Heart patient Tony Whitfield is happy to be making music again.

Whitfield, 65, took 65 members of the Paducah Area Children’s Chorus and Choral Ambassadors of Western Kentucky to Europe. Just three days before he was to return, he collapsed in Hofburg Chapel in Vienna, the victim of a sudden heart attack.

Paducah pediatrician Jeffrey Mudd, M.D., had accompanied his children on the trip and immediately rushed to Whitfield’s side, joining another doctor in administering lifesaving CPR.

Whitfield was taken to a Vienna hospital where doctors performed a heart catheterization and placed a stent in his heart. After more than two weeks in the hospital, Whitfield chose to come home to Western Baptist for open-heart surgery.

“Doctors there thought I was taking a chance by leaving,” said Whitfield, “but I thought of Western Baptist Hospital; I wanted to come home for my heart care.”

He was taken directly from the airport to the hospital, where cardiothoracic surgeon Robin Howe, M.D., performed open-heart surgery two days later. Whitfield had cardiac rehabilitation and experienced a successful recovery.

“I had excellent care at Western Baptist and an excellent support system around me,” said Whitfield.