Randy L., an avid cyclist from Ohio in his early 40s, visits the Phoenix area every winter with his cycling team and trainer to take advantage of the weather and the varied terrain.
“Cycling is an important part of my life,” explains Randy. “I train multiple times per week and enter races on the weekend.”
An unexpected issue
On his most recent trip to Arizona late last year, it started off as a normal day. Randy and his team went to Carefree to ride to Bartlett Lake. During the ride, he started to feel sick and overly sweaty, and his team pulled over to the side of the road. After being evaluated by EMS, Randy was told he had an irregular heartbeat and to get it checked out further. During the car ride to the hospital, Randy became unconscious while they were slowed by a fatal accident on the roadway.
“Because of the accident, there were a lot of first responders around,” says his wife, Jenni. “He was able to get high-quality CPR quickly and made it to the hospital.”
Once Randy arrived at HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center, it was discovered he was suffering from a massive heart attack, a widow-maker, even though he didn’t have a history of heart issues. He ended up having 45 minutes of CPR before he could be stabilized and have a heart pump inserted. The pump allows the heart to rest and recover by temporarily assisting the pumping function to efficiently deliver blood and oxygen to the entire body.
The doctors recognized that Randy needed a larger heart pump and transferred him to HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, where the smaller device was exchanged for a larger device. He then spent the next couple of weeks in the hospital.
“I was told that three things saved Randy – high-quality CPR, age and the heart pump device he received,” adds Jenni.
A remarkable recovery
“I wasn’t in Arizona with Randy when the incident happened, but I received constant updates from his care team,” shares Jenni. “Once I arrived, the team knew I wasn’t from Arizona. They always made me feel welcome and made sure I had everything I needed. There was so much assurance. They became like my family and kept me going.”
After a hospital stay that lasted more than two weeks and the removal of the heart pump, Randy walked out of the hospital on his own. He spent one more week in Arizona before heading home after one final appointment with his HonorHealth care team.
“I’m so grateful for the amazing team at HonorHealth who did not give up on me,” says Randy.
“Everything fell into the right place at the right time,” adds Jenni. “I was blown away by the constant, top-notch communication and empathy of everyone – from the nurses and doctors to the housekeepers and the workers in the cafeteria.”
Randy has made a full recovery and even has better than normal heart function. He needs to be on heart medication for the rest of his life and will continue to be monitored by a cardiologist in Ohio. The most important aspect of his recovery? He’s back to riding his bike.
“It was extremely important to me to get back to riding my bike,” explains Randy. “While I’m not at the same level as I was before, I’m getting stronger. That was such an important step for me, both physically and mentally, to get back to doing something I love.”
Randy’s tremendous recovery illustrates the collaboration and teamwork that the experts at HonorHealth Heart Care provide to patients.
“I’m so proud that our team acted quickly to get Randy the life-saving care he needed while using the latest technology to give him the best opportunity to make a full recovery,” says Robert Riley, MD, network director, cardiothoracic surgery at HonorHealth. “This showcases how we bring together the brightest and best physicians and team members to offer our patients leading-edge treatments and technologies to deliver the most comprehensive heart care in Arizona.”
A heart attack is no time to hesitate
Experiencing signs of a heart attack? You need to act fast. Don’t delay calling 9-1-1 or going to the nearest hospital. It’s important to know the major warning signs so you can get help right away.
Understanding irregular heart rhythms
What is an irregular heart rhythm? If you notice your heart is fluttering, beating too fast or too slow, or just not beating the way it usually does, you might have a heart rhythm problem known as arrhythmia.
Heart healthy diet and exercise tips
While some heart risk can be hereditary or related to genetics, which are out of our control, there are so many lifestyle changes that we can control. It’s important to put heart healthy habits in place today.