A second lease on life

[Grand Rapids-Herald Review, January 01, 0001] In May 2010, Grand Rapids resident John Webster was about to die, by all reasonable suspicion. He has a history of heart-related issues, including a heart attack in 2005 at which time he had a stent put in.

With rapidly declining health, Webster at 67 years old was quickly losing his ability to even do basic tasks as his heart continued to fail. His doctor at Grand Itasca, Dr. Peter Friedlieb, knowing that they had exhausted their options at locally, spoke to Webster's family to prepare them for the worst.

But before time was up, Friedlieb sent Webster to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis to see what, if anything, they could do to save his life.