Nancy Juarez and Edinson Latorre have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.

The couple were surprised when Edinson, only 56 years old, was told he needed double bypass heart surgery earlier last summer, however, the real shock came a few weeks later when Nancy, 50, and an avid kick-boxer, was rushed to the Emergency Department at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono needing the same surgery.

According to Laszlo Fuzesi, associate chief, cardiothoracic surgery at LVH–Pocono, it’s rare to perform the same surgery on both a husband and wife, but almost unheard of to do so within the same week.

Fortunately, going through this experience together proved beneficial for the couple.

“They both helped each other through the process. Obviously, she was very strong and did very well, and that reassured him as he was approaching his operation that he could get through it also,” Fuzesi said.

Nancy and Edinson were not only able to ease each other’s fears going into the surgery, they now have a strong support system in each other as they heal.

“The fact that we did it together, it makes all these changes easier. We take the same medicine, we eat the same foods because of the medical need. Plus, the emotional support between each other is very important,” Edinson says. “We’re trying to go back to normal activities to have that sense of getting our life back. It’s been over three months since our operation and we’re riding our bikes and we’re taking short trips.

“We’re aware of our limitations right now, but we’re looking forward to going back to normal down the road.”

While they are anxious to return to the life they had before their surgeries, the couple is incredibly grateful to Fuzesi and the team at LVH-Pocono.

“We’re happy that Lehigh Valley Hospital is here in the Poconos, because when we had the need, they answered the call.”

Nancy hopes that their experience is a reminder to everyone that heart issues can affect anyone, at any age.

“This happened to me, it can happen to anyone. You have to be more careful with your body and listen to your body. You don’t have to be old for this kind of thing to happen,” she says.

To learn more about Edinson and Nancy’s story, visit LVHN.org/Pocono.