Joel Ray alongside renowned heart surgeon Dr. Devinder Bhatia with Joel's 2006 painting Open Heart.The painting was rewarded to Dr. Devinder for his life saving surgery of Joel Ray in September of 2022.
Joel Ray suffered a severe widow maker heart attack on the morning of September 15th of 2022 while at home. Joel Ray was immediately rushed to UTMB Clear Lake ER via ambulance where he would undergo a procedure to try and stint the blockages in his heart. Ultimately the procedure would be unsuccessful and doctors told Joel that he had a 99% blockage in his LAD artery and would have to undergo an open heart surgery. So as Joel readied himself for the biggest procedure of his life UTMB doctors stated they could not perform the procedure until five days because of blood thinners in his system. Joel was not sure if he had five days so he reached out to his friends for a doctor who would perform the surgery in a more timely manner. Thanks to Captian Kevin Williams of Precinct One Constable's Office who called his friend renowned heart surgeon Dr. Devinder Bhatia who was in college station watching his son play football for Texas A&M to help. The actions that were taken next are a tribute to the kind of person with passion and expertise in his field Dr. Devinder is. Joel was immediately transferred via ambulance to another hospital were Dr. Bhatia would perform joel's life saving surgery the following day. When asked about the procedure Dr. Devinder said when he opened Joel up on the operation table the top of his heart was not pumping blood and was very lucky to be alive. Todays survival rate of surviving a widow maker heart attack is 12% and Joel is very thankful for his friends and family during is time of recovery. Today Joel is fully recovered and back to creating meanigful art with his new found lease on life. For more info on Dr. Devinder Bhatia you can visit https://houstonmethodist.org/doctordevinder-bhatia/
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