“Cardiac Rehab Brought Him Back”: Jamie’s Experience at Covenant Health LeConte
- 4 minute read.
- Last Updated: 2/13/2026
By the time Jamie reached 47, he could barely take six steps without stopping. After years of heart problems and demanding construction work, his body had finally reached its limit. Jamie received a heart transplant that saved his life, but the physical toll crushed his spirit. With the help of Covenant Health LeConte’s cardiac rehab team, Jamie found his strength again. As he says today, “I wouldn’t be here doing the things I’m doing if it wasn’t for Covenant Health LeConte.”
A Hidden Heart Condition
Jamie spent most of his life unaware of his heart issues. “I was so active, I never knew I had a bad heart. I played football, went to church.” Adopted at a young age, he never knew his medical history. At just 35, he needed a defibrillator. By his late 40s, he needed a heart transplant.
During that time, his fiancé, Stacey, stood by him. Their relationship had always been full of humor and warmth, but she watched those parts of him fade. “Some of those doctors never saw the person that he is. He was very depressed,” she shared. “He wasn’t himself. He came back to life at Covenant Health LeConte doing cardiac rehab.”
Finding Hope at Covenant Health LeConte
When Jamie started cardiac rehab, he carried more than physical weaknesses; he carried fear that the future he and Stacey dreamed of together might slip away. But the care team at Covenant Health focused on what was still possible.
Jay Jordan, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation supervisor at LeConte, asked about his goals. Jamie shared one close to his heart: “I’d like to be able to stand through my whole wedding ceremony.” Jay didn’t hesitate, saying, “I can get you to stand. My goal is to get you to walk down the aisle.”
It was the kind of encouragement Jamie and Stacey needed.
From the very beginning, he felt supported. “They were so encouraging. Even when they didn’t know him yet, and he was so depressed.”
His care team became part of their story, cheering him on every day. He shares about his entire rehab team:
- “Josh is great. He cheered me up, big time.”
- “Rebecca is unbelievable and attentive. She made sure I pushed myself but stayed within my limits.”
- “Jay is a natural. He is such an encourager.”
- “Kaitlyn is such a sweetheart. She helped me find healthy food to eat.”
At Covenant Health LeConte, advanced technology meets compassionate care, and that human connection changes everything. Stacey said it best: “We could never say enough good things about cardiac rehab here because they brought him back.”
Thirteen Weeks Changed Everything
“It was only 13 weeks. That’s nothing,” Jamie says now about his time in rehab. Those weeks rebuilt more than muscle; they rebuilt the life he and Stacey were building.
Their love, once strained by illness, became renewed. They tied the knot on February 14th at the church camp they both attended.
Six months later, Jamie walked 18,000 steps at Disney. Today, he averages around 8,000 steps a day. He’s back at work, now in retail instead of construction. And he hopes to volunteer at the cardiac rehab center that helped save his life.
Paying It Forward
Jamie now wants to help others find hope. “If I can help one person, I will do it,” Jamie says. “If anybody has the blues, call me and I’ll come over and talk to them and help.”
He wants patients to know that even after major heart surgery, life can still be full. “Covenant Health LeConte showed me that I wasn’t done. I still had my life.”
He still visits the care team regularly. “For the rest of my life, I’m grateful. I will not forget. I won’t stop coming by, even if we move out of town.”
A Stronger Future
Jamie’s story is one of resilience, love and expert care. Covenant Health LeConte provided the advanced rehabilitation, encouragement and connection he needed to rebuild his life, one step at a time.
His journey continues, and with help from Covenant Health, he’s walking it with strength and with Stacey by his side. Are you looking for a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program that works for you? Talk with your physician and see if you could benefit from this. Our team is ready to provide you with the right cardiac care when you need it.
