Phil and Margaret Vaske

After being married 63 years, Phil, 86, and Margaret, 82, have shared in just about everything.

Who would ever think that bypass surgery would be the next new thing the couple would have in common?

Their hearts literally went on a similar journey at the same time—both experienced signs of a heart attack. Margaret had back pain, and Phil had chest pain.

They went to the emergency room closest to their apartment in Sun City Center, Florida, to have their symptoms checked on and were quickly transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital.

The couple underwent back-to-back bypass surgeries performed by Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Ignacio Duarte. Margaret had a quadruple bypass, and Phil had a triple bypass on the same day. Their recovery is the next part of their story.

Phil checks on Margaret

After surgery, their rooms were right next door to each other, and let’s just say that Phil could not be away from his sweetheart, Margaret, for long, especially while she was recovering. Their son, Jeff Vaske, shared that his dad was sneaking into his mom’s room to check on her.

“Turn your back, and Dad’s walked over from his neighboring room, standing there holding hands with Mom," he said.

Margaret said Phil has always been one to take care of her. “I had breast cancer twice. I had a hip replacement. He’s been my rock whenever I had something wrong with me," she said.

Jeff said his parents lean on each other during difficult times. "A major factor in getting them through it [is] that they’re doing it together," he said.

For a couple to have heart attacks and go through bypass surgery at the same time, it is beyond imagination what the odds would be. Phil sees it as pure coincidence, but Margaret sees it as a lesson they’re meant to learn from.

"This is the Lord’s way of telling us something," she said, clutching her rosary. Margaret encourages people to be aware of pain consistent with a heart attack and not to wait, go to see their doctor, or go to the hospital.

Their wedding day

Their love story started in their childhood in Bancroft, Iowa. Their fathers were best friends and neighbors. Margaret and Phil lived next door to each other on a farm.

Their romance ignited on the dance floor while dating in the late 1950s. Phil had returned from the Navy, and Margaret had recently graduated from high school. "We've been together ever since," Margaret said.

Margaret shared the story of her wedding day as if it was yesterday. There is a special moment that she shares vividly.

“The day was scorching hot, and the church had turned off its fans, so I was sweating through my dress,” she said. Margaret only had a thin handkerchief to dry off. When the officiant handed Phil the ring, it dropped — but Margaret picked it up.

"I said, 'Here it is.' And right after that I was just as cool as a cucumber," Margaret said.

The Vaskes today

The Vaske’s decided to trade snow for sunshine and moved to Florida near Margaret’s mom after raising their five children in Iowa. They have enjoyed living in Florida for 27 years.

These adorable love birds, Margaret and Phil, are looking forward to returning to their apartment to visit with friends. As hokey as it sounds, they can now share that their hearts are truly in sync as never before.

Margaret and Phil’s genuine affection for each other is captured in their sweet smooch in hospital gowns and twin heart pillows. A very different moment then their wedding photo, but certainly memorable.