87-Year-Old Heart Patient Volunteers 23 Years in Nashville

When Jim Leath walks the halls of TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, he moves with purpose but never rushes. At 87, he knows the value of taking it slow, especially after open heart surgery.

Leath had his own cardiac surgery 23 years ago. Two to three years after his recovery, he started returning to the same hospital as a volunteer, and he hasn't stopped since.

His mission is simple: visit patients who just had valve or cardiac surgery and share what he learned from being in their exact position. "I've been in that situation," Leath tells patients during his rounds. "I know what it takes to seek the rewards of that longer life."

The advice he gives is practical and encouraging. He reminds patients that the surgeon and nurses did their part, and now the recovery is up to them. His favorite metaphor comes from the classic fable: be the turtle, not the hare.

"You got to go slow and easy because they've had a lot they've done in this chest, so slow and easy," he explains to patients still adjusting to life after surgery.

Leath brings more than wisdom to each visit. He presents patients with certificates welcoming them to the "Zipper Club," a lighthearted reference to the scar that now marks their chest, just like his. It's a small gesture that transforms a frightening medical experience into membership in a community of survivors.

At 87, Leath could easily claim he's done enough. He's lived through his own health crisis, raised his family, and earned the right to rest. But that's not how he sees it.

"At 87 I could say I've had it, I've done my thing," he admits. "And I don't know how long I'll be able to do this, but as long as I can, then I will do it to help people."

Sunny's Take

What makes Leath's story so powerful isn't just his dedication over two decades. It's that he shows up for strangers during their most vulnerable moments without expecting anything in return. "There's nothing in it for us, other than the fact that we are helping you," he says.

For patients waking up from surgery, scared and uncertain about what comes next, Leath represents something invaluable: proof that recovery is possible and that they're not alone in the journey.

His simple approach to helping others reveals a truth we often forget: the best support sometimes comes from someone who's walked the same difficult path and made it to the other side.