Dad Survives Heart Attack, Welcomes Baby!

In February 2025, Stuart Macanliss, then 41, collapsed during a ski trip in Durango, Colorado, experiencing severe back pain, stomachache, and difficulty breathing. Initially suspected to have pneumonia, he was diagnosed with a massive heart attack.

Doctors stated his youth and robust health were crucial to his survival. Macanliss was placed in a medically induced coma and later required mechanical support, including an ECMO machine. He was later transferred to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas for further treatment.

During his recovery, his wife, Sarah Campion, discovered she was nine weeks pregnant. This news provided Macanliss with renewed motivation to get better.

On April 8, 2025, Macanliss received a HeartMate 3 LVAD, a mechanical pump to assist his heart. He opted for this long-term therapy over an immediate heart transplant to be an active father to his then-unborn child.

After 81 days in the hospital, Macanliss was discharged on May 3, 2025, and began intensive physical therapy. He focused on regaining strength to care for his daughter.

Their daughter, Vivvi, was born in late October 2025. Macanliss was able to hold her on the day she was born and actively participates in her daily care.

Doctors continue to investigate the cause of his heart attack, with genetic factors being a possibility. The family is now focused on living life to the fullest and cherishing their time together.