Still Standing: Strength, Survival and the Life-Saving Power of Vascular Care

At first glance, Olga is the picture of resilience. Raised on a ranch in Jalisco, Mexico, she’s lived a life rooted in hard work and heart—raising animals, tending her garden, and caring for her large, loving family. After immigrating to California at age 32, she settled in Moorpark, where she raised eight children and worked at a local hospital for over a decade. Even in retirement, Olga remains vibrant and active. But one morning, everything changed.

While walking back up from feeding the horses at her family’s ranch, Olga suddenly couldn’t catch her breath. Her legs went numb and gave out beneath her. Her family immediately called 911. Within moments, she was rushed to the Emergency Department at Adventist Health Simi Valley.

What followed was a blur. Olga remembers the searing pain in her leg—pain so intense that even strong medications offered no relief. What she didn’t know then was that a dangerous arterial blood clot was cutting off circulation to her leg. Without rapid intervention, she risked losing the limb—or even her life.

Dr. Nishant Sharma, MD, a fellowship-trained vascular surgeon at Adventist Health Simi Valley, was called in immediately to evaluate her. “Time is tissue in cases like these,” explained Dr. Sharma. “We’re dealing with an acute limb-threatening ischemia. In these emergencies, every minute without blood flow puts the patient at higher risk of amputation or death.”

In a complex and time-sensitive operation, Dr. Sharma performed a surgical thromboembolectomy to remove the clot and restore blood flow. He also performed a fasciotomy, a procedure to relieve dangerous pressure and prevent long-term muscle and nerve damage. Thanks to swift coordination between the emergency, surgical, and critical care teams, Olga’s leg was saved. Olga remained in the hospital for a week of recovery—an experience she calls both humbling and healing.

“I don’t remember much, but my family does,” Olga shared. “And they all say the same thing—everyone at the hospital was incredibly kind''. Every time the staff came in, they’d say my name with so much joy: ‘OLGA!’ It made me feel so loved and seen.”

Though her leg still carries the physical wounds from surgery, Olga’s recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. Once the primary caregiver for her husband, she is now learning to let others care for her—a shift she embraces with grace and gratitude. “Every time I look at my leg, I feel thankful,” she says with quiet emotion. “I can walk. I can be with my family. I’m still here.”

Olga credits Dr. Sharma, her cardiologist Dr. Sanbir Sidhu, and the entire Adventist Health Simi Valley team for saving not only her leg—but her life. “They didn’t just treat me—they cared for me,” she said. “There’s a difference, and I felt it.”

As Adventist Health Simi Valley continues to expand its vascular surgery capabilities, the presence of specialists like Dr. Sharma is key to bringing advanced limb-salvage and vascular emergency services to the community. Stories like Olga’s serve as powerful reminders of what’s possible when expert care is available close to home. Dr. Sharma emphasizes the importance of vascular health awareness in the community. Vascular conditions—like blood clots, poor circulation, and blocked arteries—can be silent but serious. Symptoms like leg pain, swelling, numbness, or sudden weakness shouldn’t be ignored. Early detection and timely intervention can make all the difference.

“Too many patients delay getting help,” Dr. Sharma explains. “But when it comes to vascular conditions, timing is everything. Minutes matter.”

Olga now shares that same message. “Don’t wait. If something feels off, speak up," she says. "I almost didn’t make it up that hill—but thanks to this hospital, and Dr. Sharma, I’m still standing.”