Edward W. Jolly

Since 2001, Carolyn Jolly has witnessed her husband of 44 years go from someone who once lived an active life to someone who didn’t have the energy to go outside. “He was lethargic and very sluggish,” she says. “He had no energy to do the things he once loved, which made him an unhappy person.” Her husband, Edward Jolly, suffered from atrial fibrillation for nearly six years.

Edward Jolly had taken medication to treat his atrial fibrillation and had undergone electric shock twice to jolt his heart into a normal rhythm. “The first time that I was shocked, my heart came out of afib for three months, and the second time, it only lasted about three days,” Jolly says.

In September 2007 Jolly heard about a new treatment for the disease called Ex-Maze. Anxious to learn more about the procedure, Jolly asked his cardiologist about it and was referred to Andy Kiser, M.D., the heart surgeon with FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital who pioneered the development of the procedure.

Dr. Kiser performed the minimally invasive Ex-Maze procedure on Jolly on October 4, 2007. Jolly’s heart began beating in a normal rhythm during the procedure and has continued to do so ever since. “I wish I had this procedure five years ago,” Jolly says. “I’ve gone from someone who just couldn’t get excited about anything to a very happy person.” Jolly has lost 11 pounds since he had the Ex-Maze procedure, and he credits the weight loss with being able to once again enjoy the outdoor activities that he’s missed over the last six years.

“There aren’t enough nice words to say about Dr. Kiser or the excellent care that we received from the nurses,” he says. “I want more people to know about this procedure, because it has changed my life.”

Read Paul Raisig's Story
Read Jon Wood's Story
Gene Brady (Windows Media Video)
Nancy Wooten (Windows Media Video)