Ann’s Secret to a Long Life: Faith, Family, and a Good Cardiologist
Ninety-eight-year-old Ann Motekaitis still remembers the night she first met cardiologist Dr. Andrew Kriegel. It was July 1984, and she was out at a restaurant watching her son, Tom, perform. “I thought I had indigestion, but then it kept coming back. I was in deep pain,” Ann remembers.
She was taken to her local emergency department, where doctors told her she was having a heart attack and transferred her to what was then called Boston University Hospital for a cardiac catheterization.
On her care team was a young cardiologist-in-training named Dr. Andrew Kriegel. “He made an impression on me that first time I met him, and he has always treated me with respect,” says Ann.
A year later, when Ann’s cardiologist in Boston retired, she was told a new cardiologist would be seeing her in Brockton. “They told me his name was ‘Dr. Kriegel,’” recalls Ann. “I said, ‘Could it be the same Dr. Andrew Kriegel?’ And they said, ‘Yes.’” When the two reunited, Dr. Kriegel also remembered Ann.
41 Years of Cardiology Care
That was the beginning of a bond that has lasted more than four decades. At appointments at Boston Medical Center – South, Ann and Dr. Kriegel always take a minute to share personal updates and pictures of their grandchildren. “He told me that whenever he sees my name, he is so glad he’ll get to see me.”
Despite facing multiple health challenges—including two heart attacks, a valve replacement, triple and quadruple bypass, pancreatic surgery, and a rare complication called Harlequin syndrome that once landed her in a medical journal—Ann remains upbeat, sharp, and grateful.
She only takes heart medications and makes sure she wears her medical alert bracelet to let others know she's on blood thinners, which make her bleed easily. “Dr. Kriegel says the valve is working really well and my health is pretty good,” says Ann. “I always thought my husband would outlive me because of everything I went through.” Her beloved husband of 57 years, Vitold, died in 2010 of cancer.
“When I was in the hospital, he would always come and see me before he’d leave to go home. One time he was even celebrating his birthday, but he told me he had to come in and say goodnight to me.”
Today, Ann lives at home with Tom, who cooks her meals, does the laundry, and checks in on her throughout the day. “I’m very lucky at my age that I have my mom and that I’m able to get up in the morning and knock on her door to make sure she’s ok,” says Tom. Ann’s daughter, Mary Ann, brings her to doctor’s appointments, and her sons, Jimmy and Joey, visit often—along with six grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and close friends.
“I forget things now and then, but thank God I still have my faculties,” says Ann. “I do the Jumble puzzle every day to keep my mind going.”
Finding Strength in Her Faith
Ann continues to see Dr. Kriegel every six months and says the relationship she’s built with him has made all the difference in her health and her life. “When I was in the hospital, he would always come and see me before he’d leave to go home. One time he was even celebrating his birthday, but he told me he had to come in and say goodnight to me.” Years ago, Ann took a picture with Dr. Kriegel that still sits on her hutch. “I always look at it and I say a prayer for him at night and in the morning.”
When asked what the secret to long life is, Ann says it’s her faith that has been the biggest source of strength. “I really owe a lot to God. Through my faith in Him, I pulled through all my surgeries.” She adds that her niece and caretaker, Barbara, takes her to Mass every week and that Deacon Bill has been especially inspiring.
Ann’s devotion is why her beloved Catholic church in Avon, St. Michael’s, came together last July to celebrate her 97th birthday. “The whole congregation made a big deal, standing up and singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me,” remembers Ann. “I walked out with the deacon on one side and the pastor on the other, and everyone was clapping and clapping.”
Now 98, Ann continues to face life with grace, humor, and gratitude—for Dr. Kriegel, her family, and every day she’s given.
Find a Cardiologist for Life at Boston Medical Center – South Cardiology
At Boston Medical Center – South’s Cardiology Department, our skilled cardiology experts deliver compassionate care for all conditions, from the most common to the most complex. We have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for our high-performing heart attack care.
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