Patient Testimonials
Joseph K. | Port Huron
"Arterial vascular disease in the legs, which is caused by smoking, which I started smoking when I was 15 and now 72, so I have advised all you young kids nowadays not to smoke. I called Dr. Elder's office I believe on Monday, he was not there. I talked to his associate, I explained everything which was wrong with me that I could not walk from my bed into my living room without my legs just cramping out and I had to sit down for a while to get circulation back in there. So, he made appointment with me the following I believe Thursday. I went down and talked to Dr. Elder and the minute I talked to him, I felt so very confident and he made me feel very confident. He made me feel like he knew exactly what he was doing. He felt very confident himself and I have never talked to a doctor and I have seen a few of them in my lifetime and so he made me feel comfortable as he has. He set up to have surgery done on Saturday.
He just wanted to check up my legs, he is Vascular Surgery. He tried to get a team of doctors to do some surgery on Saturday. Once he did that, there was worsening what he had anticipated, then he wanted to do it on Sunday, which had been New Year's Eve, but he couldn't get the team of doctors to do it on Sunday. So then he had me the next day, Monday at Harper Hospital to do the surgery. On Monday, Dr. Elder did my left leg and then on the right leg it was the bypass, fem-fem which a different doctor had done earlier kind of messed up on it. It was very extreme, so he had to bring in another doctor, who did a great job. In between the two of them I am alive, have both my legs, and I am walking and doing well with very little pain.
This all happened within a week.
I think the surgery has got everything I thought and it made me feel very confident. He seems very confident in what he was doing. He explained to me exactly what he is going to do. He did not make me feel what he was going to do was very invasive or was life-threatening. He just made me feel very comfortable with procedure he is going to do and I felt very comfortable with it.
He is far and above other doctors really. I have talked to other doctors before. You know they talked, they do not explain everything to you. He explained everything to me, made me feel very comfortable. I was a bit worried when I came in to do surgery.
Well, I am retired right now. I enjoy boating, swimming, I guess I am walking a little bit more now to get the arteries working a lot better than they are right now and that is about it.
If you know anyone with vascular disease, whatsoever that is the man to call. I know he will do the best he can and you will feel much better. Another thing about Dr. Elder, I have a couple daughters that were here and he is a type of person that told them to come down to his office today, January 6th. He said he will give them free screening for any vascular diseases or vascular problems they have, and how many doctors would do that, you know giving a free screening to make sure their arteries are okay. This is what I like about the doctor, he is a great man and I like him."
ANGELA F. | Ann Arbor
"Dr. Elder is always punctual, and explains everything to me patiently and thoroughly. I never felt rushed or pressured in any of my interactions with him. His gentle and caring manner not only makes me feel comfortable with him but it honestly makes me feel like he cares for me as an individual"
MICHELLE | Royal Oak
"I am writing to express my gratitude towards Dr. Elder and his staff. After a recent examination Dr. Elder found an abnormal result. He immediately scheduled me for follow-up testing which ended up being negative. Dr. Elder personally called me to relay the good news and provide a detailed explanation of my health status in a way that helped relieve all the anxiety I had about my condition. Dr. Elder's commitment to his patients and the conscious effort he makes to personally overseeing his patient's care is the reason why my mother and I refuse to see any other doctor"
JENNIFER S. | Birmingham, MI
"On behalf of my mother, I would like to express my most profound appreciation for Dr. Elder. Specifically, I wanted to thank him for spending so much time with us explaining my mother's condition during our visit yesterday. The patient, encouraging, and comforting way he explains things as well as his promise to "stand by" us "every step of the way" have really made my mother the most hopeful she has been since her initial diagnosis. Thank you so much and God bless you Dr. Elder."
ROBERT H. | West Bloomfield
"I would like to compliment Dr. Elder and his cardiac team. I had no symptoms of heart disease before I had my heart attack. I arrived by ambulance and the cardiac team was ready for me. They immediately got me to the cath lab, and everything they did was like clockwork.
I knew about Cardiac Team One, so I told the EMT specifically where I wanted to go. I had read some articles about the statistics for prompt intervention after a heart attack.
Everyone I have dealt with at Heart and Vascular Institute has been exceptionally informative and truly interested in my health. It has been first-class treatment!"
BRENDA M. | Grosse Point
"Dr. Elder was recommended to me by my attending physician. We were told that he is one of the better people in cardiovascular care. I had chest pains and circulation problems in my legs. It was difficult to walk, and I was easily tired. While trying to walk, I would just collapse.
Dr. Elder performed a balloon angioplasty and put in a medical stent. The improvement is fantastic! The shortness of breath is gone, and I am moving around much better. I have begun a cardiovascular treatment program, which includes exercise. Now, I feel like the six million dollar woman!
I will recommend Dr. Elder to anybody in the world who is having a health problem. He is one of the people who did not just get his medical degree ~ he earned it, and it shows in everything he does! I appreciate Dr. Elder, and I always will."
J. CLARK | Detroit
"Dr. Elder is the best doctor I have ever met! I was very ill, and no one would help me. I had lost my job and had no insurance... and he treated me. I had heart blockage of almost 99% at the time, and he saved me; without having to cut me open!
I trust Dr. Elder with my heart. He put stents in, and did all the medical procedures that allowed me to walk again. Before that, I could barely walk 5 to 10 feet, due to my poor circulation and shortness of breath.
I recommend Dr. Elder to everyone needing a heart specialist. You can't help but love his kindness and patient care. I celebrated New Year's Eve with family and friends. No one could believe how well I looked! He is the best heart doctor: Number One to me!"
