Allen Stanford has a big heart, in love and in life. In matters of love, a big heart is a wonderful attribute. In medical terms, not so much.

The 78-year-old retired building inspector married the love of his life, Karen, on Sept. 9. Stanford also has congestive heart failure, which causes heart enlargement and organ dysfunction, and has kept him closely connected to hospitals since the mid 1990s. His story is being showcased by the East Carolina Heart Institute at Vidant Medical Center during Heart Failure Awareness Week, which begins today.

The week is part of February’s National Heart Month.

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