On August 2, 2018 a routine day in Anthem became a life-altering event. The previous night, as I walked the dog around the block, I started having discomfort in my back between my shoulder blades. Thinking I was having some odd type of heartburn, I returned home, took an antacid, and drank a glass of milk. The symptoms subsided immediately. I pay attention to my health, see my doctor regularly, and have a full panel of blood tests to monitor my health and heart functions. I have taken statins to keep my cholesterol under control for 25 years. All the test results had been routine.

The following day, I awoke and walked into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. Suddenly, the symptoms were back. I felt weird, which is the only way I can describe it. I asked my wife, Debbie, to get dressed because I wanted to go to the ER. The symptoms kept getting worse, with some sweating and mild nausea. I called 911, stated I believed I was having a cardiac event, and gave them my address. Less than three minutes later, firefighters from the Atchley and Anthem stations came through the front door. They were speedy and supremely professional. The EMT had me sit down and place two nitroglycerin tablets under my tongue. The symptoms immediately subsided. The EMT then wired me up to an EKG device. He looked at it and said, "Well, you are not presenting with a heart attack. Do you have any history of aneurysms?" I explained that while my father and grandfather had aortic aneurysm issues, I never had. The EMT suggested we ride down to the St. Rose emergency room.

The St. Rose staff started a new EKG, drew blood for tests, and ordered a CAT scan. They put me in the machine, and suddenly, I started having pain in my back accompanied by nausea and sweating. They stopped the CAT scan, and the staff turned to someone and said, "He is having a heart attack right now. Take him up to the Cath Lab!" Two minutes later, I was in the most advanced medical room I had ever seen. The cardiologist, Dr. Raphael Valencia, came over and told me that he was sure I had a blocked coronary artery, and they were going to run a cardiac catheter up my femoral aorta and into the heart to "determine the next course of action."

I awoke a couple of hours later in no pain with two stents in my coronary arteries. My left descending anterior artery was 90% blocked, and my right coronary artery was about 85% blocked. The stents they inserted opened the arteries, and blood flow was re-established. I had what is commonly known as the "widow maker." This is when you get a significant blockage at the beginning of the left main artery or the left anterior descending artery (LAD). They're a major pipeline for blood. If blood gets 100% blocked at that critical location, it may be fatal without emergency care.

The ICU at St. Rose took outstanding care of me over the next two days, as did the cardiologist, Dr. Frederick Schaller. I was sent home on the third day to continue my recovery. Subsequently, I had a nuclear stress test run to make sure everything, including my cardiac function, was normal. In this test, they inject a low-level radioactive marker in your blood, take a CAT scan, and then walk uphill on a treadmill for several minutes while the heart rate goes up to the maximum for one's age. Afterward, they compare the readings to measure how the heart is performing. I received a clean bill of health and have been doing fine since.

A few weeks before my cardiac event, I had been exploring the Inca Trail at 12,000 feet in Peru. If I had had my myocardial infarction there, I would not be relating this experience. My cardiologist said I was the luckiest guy he had ever met, touched my hand, and announced that he was heading to the casino to see if any of my luck rubbed off on him.

None of the symptoms I experienced were like what you see on television. I had no pain in my left arm and no crushing chest pressure. I felt a light cramp between my shoulder blades. If you ever start to have these symptoms, get to an ER as quickly as you can, and don't be hesitant to state, "I think I'm having a cardiac event. Can you please check me out?"

Finally, thanks to the Henderson Fire Department and the EMTs at the Atchley station. Also, many thanks to the nurses and doctors at St Rose - Siena, who took terrific care of me.