On Aug 9th 2017 I had a heart attack and 50 minutes of Cardiac Arrest. It's not a typo error. 50 minutes no pulse and I was pulled back from the brink. When I arrived at Mercyone I went into Cardiac Arrest.As the team stared working on me. They put a Lucas cpr machine on me then shocked and give me meds But none of it was working to get my pulse back.Thats when the ED doctor that was working on me ,Dr Terry started to advocate to use Ecmo to try to bring me back. Ecmo (Extracorporal Membrane Oxegenation) is a heart and lung bypass machine.He covinced two Iowa Heart Doctors to put me on Ecmo while still in cardiac arrest.I was taken to the cathlab. My arteries checked and a 100% blockage of my Lad artery was found. I was put on Ecmo.Artery was opened up and a stent put in. I spent 5 days on Ecmo to give my heart a rest. When I was taken off Ecmo my heart was pumping very well. This Aug will be 5 years and my heart is still pumping good. On Aug 9th 2018 one year after I got my bear pictured above and named him Ecmo .He goes with me on the heart walk. Everyday I thank God and all that took care of me. So I walk because I know that with every step, I’m making a difference in someone’s life. And when combined with a million other Heart Walk Heroes across the nation, we have an even greater impact toward curing heart disease and stroke. Will you be a Heart Walk Hero with me?
Your donation will fund groundbreaking research that literally keeps hearts beating and helps people have longer, healthier lives.
Have a heart and help me reach my goal today!