Gary Morton told reporters that in May of 1988 that wife, Lucille Ball had a “very slight heart attack” and was taken to Cedars-Siani. At the time cardiac tests failed to pinpoint the actual problem. Less than a year later on Tuesday, April 18th Lucy was rushed to the hospital again suffering from yet another heart attack. This would lead to several hours of open-heart surgery to replace an aortic value from a 27-year old donor.
After the surgery, Dr. Robert Kass said “the next 24 hours would be crucial and her condition is guarded, but optimistic” especially since she had a history of high blood pressure. This was Lucille Ball’s medication bottle for Procardia, a prescription issued on March 30, 1989, to treat hypertension and chest pain.