Brotherly love
Man prioritizes heart health after twin’s sudden death.
Article Author: Johnny Woodhouse
Article Date:
Identical twin brothers Bill and Shep Colledge attended the same high school and university, each had two children, and once lived within a mile of each other. Later in life, the retired bank executives experienced similar health scares but with different outcomes.
In early 2024, Bill, who had been complaining of heart issues and back pain for months, was referred to Baptist Medical Center Clay for a series of cardiac tests.
Prior to his scheduled exams, Bill was seen in the Emergency Room at Baptist Clay, where he learned his heart was functioning at 25% of its capacity. Further diagnostic testing, including a biopsy, revealed he had an aggressive form of biliary duct cancer which had already invaded several of his major organs.
Because his weakened heart would not be able to tolerate chemotherapy, Bill decided to forgo any treatment. He died on April 19, 2024, 16 days after celebrating his 76th birthday.
Restoring blood flow
Bill’s sudden death hit his twin brother hard.
Best of friends, the pair rose the financial ladder together, becoming the presidents of rival banks in the late 1980s. They shared a love of traveling and a passion for community service. They also shared the same lifestyle habits.
“When my brother died so suddenly, I decided I better get checked out,” said Shep Colledge, whose father died of a heart attack at age 59.
After undergoing a heart catheterization at Baptist Medical Center South, Colledge learned he was also suffering advanced heart failure to the point where he might need a heart transplant.
“Shep’s heart was so weak and because of his age and other factors, including four blocked arteries, he needed advanced care,” said thoracic surgeon John “Jack” Pirris, MD, FACS, who specializes in complex cardiac surgery.
During Colledge’s surgery, which included a quadruple bypass and an aortic valve replacement, Dr. Pirris utilized an FDA-approved temporary heart pump. The surgically implanted mechanical device, thinner than a pencil, allows the heart to rest and achieve its natural pumping function, delivering blood and oxygen to the entire body without additional support. The tiny pump, which is inserted into an artery in the patient’s upper thigh via a catheter and moved up to the heart, helps the heart recover after surgery and reduces the risk of shock.
Back to nature
Following the life-saving procedure, Colledge, 76, spent nine days in the Intensive Care Unit at Baptist Heart Hospital, including two days on life support. He was weaned off the heart pump after a few days and was discharged home with his native heart.
Since then, he and his wife, Eleanor, are back to spending time at their vacation home near Brevard, North Carolina. Colledge has even made solo trips to their remote mountain retreat, where he enjoys walking in the woods, fishing and spending time in nature.
Shep Colledge and his wife Eleanor at DuPont State Park.
“I’ve come a long way from being a very sick person and all indications are that I’m ahead of schedule in my recovery,” said Colledge. “I’m incredibly grateful to get a second chance at life.”
The Heart Hospital at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville has received a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing it among the elite for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada. To schedule an appointment with a cardiologist with Baptist Heart Specialists, call 904.720.0799.
