Patient Profile:
- Name: Bonnie
- From: United States
- Procedure: Open Heart Surgery
- Clinic: Centro Médico Teknon — Barcelona, Spain
- Doctor: Dr. Xavier Ruyra Baliarda, cardiothoracic surgeon
Open heart surgery is never an easy path. For many, it comes with fear, financial worries, and uncertainty about recovery. But hearing from others who’ve been through it—real open heart surgery survivor stories—can help make the road feel less lonely.
This is one of those real-life stories. A heart lipoma diagnosis, trust lost in the U.S. medical system, and a search for high-quality, affordable care abroad. Bonnie’s story is for anyone who’s looking for open heart surgery testimonials, wants to understand the recovery timeline, or simply needs hope.
Table of Contents:
How It Started: From Chest Pain to Diagnosis
Bonnie is a certified nurse aide from the United States. In 2022, she went to the ER with rib pain—nothing too serious, she thought. But a scan revealed a 3mm mass in her heart.
She was referred from one U.S. doctor to another, but no real plan followed. As months passed, her symptoms got worse. So did the mass. By 2024, it had doubled in size.
Doctors weren’t in a hurry. But Bonnie was. Her energy was fading, and she couldn’t keep doing the job she loved.
“I noticed a decline in my strength, which affected my ability to work.”
She was living with a tumor in her heart and no real timeline for treatment. Despite her medical background, Bonnie felt overlooked by the system meant to care for her. The costs were unclear. Appointments were slow.
Looking Abroad: Trust, Cost, and Courage
Bonnie found Bookimed, a platform that helps patients connect with trusted hospitals worldwide. Her coordinator listened carefully and collected her tests and reports.
One offer stood out: a clinic in Barcelona with a strong heart surgery team and affordable pricing.
She read other open heart surgery recovery stories. She wanted to hear how others had done, and see open heart surgery photos. She wasn’t alone.
Open Heart Surgery in Spain
In Spain, Bonnie had the tumor removed during an open heart surgery procedure. She was in expert hands, with careful pre-op tests and clear communication.
“The surgeon was extremely knowledgeable. I’m very pleased with the international service provided.”
The full program—consultations, surgery, ICU care, and recovery—cost less than many quotes she received in the U.S. or even Mexico.
Bonnie had her surgery at Centro Médico Teknon, a private hospital in Spain known for international patients and heart procedures. The clinic has over 30 years of experience, a multilingual staff, and internationally certified doctors. It’s been chosen by patients from around the world for complex surgeries like Bonnie’s.
Open heart surgery at Centro Médico Teknon in Barcelona, Spain may cost around €35,000–45,000. The procedure is performed by Dr. Xavier Ruyra Baliarda, a cardiac surgeon with 35 years of experience and over 1,100 procedures performed. The JCI-accredited hospital offers comprehensive surgical packages with ICU monitoring.
About the Surgeon
Dr. Xavier Ruyra Baliarda leads the Cardiac Surgery department at Teknon Heart Institute. With 35 years of practice, he specializes in complex valve procedures including the Ross technique. He holds three patents for mitral valve technologies and appears in Forbes' Top 100 Spanish doctors list.
Surgical Details
The traditional sternotomy approach uses cardiopulmonary bypass for heart procedures. The package includes:
- Open heart surgery under general anesthesia
- 7-10 days hospitalization with ICU monitoring
- Pre-operative tests (echo, ECG, X-ray, blood work)
- Post-operative follow-up examinations
Hospital Features
Centro Médico Teknon holds both JCI and EFQM accreditations. It belongs to Spain's largest private healthcare network Quirónsalud. The facility maintains a 4.7/5 rating from 390+ patient reviews.
Recovery Process
Patients typically stay in Barcelona for minimum two weeks post-surgery. The package covers all necessary post-operative monitoring. Dr. Ruyra personally oversees recovery progress.
For precise cost calculation and surgical planning, the clinic recommends an initial consultation with the specialist.
Hospital certificates and accreditation of quality
The surgery was performed by Dr. Xavier Ruyra Baliarda, a cardiothoracic surgeon with over 35 years of experience. He is a recognized expert in open heart surgery, heart valve repair, and minimally invasive cardiac procedures.
Dr. Ruyra has developed several patented techniques for valve reconstruction and is a member of the Spanish Society of Cardiac Surgery and theEuropean Board of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.
Bonnie’s Recovery Process
Bonnie is still healing, but her strength is returning. Her open heart surgery experience was serious—but also hopeful.
“I’m still not 100%, but I just need some time. I’m very grateful.”
The open heart surgery recovery timeline included 1–2 days in the intensive care unit, followed by a 7–10 day hospital stay. Full recovery at home generally took 4 to 6 weeks.
Why Bonnie Chose Bookimed
Bonnie found support where she least expected it — online.
Bookimed connected her with doctors who listened, options she could afford, and most importantly, people who cared. From reading open heart surgery blogs to receiving personalized answers from clinics, she was never left alone.
Through Bookimed, Bonnie received:
✅ Free help comparing clinics.
✅ A personal coordinator who guided her step by step.
✅ Access to real patient stories and verified treatment options.
✅ A transparent, no-pressure approach.
Her journey is now part of a growing list of open heart surgery blogs and testimonials that show what's possible—with the right support.
All medical content on this page is prepared by authors with specialized medical education and reviewed by certified physicians in the relevant field. Medical review by Haşim Üstünsoy, Cardiovascular surgeon.
Last updated: July 3, 2025.
- Statistics: Figures are based on Bookimed’s internal database December 2025, which includes analysis of 12,450 patient requests across 1 accredited clinics in Spain.
- Pricing: Cost information is provided directly by Bookimed’s partner clinics and updated regularly to reflect current 2025 market conditions. Actual expenses may differ depending on case complexity, surgeon expertise, and clinic location.
- Clinical Data: Treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction figures are collected from Bookimed’s verified clinic database and supported by data from peer-reviewed medical sources such as PubMed, The Lancet, JAMA, and NEJM (2023–2025).
All data is provided for general informational purposes and may not represent individual results or experiences.