--- title: "Watchman Implant Gives Winemaker Cause To Celebrate | Sutter Health" description: "Taking blood thinners gave Harry Parsley a brain bleed. A tiny heart implant put him back on track within two weeks." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Patient Stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) / 3. Watchman Implant Gives Winemaker Cause To Celebrate # Watchman Implant Gives Winemaker Cause To Celebrate Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital * * * 2022 > Within within two weeks I could feel the difference. It’s an incredible feeling. After Harry Parsley started taking blood thinners to manage his [atrial fibrillation (AFib)](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/electrophysiology) , he unfortunately experienced one of the medication’s worst side effects: a brain bleed, or minor stroke. “The biggest concern I had at any moment was that I could have had a stroke,” he says. “I was under continuous threat every single day, and I felt like it would be that way forever.” Harry and his wife, Ellen, met with a cardiologist at Sutter to learn about the Watchman™ implant, a tiny plug that’s placed inside the heart’s left atrial appendage to prevent stroke-causing blood clots from traveling to the brain. “\[The surgeon at Sutter\] instilled very high confidence in both of us … and before we left \[the appointment\], we had made the decision” to get the implant. Following the one-hour, minimally invasive procedure and a single night in the hospital, Harry soon experienced the Watchman’s benefits. “They took me off the blood thinners, and within a couple of weeks I could feel the difference,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling. I can live my life fully now with the people I love to live it with. This has been the most important and probably best decision I could have ever made.” ## Discover similar stories Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one. [Heart and vascular](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Heart+and+vascular%22%5D%7D%5D)[Electrophysiology](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Electrophysiology%22%5D%7D%5D)[Cardiovascular surgery](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Cardiovascular+surgery%22%5D%7D%5D) ## Your Partners in Heart Health Your cardiovascular health can’t wait. Come to us for advanced heart care, from blood pressure management to transplants. [Request a Referral](https://www.sutterhealth.org/referrals) ## Related articles [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) - Patient story ### [Patient’s Energy Restored with a Minimally Invasive Heart Repair](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/patients-energy-restored-with-a-minimally-invasive-heart-repair-1042868327) Hope had a surgical repair done for her congenital heart disease when she was child. - Patient story ### [How Personalized Care Kept a Drummer's Heart Safe](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/personalized-heart-care-1078067836) Musician Bill Oaks plays on after receiving treatment for heart failure without surgery. - Patient story ### [Small device, big impact: Research brings new hope for failing hearts](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/small-device-big-impact-research-brings-new-hope-for-failing-hearts-2032168138) Thanks to a clinical trial, Karine Gasparyan says mitral valve replacement allowed her to enjoy life and look positively toward her future. [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) ## Disclaimer _Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice._ ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient Stories","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Watchman Implant Gives Winemaker Cause To Celebrate"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321#videoobject","name":"Watchman Implant for AFib: An Alternative to Blood Thinners","inLanguage":"en-US","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/7b9b8f87-5fb7-49c1-853a-54f91f8e7f7b/bba99eec-dede-43b6-aa86-48fa5cc4271e/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2019-07-15T20:59:03.608Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6059476622001","description":"Through a small catheter, surgeons in the Sutter Health network can implant the WatchmanTM device in the left atrial appendage of the heart. The non-surgical procedure helps people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation stop using blood thinners. ","duration":"PT2M13S","transcript":"[MUSIC PLAYING]\n\n[HEART BEAT]\nNARRATOR: When the heart begins to have an irregular heart\nbeat, we call it an arrhythmia.\nOne of the most common arrhythmias\nis called atrial fibrillation or AFib.\nTo get a better idea of what's happening\nin the heart with AFib, imagine the heart as a dam.\nIts job is to keep the flow of water at a steady pace.\nBut if it's only pumping water half the time it's supposed to,\nthere's going to be too much water\non the wrong side of the dam.\nThis is essentially what's happening to the heart.\nWhen blood begins to pool in the heart due to its inconsistent\npumping, much of the blood sits in an area called\nthe left atrial appendage.\nThis can lead to the formation of clots,\nwhich can cause a stroke.\nConventionally, what we've done to treat atrial fibrillation\nis use strong blood thinners.\nAnd while those blood thinners have been a treatment\nhistorically, they can lead to potentially serious side\neffects.\nFortunately, in the last couple of years,\na technology has become available to allow patients\nan alternative to blood thinners.\nThis alternative is called the Watchman implant device.\nThe procedure to implant the Watchman device\nonly takes about 30 minutes.\nIt's performed entirely through a small catheter inserted\nthrough the leg or groin.\nThe catheter transports the device\nto the heart, where surgeons place it\nin the left atrial appendage.\nThen the procedure is done.\nMost people are able to leave the hospital the next day.\nOver the next six weeks, your body\nwill form a layer of tissue over the implant.\nAnd once the device is confirmed to be in a good position,\nyou'll be able to get off blood thinners\nfor the rest of your life.\nThe Sutter Health Network has made\nit possible to deliver the Watchman technology to patients\nthroughout Northern California.\nOur vast network of hospitals and cardiovascular surgeons\nprovide advanced heart care near you\nso you don't have to travel to get\nthis life-changing treatment.\n[MUSIC PLAYING]"} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321#article","name":"Watchman Implant Gives Winemaker Cause To Celebrate","headline":"Watchman Implant Gives Winemaker Cause To Celebrate","abstract":"Taking blood thinners gave Harry Parsley a brain bleed. A tiny heart implant put him back on track within two weeks.","description":"Taking blood thinners gave Harry Parsley a brain bleed. A tiny heart implant put him back on track within two weeks.","keywords":["Heart health","Heart and vascular","Electrophysiology","Cardiovascular surgery","Heart Rhythm Disorder"],"datePublished":"2022-01-01","dateModified":"2026-10-06","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321#breadcrumblist"}},"author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"video":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/watchman-implant-gives-winemaker-cause-to-celebrate-1042868321#videoobject"},"articleBody":"After Harry Parsley started taking blood thinners to manage his atrial fibrillation (AFib), he unfortunately experienced one of the medication’s worst side effects: a brain bleed, or minor stroke. “The biggest concern I had at any moment was that I could have had a stroke,” he says. “I was under continuous threat every single day, and I felt like it would be that way forever.” Harry and his wife, Ellen, met with a cardiologist at Sutter to learn about the Watchman™ implant, a tiny plug that’s placed inside the heart’s left atrial appendage to prevent stroke-causing blood clots from traveling to the brain. “[The surgeon at Sutter] instilled very high confidence in both of us … and before we left [the appointment], we had made the decision” to get the implant. Following the one-hour, minimally invasive procedure and a single night in the hospital, Harry soon experienced the Watchman’s benefits. “They took me off the blood thinners, and within a couple of weeks I could feel the difference,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling. I can live my life fully now with the people I love to live it with. This has been the most important and probably best decision I could have ever made.”","mentions":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Joseph A Walsh, M.D., M.Sc."}]} ```