In 2023, Theresa Blades, a healthy, young wife and mother, was running on a treadmill alongside her coworkers when her heart stopped. While one friend administered CPR, another called 911. When first responders arrived, they made a split-second decision to take her directly to Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Texas Heart Institute (THI), where Baylor College of Medicine doctors went about the eight-day challenge of bringing her back to consciousness and saving her life.
When Mrs. Blades woke up, she already had four procedures, one of which was the implantation of an Impella device, a temporary artificial heart pump that was tested and refined at THI before being approved for use in patients.
Her husband, Matt, and parents, Ken and Janie Valach, were in shock.
“What can you say about watching your child go through something like that?” Mr. Valach, Baylor Board of Advisor member said. “It was terrifying. We have no doubt the team at Baylor saved Theresa’s life. Every day we are thankful for the doctors, nurses and staff at Baylor.”
“I’m very grateful to be alive,” Mrs. Blades said. “I have a deep appreciation for the skill and effort of the people who gave me the gift of life.” She tearfully said every birthday and every one of her three children’s milestones are another chance to be grateful.
“I appreciate the medical field, I appreciate Baylor, I appreciate all the research that has gone into the devices that kept me alive when my heart was not functioning on its own and every doctor and nurse who trained for years and years,” she said.
The Valachs were so appreciative of the doctors at Baylor that they made a major gift to the Lillie and Roy Cullen Tower, which will be the new home for the schools of Medicine and Health Professions. Their donation is among the almost $150 million raised for the Tower, which will allow more doctors and nurses to be trained and more lives—like Mrs. Blades’—to be saved.
Their support for The Cullen Tower comes at another historic moment. In November 2024, THI and Baylor announced a strategic affiliation that will bring together their two storied cardiovascular programs to form a premier cardiovascular health and research center. The Center will elevate patient care, accelerate medical research and bolster education efforts, positioning the organization as an international leader in cardiovascular innovation and clinical care.
“The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine is committed to leading the national narrative in cardiovascular quality, innovation and impact” said Joseph G. Rogers, M.D., director of the new center and professor of medicine at Baylor. “We will build on our shared history of clinical excellence and life-saving research to lead the next era in cardiovascular medicine.”
Her parents are grateful for an organization like Baylor that changes the trajectory of people’s lives.
“We were the beneficiaries of that firsthand,” Mrs. Blades said. “We want that for others, their families and the broader Houston community.”
The Valachs’ gift to The Cullen Tower will undoubtedly bring about healing for other Houston families and help Baylor College of Medicine’s programs by providing the infrastructure for its expansion.
