Doctor Awes Vietnam Vet On Dr. Oz Show
When Vern Bowman met Kevin Ariani, MD, Cardiologist, at a free health clinic, he had no idea they’d meet again on The Dr. Oz Show where a heartwarming surprise awaited.
Vern is a Vietnam veteran who lost his job and health insurance two years ago. He was one of 4,000 people who lined up this past fall at the four-day CareNow free health clinic in Los Angeles to have his heart defibrillator checked. That’s where Dr. Ariani was volunteering his time along with other dentists, physicians, nurses and staff.
Vern was examined by Dr. Ariani with help from Mehmet Oz, MD, FACS, who was filming The Dr. Oz Show at the clinic. They determined that Vern had suffered a couple of heart attacks. Luckily, the defibrillator has saved his life on many occasions. However, Dr. Oz warned Vern that he was living “on borrowed time” because his defibrillator was nearing the end of its battery life. “I’m a walking time bomb,” Vern expressed. “If this thing quits, I quit.”
Vern was invited to appear on The Dr. Oz Show where Dr. Ariani awaited with good news. “I will personally implant a new defibrillator and Northridge Hospital Medical Center will donate all of our time and staff for this surgery at no cost to you,” he told Vern. The new defibrillator was donated by a St. Jude Medical and the surgery was scheduled immediately.
Vern’s response was gracious: “It’s like a guardian angel has come to help me through this.”
Kevin Ariani, MD, and “Dr. Oz” determine that Vern Bowman’s defibrillator is ending its battery life before it was replaced courtesy of Northridge Hospital.
All physicians featured are on the medical staff of Northridge Hospital Medical Center (NHMC). Many of these physicians are in private practice and, as independent practitioners, are not employees or agents of NHMC.
