Finding strength and hope at Parkridge Medical Center

When Vernon McLeod walks through the doors of Parkridge Medical Center’s intensive cardiac rehab, he isn’t thinking about what he’s been through.

He’s focused on what’s ahead.

After a heart transplant, Vernon came to Chattanooga determined to rebuild his strength and reclaim his life. That path led him to Parkridge, where the intensive cardiac rehab team became an essential part of his recovery.

Day by day, exercises that once felt overwhelming became manageable. Progress followed consistency. Graduation day moved from a distant milestone to a real possibility.

“At first, it was hard,” Vernon said. “After a while, it gets easier and easier.”

Throughout the process, Vernon found encouragement in the people around him. The rehab team pushed him when he needed it, monitored him closely and celebrated every gain, big and small.

“They watched me, made sure I was doing things right and encouraged me,” he said. “The team effort here is awesome.”

Through the intensive cardiac rehab program, he found more than expert care. It was a community that made him feel supported every step of the way.

“It felt like family,” Vernon said. “Everyone was nice like a family.”

Now a graduate of the program, he said he feels stronger, healthier and more helpful.

“I’m doing a lot more now than I could before,” Vernon said.

His goals stretch beyond recovery. He dreams of going to culinary school and owning a restaurant one day where he can make his favorite recipes.

For Vernon, intensive cardiac rehab wasn’t just about healing his heart. It was about restoring his confidence and hope for what comes next.

At Parkridge, he found a team committed to walking that journey with him, every step of the way.