CANDICE W. | Detroit
"Dr. Elder cares about his patients and has everything you need right here at the Heart and Vascular Institute. I had a heart attack in March 2007, and was seeing another heart doctor. After experiencing more symptoms in November, I was hospitalized. I contacted my doctor, and she did not come to see me. I was treated by Dr. Elder while in the hospital, and decided to make an appointment with him afterward. I also saw my old doctor one last time after the hospitalization, and she told me she would see me in four months. Dr. Elder told me he wanted to make sure every area of my health was taken care of and began my interventional cardiology treatment program immediately.
Dr. Elder truly cares, and he has been my heart doctor ever since!"
Physician Testimonials
Tamara Cardiology | March 7th 2008
After multiple visits with various doctors, Tamara was still searching for medical answers.
For months she had been experiencing unusual dizziness, headaches and shortness of breath. But after seeing several doctors and undergoing multiple exams, she still didn't know the full cause of her symptoms.
Tamara knew her heart was fluttering, but doctors initially dismissed her problem. As 37-year-old single mother of six with a full-time job, Tamara carried a lot of responsibility. Admittedly, her own health was secondary to caring for her children. But when it became difficult even to go up and down the stairs without being completely winded, Tamara had had enough.
Finally, fluid was discovered around Tamara's heart. That's when she was referred to cardiologist Mahir Elder, M.D. at Harper University Hospital.
Dr. Elder knew something had been missed during Tamara's previous medical tests. Using advanced cardiovascular ultrasound equipment, he uncovered the true cause of her symptoms - a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), or hole in the wall separating the right and left sides of her heart.
"This hole occurs naturally when a baby develops in the womb," Dr. Elder explained. "It allows the mother to provide oxygen to the fetus through the umbilical cord. Normally, the hole closes once the baby takes its first breath after birth. If the hole does not close, it allows blood and other particles to shift from one side of the heart to the other and causes the upper part of the heart to be dilated. If untreated, it can lead to a stroke."
To cover the relatively large hole in Tamara's heart, Dr. Elder employed a surgical technique using a state-of-the-art endovascular approach. A small, umbrella-like device made of thin, corrosion-proof steel was drawn up to her heart through a three-millimeter incision in her groin. Using high-tech ultrasound equipment to pinpoint the opening, Dr. Elder covered the hole by unfurling the steel plate, which is about the size of a silver dollar. Heart tissue eventually grows over the plate to fully complete the seal.
"We're one of the few centers in the country to perform this procedure," Dr. Elder said. "PFOs are more often diagnosed in young children than adults. We collaborate closely with the doctors at Children's Hospital of Michigan, who are leaders in treating this defect, and assist each other with adult and pediatric cardiology."
Tamara's surgical procedure took about 45 minutes. After an overnight stay, Tamara returned to her soccer mom life with no limitations.
"My experience at Harper Hospital was great," Tamara said. "Everyone from Dr. Elder to the staff showed professionalism and a fantastic bedside manner. They made me feel at ease and showed that they really cared. I've never experienced the same amount of hospitality and compassion at another medical center. I'd recommend Harper Hospital to anyone."
Brenda M.| May 07, 2009
Q: Why did you see Dr. Elder?
A: Our attending physician recommended Dr. Elder. He told us that he is one of the better people in his field.
Q: What kind of pain were you having at the time?
A: Chest pain and circulation problems
Q: What were your symptoms?
A: Difficulty walking; numbness, tingling in my legs, and fatigue. I would get tired and my legs would collapse.
Q: You had heart surgery done then
A: Yes, Dr. Elder's treatment included a medical stent, and balloon angioplasty for my legs. The results have been fantastic.
Q: How have you been feeling since Dr. Elder has treated you?
A: I have a lot more energy. I move around a lot better, and am not short of breath. I have not gotten all the way into the exercise program yet, but there is already great improvement.
Q: Would you say that the patient care you received helped you get your life back?
A: Yes! I feel like the six million dollar woman!
Q: That's great news! Would you recommend Dr. Elder to other heart patients?
A: I will recommend Dr. Elder to anybody in the world who is having heart problems. Dr. Elder is one of the people, I believe, who did not just get his medical degree: He earned it, and everything that he does shows it!
Mr. Robert H. | May 07, 2009
Q: You told us you were very happy with your medical procedure at the DMC. Was this the first time you experienced a heart attack, or had any heart problems?
A: Correct, I never had a heart attack before. I had no trauma sensation or prior symptoms. Nothing equivalent.
Q: Are you pleased with the performance done by Cardiac Team One, especially Dr. Elder himself?
A: I compliment everyone at Cardiac Team One. They were ready for me when I arrived by emergency vehicle. The staff was perfectly prepared, and got me to the cath lab immediately. There were no hitches of any kind.
After that, I had another minor heart incident. Like clockwork, the Cardiac Team One professionals were prepared, and gave me a temporary pacemaker.
Q: I am happy to hear that you are pleased with the medical treatment you received. Once again, Dr. Elder and Cardiac Team One were able to perform the 60-minute procedure on you; which on average, takes 90-minutes with a heart attack patient. We are very proud of our heart specialists, and it is good that you chose Cardiac Team One.
A: I did some work for DMC last fall, so I knew about Cardiac Team One. So when the EMTs asked me where I wanted to go, I told them specifically to come here.
Q: Had you met Dr. Elder or anyone from Cardiac Team One before?
A: I had met Dr. Schreiber last fall while working for DMC. I had also read some news articles about the statistics for prompt intervention after a heart attack.
Q: So, you are knowledgeable about cardiovascular medicine and prompt medical treatment for heart problems?
A: I feel lucky. Everyone I have dealt with has been exceptionally informative, and truly interested in my recovery after my heart attack. The heart doctors here provide first-class treatment.
I am glad you are happy with our performance, and we look forward to seeing you back again for a checkup. Thank you!
Rima Fakih
Mahir Elder, M.D.
Cardiology
