Labor and delivery nurse overcomes cancer and heart failure

As Nancy Polizzi helps bring new life into this world at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, she reflects on how fortunate she is to be alive. The Montgomery labor and delivery nurse has survived not just one, but two life-threatening diseases, all while keeping a positive attitude and spreading joy to those around her.

A decade after treatment for breast cancer, Polizzi began experiencing shortness of breath. Her left ventricle was damaged, possibly from chemotherapy, and she was suffering early congestive heart failure. Medications helped with the symptoms but could not correct the underlying cause. It was time to start thinking about more aggressive treatments called advanced heart failure therapies.

“I went into shock. I was working full-time and thought I was OK, but the labs were showing a different story,” said Polizzi. “I was in denial and pushing through the fatigue.”

Polizzi’s evaluation revealed her best option was a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), with the hope that it could be a bridge to transplant. The LVAD is a surgically implanted mechanical heart pump that assists the heart to pump blood throughout the body.

“The LVAD was my ‘a-ha’ moment. It’s when I accepted that I needed something more,” said Polizzi. “The LVAD made me feel better. In fact, I felt so good, I tucked the LVAD wires, controller and batteries into a vest and went back to work.”

A year later, it was time to be added to the heart transplant list. The countdown had begun.

“The LVAD treated Nancy’s underlying heart failure while also improving a condition called pulmonary hypertension,” said Anjan Tibrewala, MD, heart failure and heart transplantation specialist at the Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. “Based on these test results, we knew she was likely to benefit from a heart transplant.”

Just three days later, the call came in. A heart was ready.

“It was 11 p.m. and I had just worked a 12-hour shift. All three of my adult children tested positive for COVID-19, so I drove myself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital,” said Polizzi. “I walked into the ER with my bags announcing I was ready for my transplant.”

The surgery was a success. Polizzi was out of the hospital just ten days later. Motivated to get her life back, Polizzi focused on her recovery completing cardiac rehabilitation. In about five months, she was back at work.

“Nancy’s strength and desire to help others is truly an inspiration,” said Katie Martin, MSN, RNC-OB, clinical director of Labor and Delivery at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. “Her and I have reflected on the words she lives by ‘whisper words of wisdom, let it be’. Through the challenging days, she always finds a way to stay positive, face the day and move ahead.”

Polizzi is now an advocate for heart health. She wears red, sports heart pins, posts heart healthy information on social media and reminds everyone to get their lab work done, keep the diet going, and stay with it.

“My friends call me the Energizer Bunny,” said Polizzi. “I’m back to traveling, riding my bike, working, enjoying life. Most importantly the heart transplant blessed me with more time to celebrate my son’s wedding and the birth of more grandchildren.”