David’s Story – heart attack
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| David Sauer, Merrill, was treated for a heart attack by the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team. |
“We’ve been married 54 years. My wife wants to get a few more out of me.”
David and his wife got in their car expecting to have dinner with their daughter.
They made it as far as the end of the driveway.
That’s when David suddenly slumped over, unconscious in his seat. His wife drove him to Ministry Good Samaritan Health Care Center’s emergency department, where he received CPR in the parking lot before being rushed inside. Soon, he was being airlifted to Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital for emergency heart surgery.
“They cooled me down while I was out,” he says, describing an advanced technique doctors used to reduce the likelihood of damage to his oxygen-deprived brain and other vital organs. “I was confused when I woke up, and everybody was concerned, but I started talking to my doctors and my family…well, I came back 100%. They called me a miracle man, to come out of it the way I did.’”
After a second operation to implant a pacemaker and steady rehab, David made a full recovery and is back to being active on his farm.
David’s story shows the benefits of two health care leaders working together to deliver advanced heart care.
Dale’s Story – severe heart disease, bypass surgery
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| Dale Evert is the Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital. |
“I was basically a heart attack waiting to happen.”
Dale thought he had acid reflux, but his doctor saw signs of something more serious. She sent him to the cath lab, where he learned that several of his arteries were at least 90% blocked.
“I was here because this is where I work, but also because this is the right place to be. Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care were seamless in the way they took care of me…the cooperation between the physicians and the nurses and the technicians…everything just went click, click, click to get me into surgery…There was this sense of, ‘you are very important and we are going to do everything we can to get this corrected for you as quickly as possible.’”
Dale was admitted to Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital on a Wednesday afternoon, had 5 bypasses, and went home the following Monday. Since his surgery, he’s made lifestyle changes to keep his heart healthy. He’s lost over 40 pounds, no longer has high blood pressure, and feels he’s healthier now than he’s been in 20 years.
Dale recently catered his own 40th wedding anniversary—a party attended by 80 people. He doubts he would have had the strength to do it without his bypass.
See Dale talk about his story.
Meda’s Story – coronary artery disease
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| Meda Heywood, Marshfield, was surprised to find herself as a person with heart disease. |
“My motto now is to ‘keep fit for life,’ and I expect to have a long life.”
While hosting her mother-in-law’s 100th birthday party, Meda felt extremely fatigued. She thought she had the flu. Instead, she was surprised to learn that two arteries supplying blood to her heart had major blockages. Meda worked through the shocking news and put her faith in the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team.
“When I looked up the doctors’ credentials, I realized they had a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill. I settled into a comfortable state because I trusted the people that were helping me. I had worries, yes, but I did not have deep concerns because I knew I was in the most skilled hands.”
After successful treatment, Meda became determined to live a healthier lifestyle. Now, those changes have given her a shot at reaching the century mark herself.
Meda wants other women be aware of the dangers of heart disease.
“I want to educate as many women as I can to take care of themselves and to know they have a great team here they can rely on.”
See Meda talk about her story.
Robert’s Story – severe heart attack, Rescue 1
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| Robert Lass, Stevens Point, was treated for a very severe heart attack by the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team. |
“Three percent of us actually survive the type of heart attack I had.”
Robert Lass had a very severe heart attack during a Northwoods fishing tournament. His heart stopped at the scene for the first of more than 20 times that day. After the Rescue 1 protocol was enacted, he was flown to Weston for advanced treatment by Marshfield Clinic heart specialists on staff at Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital.
A combination of circumstances and an extraordinary heart team helped him survive what could have been a deadly event.
“I made it through because I was lucky enough to have just caught a fish. Then, because my fishing partner knew CPR, because the first responder lived two blocks away, because the people on the helicopter crew kept my heart going…and because once we landed, I was in surgery in minutes. Had all that not happened, I would not be here today. I should not be here today. I was so, so lucky.”
Robert’s story shows the remarkable coordination of this leading team.
Getting needed heart care quickly is essential during a dangerous heart event. Count on the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team when it matters most.
See Robert talk about his story.
Dick’s Story – coronary artery disease
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| Dick Dutrisac splits his time between Minocqua and California. |
“I had no real symptoms, but my doctor saw something small on a routine test.”
A former UW-Madison basketball player, Dick eats right, exercises and doesn’t smoke. He had minor high blood pressure, but had no reason to suspect that a routine exam would lead to the discovery of five blocked arteries. His story proves that heart disease can strike anyone.
Dick’s career as a businessman in health care was helpful as he researched his options for heart surgery. Studying the credentials and records of his Marshfield Clinic cardiovascular surgeon and the safety record at Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital, made him certain he already had the right team.
“Once you’re faced with the situation…it’s satisfying to know with certainty that you have a good team behind you. This team offers outstanding care. I’m very happy with the results. My wife and I have now switched most of our medical care from California to here. For me, having such good care close to home is a real advantage. It’s a comfort.”
