Dr. Terry Dubrow revealed that his wife, Heather Dubrow, prevented him from suffering a potentially life threatening stroke after experiencing scary symptoms last week, Pvnew has learned.
The plastic surgeon told TMZ that he was dining with Heather and their son Nick Dubrow at The Ivy in Los Angeles last Thursday when he began “slurring his speech.”
Terry, 64, recalled that the mishap went on for “less than a minute,” but Heather insisted that their son call 911 anyway – which “pissed off Terry because he says he felt fine.”
The Dubrows waited outside the restaurant for paramedics to arrive, per a video obtained by the outlet, and they determined that Terry was alright after taking his vitals.
However, Heather was “not satisfied” by the quick checkup and “insisted” they transport him to the hospital, to which an “embarrassed” Terry “refused” to do so and called a car to take him home.
During the car ride, Heather, 54, called several of his “doctor buddies,” who “convinced” the longtime couple to go to the hospital anyway.
After running several tests, doctors determined that Terry suffered from a transient ischemic attack (TIA) – which is a brief, stroke-like attack that “occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
While a TIA itself doesn’t typically have severe impacts, doctors also learned that Terry had a patent foramen ovale (PFO) – a hole between the left and right chambers of the heart.
Because of the PFO, a blood clot was able to pass through it and “traveled to his brain” which ultimately “caused the TIA.”
If Heather had not “insisted” on taking her hubby to the hospital, the PFO could have resulted in a “full-blown stroke.”
“He believes that Heather saved his life, and he’s still gushing about her,” a source close to the family exclusively tells Pvnew. “She was being an incredible health advocate for someone she loves.”
Doctors were luckily able to repair his heart, and our source assures us that he’s doing “great” and is “back 100 percent with no impairments” to continue performing his highly sought-after plastic surgery procedures.
Our source adds that Terry is “grateful this conversation is happening,” so other people “know what to look for” and are able to “put their foot down” about checking in on health concerns – like his wife did.
“He’s being completely transparent, because he’s a doctor, and he’s dedicated his life to helping other people and shifted his entire practice to helping people,” they continue.
Prior to Terry’s health scare, Hailey Bieber suffered a similar miniature stroke that landed her in the hospital last year after a blood clot similarly traveled from her PFO to her brain and caused a TIA.
A rep for the Dubrows did not immediately return Pvnew’s request for comment.
“Botched” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on E! while “The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
