It was about 6 am. I woke up and went downstairs, and immediately knew something wasn’t right. I had a few episodes of minor chest pains over the previous few days. But not like this. I had been training for a long race, and the pains had prevented me from finishing a few workouts, but I wasn’t sure what was happening. Earlier that week, I had seen a primary care physician and a cardiologist and was told there was nothing that looked abnormal. The cardiologist set me up for some stress echoes later the following week, but the events of that morning sort of replaced the need for that. So there I was, sitting at the kitchen table with these chest pains that I knew weren't right. I began sweating badly and remembered putting my head on the table to try to relax this off. That didn't help. I went back upstairs and woke up my wife, and simply told her “I need help.” She was familiar with my chest pains from earlier in the week but knew right away that this was worse. She woke up the kids and tried to find some support for them as she knew she'd be taking me to the ER. Meanwhile, I began to feel nauseous and told her to call 911. Her response was, “are you serious?” I replied, “no, but I need to go to urgent care” Looking back, we should have called 911, but my wife was very concerned about the young kids seeing their daddy rushed into an ambulance. We never found coverage for the kids, so all of us got in the car. I mentioned urgent care, but my wife wanted to go right to the ER. I remember telling her to feel free to run red lights as I was still in a lot of pain, still sweating and struggling to breathe normally.

We arrived at Sherman's Emergency Room, and she dropped me off at the door before going to park. It was just after 7:00 AM when I walked in and again just said “I need help.” Before I really knew anything else, a muscle-bound tattooed nurse had put me in a wheelchair and mentioned to other staff members, “I'm just going to take him back.” Before treatments began, I remember a nurse asking me for my name address, and insurance information, in which I just handed her my cell phone, which had my license and insurance card in the case. I was rushed to have an EKG (2nd of the week, had one two days earlier at the cardiologist), and similarly, nothing was noticed. I was still in a lot of pain and remembered staring at the ten faces of the pain score trying to think through what I really was feeling, and more importantly why. I had just had a full team of health care professionals scampering all over the room, and now it seemed fairly quiet since again, nothing was noticed. I remember one staff member saying that I'd probably be out in 2-2.5 hours. So there I was lying in bed, wondering what could possibly be wrong with me, as again nothing was noticed. I remembered the cardiologist talking about stress pains and trying to understand what stresses in my life I could abandon to try to make things easier. Essentially, I was getting stressed about my stress and at the time I thought that was making all this much worse. Then I heard someone say, “Is that something?” I didn't pay too much attention to it as I was still just still sitting and hurting and in my bed, but I noticed the technician saw something. A few minutes later my treatment continued but there was still very little urgency because again nothing was really noticed. I then heard the same technician say it again, “Is that something?” He rallied a few other staff members and pointed to what he had noticed. I then had another EKG on my chest, and one on my back as well. Within a few minutes, I had oxygen in my nose, morphine in my drip, glycerin under my tongue, 4 aspirins, and was having my chest shaved for a defibrillator. This was now kicked up to a level of urgency that I hadn't seen yet. I had a new doctor come and explain to me that I did in fact have a mild heart attack, and that I was getting ready for an angioplasty procedure. I wasn't too sure what was involved in that, but he explained it very thoroughly.

The tech then brought me my wife and kids in to see me. They had been sitting in the waiting room, and while I had told them not to worry and to go to school I was so happy to see them. I knew I looked terrible and that it was hard for them to see me like this, but it was important to me that they were all there before I went in for that procedure. My son gave me knuckles, my daughter gave me a hug and my wife gave me a kiss before telling me not to make them use the defibrillators. I then went to receive my procedure and woke up to learn that the heart attack was caused by a clot, which they drained, and there was no need for a stent or a balloon. I was told I'd have heart function and minimal permanent damage.

Three weeks later, I am still blown away by the experience and the quality of care that I received. I learned that the musclebound tattoo worker was Blake, and Blake recognized right away that I was in bad shape and took me back for care immediately. I also learned that the tech was the one who recognize whatever was causing my pain and presented that to Blake. 

So many things happened to lead to the outcome that I had. If my wife took me to urgent care instead of the ER, urgent care would have brought me to the ER anyway, however likely would have been an hour later and that the night shift may have been off duty. Without the tech and his attention to detail, I may have been disturbed surely after a few tests, and the clot would have remained in my chest. One can only imagine what that would have led to for me.

All in all, I am so incredibly fortunate for this all played out, and so grateful for all the care I received. I received care from 3 cardiologists, two hematologists, one primary care physician, and seven amazing nurses. However I feel personally indebted to Blake for his immediate response to my status.

I also obviously owe everything to that tech for thoroughly reviewing my tests coming and simply asking is that something? Those three words and his efforts legitimately saved my life. I'm so blessed and so fortunate that he was on duty that night and stuck around to ensure I received the care that I really needed. My sincerest appreciation goes to Blake and the full team who cared for me. You likely saved my life!