Dick’s research confirmed that the right heart care is right here.
See Dick talk about his story.
Susan’s Story – heart disease in women
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| Susan Nelson, Marshfield, suddenly found herself as a person with heart disease. |
“They gave me a feeling of trust while I was feeling helpless.”
Susan Nelson was bothered by aches in her legs, and later by a knot in her back. One day, she felt indigestion, nausea and fatigue, but it wasn’t until a co-worker noticed that her lips were blue that she went to Ministry Health Care’s Saint Joseph’s Hospital and received treatment from a Marshfield Clinic cardiologist.
“They found that my right coronary artery was completely closed…they were able to open it with a balloon. And the knot in my back went away, completely.” Three additional blockages required bypass surgery.
“I did have full trust in everything that they were doing. The doctor who was attending me…her face was right next to mine, so without my glasses I could see her and look into her eyes. Everyone looked at me, not past me, not reading off of a script or a piece of paper. They cared about me and I knew they were doing whatever they could to make me whole again.”
Susan’s story shows how heart disease is different in women.
The early signs of heart attacks in women are often overlooked. Fortunately for Susan, she placed her trust in the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team.
See Susan talk about her story.
Dian’s Story – atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, second opinions
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| Dian had atrial fibrillation with a blockage. She believes that choosing the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team saved her life. |
“This team of cardiologists saved my life.”
Dian felt tired, nauseous and had been losing weight. With a trip to Japan coming up, she saw her family doctor. He identified atrial fibrillation and referred her to a big-city heart hospital. After many tests, she was told to go on her trip and come back again afterward. She was uncomfortable with that idea, so she took her records to Dr. Thomas Roy, a Marshfield Clinic cardiologist, for a second opinion. He saw signs of something more, a suspicion confirmed in the cath lab at Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital in Weston. Dian had a dangerous blockage of an important artery.
“Within minutes of coming through that front door, I was getting ready to get the procedure done. I said to my husband, ‘wow!’… I felt very certain that I was in the right hands.” Her blockage was quickly removed, and her heart’s rhythm was safely restored the next morning.
As for the trip to Japan, that’s postponed – but only for a while.
Heart disease is often misdiagnosed in women. Dian trusted her instincts and got a second opinion from the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team that may have saved her life.
See Dian talk about her story.
Gary’s Story – heart attack
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| Gary experienced signs of a heart attack while riding his bicycle. |
“Trust that you are getting some of the best heart care that you can possibly get anyplace.”
Last fall, Gary was halfway through a 20-mile training sprint on his bicycle when he began to experience chest pains and nausea. His wife rushed him to Urgent Care at Marshfield Clinic Minocqua Center, and he was quickly transferred to Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital, where he underwent a complex triple-stent insertion.
A retired economist with a health care background, Gary has decades of experience in the health care field, including testifying before the United States Senate health subcommittee.
“I’m not a physician or a practitioner, but I’ve worked in health care for over 40 years. And I’ve worked with lots of physicians … I know the business. And so I’m quite aware of things like the proper protocols that you go through for things like cardiac stents and treating a suspected heart attack. It was just like clockwork. From what I observed…this care is as good as any in the entire country.”
Gary put his life in the hands of this leading team.
See Gary talk about his story.
Mike’s Story – cardiac arrest
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| Miracle Mike’s life was saved by the Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care heart care team |
A coach’s miracle victory
A man hands out muffins in the lobby of a hospital, laughing and talking. Upon his head is a baseball cap emblazoned with the name “Miracle Mike.” This man’s name is Mike Jelinek, and not long ago, he nearly lost his life.
Mike talked about the day he was rushed to Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital and says he can remember very little beyond feeling chest pain at the end of the workday. During the ambulance ride, Mike went into cardiac arrest and was given CPR and defibrillator shocks.
Upon his arrival, attempts to resuscitate Mike went on for more than 40 minutes. As medical staff began discussion of terminating resuscitation attempts, Mike finally began to show a pulse and was rushed to the cardiac catheterization room. Once there, he was given artery stents by members of the Marshfield Clinic/Ministry Health Care heart care team, and induced hypothermia to lessen the risk of brain damage.
After 24 hours of induced hypothermia, Mike was eased back into consciousness. After 11 days in the hospital he was discharged with no neurological defects. He was able to return to work just three months later.
During Mike’s time in the hospital, Ministry Medical Group’s Michael Clark, MD; and the Ministry Saint Clare’s staff and members of the heart team kept Bonnie Jelinek, Mike’s wife, informed every step of the way. The staff got to know Mike and affectionately began to call him “Miracle Mike.”
So now, as Dr. Clark gladly accepts a muffin from Mike and his wife, he is able to smile. Because Dr. Clark is grateful not only for the gift of this homemade muffin, he is grateful for the gift of life.