Armand Martinez
Armand Martinez, 74, of Poteet, Texas, recently made the trip to San Antonio with his wife, Beverly, for one of her medical appointments.
Along the way, Armand suggested a quick stop at Methodist Hospital Texsan — a hospital he'd heard about because of its reputation in heart care. But the visit wasn't for him.
"Our son has a heart condition and hadn't been following up with his doctor," Armand explained. "I just wanted to see if Texsan might be a better fit for him."
To their surprise, a cardiologist at Texsan had an opening the very next day. Beverly had a follow-up appointment across town at the same time, but in a providential turn, her visit wrapped up precisely on schedule — giving Armand the margin to keep the appointment himself.
That seemingly small decision changed everything.
"I'd been waking up short of breath at night," Armand said. "I didn't think much of it — just something I brushed off."
When he mentioned it during his visit, the Texsan team didn't dismiss it. They acted immediately. Two EKGs revealed a complete arterial blockage and a heart rate that had dangerously dipped into the 30s.
"The doctor looked at me and said, 'You're not going anywhere,'" Armand recalled. "He told me I needed surgery — right away."
That same day, Armand was admitted. Texsan's surgical team discovered and cleared four critical blockages and placed a pacemaker. His heart rate now stays steady in the 80s.
“I truly believe God had His hand on every step of that day," Armand said. "If Beverly's appointment had run late... if that cardiologist hadn't been available... if we hadn't stopped at Texsan... I would've gone home. And I might not be here today."
Beverly echoed his gratitude. "From the front desk to the nurses and doctors, everyone was kind and patient. They explained everything and gave us peace of mind."
"They treated me like a person, not a number," Armand added. "Texsan felt right from the moment we walked in."
Now recovering and back at home, Armand is urging others — especially men — to pay attention to their health.
"If something feels off, don't ignore it. I almost did. I'm so thankful I didn't wait any longer."
His story is a powerful reminder of how divine timing, compassionate care, and advanced cardiac expertise at Methodist Hospital Texsan came together — just in time — to save a life.
Methodist Hospital Texsan is a full-service, acute care hospital known for its specialty in heart and orthopedic services. Texsan also provides exceptional care in emergency medicine, rehabilitation, and gastrointestinal (GI) services. As part of the Methodist Healthcare family, Texsan delivers leading-edge medical technology with a personalized, boutique hospital experience — because every patient matters.