Villanos Italian thanks doctors that saved owner’s life

Two months ago, Lisa Villano suffered a severe heart attack that she almost didn’t survive. Thanks to the Portneuf Medical Center’s cardiac team, she’s back on her feet today.

On Thursday, she invited the team to her restaurant, Villano’s Italian on Main Street, for heart-shaped pizza and a thank-you celebration.

“We just are blessed and got there in enough time that they could save me,” Villano said.

It took an hour of CPR and a triple bypass surgery to save her life.

“What was miraculous is that she woke up fully intact, moving everything, which is very uncommon,” said Jacob Delarosa, chief of cardiac surgery and one of the surgeons who operated on her.

But Delarosa said it was a close call for Villano, who almost couldn’t be revived.

“When I went up to tell the family that she wasn’t gonna make and do they want us to do anything, her little son started crying and said, ‘Not my mom, not my mom,’ and that just put us all… We were gonna do whatever it took to save her life. And the team did an amazing job,” Delarosa said.

Her family is thankful for the team that saved her life.

“Everybody involved was incredible. We’re blessed to have them in this town and it’s great to see them here in our restaurant and say thank you face to face,” said Aaron Villano, Lisa’s husband.

“He came up to me and gave me a big hug and said, ‘thank you for taking care of my mom,'” Delarosa said.

The Villanos said they couldn’t have made it through this difficult time without the help of their staff and the community that rallied behind them.