For Woodstock resident Wilson Faure, 2023 began with a promise to himself — to live healthier.
“After being overweight for a few years, I decided it was time to make a change,” Wilson recalled. By the end of April, he had lost 18 pounds through better eating and exercise. “I was feeling more energetic, but I knew I still had a long way to go.”
Then, on April 29, everything changed.
“I started feeling discomfort in my chest and thought it was just reflux,” he said. He took some medicine and continued his day. But by early the next morning, the pain had intensified. “At 6 a.m., I felt numbness around my neck and tightness in my jaw. That’s when I realized it wasn’t heartburn — it was something serious.”
Wilson drove to Northside Hospital Cherokee Emergency Department, where the medical team immediately went to work. “Doctors, nurses and specialists moved with such purpose and compassion. Amid the chaos, I felt a glimmer of hope — these people were here to save me.”
After being rushed through tests and treatment, Wilson woke up in the ICU. “The only thing I could think was, I’m alive and I want to see my family.”
The days that followed were filled with procedures, medications and constant monitoring.
“The care I received was incredible. Everyone at Northside treated me like a person, not just a patient.”
Under the care of Dr. Apurva Shah, cardiologist with Northside Hospital Heart Institute, Wilson made steady progress.
“When Dr. Shah told me everything looked good, I was so relieved — and I started walking that very same day,” he said.
Next came Cardiac Rehabilitation at Northside Hospital Cherokee in Canton, where Wilson found strength, motivation, and friendship.
“From my first assessment to my ‘graduation,’ the techs and trainers were amazing. Katie, my assigned specialist, was phenomenal — she and the whole team pushed me, encouraged me, and celebrated every milestone.”
By the end of rehab, Wilson had gone from walking slowly to running two miles nonstop on the treadmill. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Determined to keep improving, Wilson continued his healthy habits — ultimately losing 40 pounds. Less than a year after his heart attack, he ran his first 5K in February 2024 with his daughter. That summer, he achieved another milestone: completing the Peachtree Road Race, even appearing in a WSB-TV story about his journey.
“This year, I ran my second Peachtree — this time with my wife,” Wilson smiled. “Good habits really are contagious.”
Today, Wilson feels stronger and more grateful than ever.
“My heart attack was a turning point, but it was the incredible care from Northside’s doctors, nurses and rehab team that gave me a second chance. Their expertise and compassion turned a terrifying experience into a story of recovery and hope — and for that, I’ll always be thankful.”
Learn more about Northside Hospital Heart Institute.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
