In October of 2022, Dalton resident Scott Hall headed to work in Chatsworth for a meeting. While driving, he felt something off in his body, and he couldn’t shake the feeling. As a person who doesn’t always seek medical help when he feels sick, Hall decided it would be best to visit the emergency room at AdventHealth Murray to be sure his condition wasn’t serious. He thought he may be having an allergic reaction or sudden illness.
As soon as he was taken back to a room in the emergency department, emergency physician Thomas Garcia, DO, hooked him up to the heart monitor and saw his vital signs plummet. The emergency team stabilized him and transferred him to AdventHealth Gordon’s cardiac catheterization lab to investigate his heart condition. Andrew McCue, MD, a Harbin Clinic interventional cardiologist, assured Hall that he was going to be okay despite the severity of his situation.
After examining his heart and arteries through a cardiac catheterization procedure, the cath lab team discovered Hall had a 100 percent blockage in his heart on one side and an 85 percent blockage on the other side, which had caused a heart attack. This life-saving procedure works by guiding a thin tube through a blood vessel to the heart to diagnose or treat certain heart conditions. In the same procedure, the cath lab team can put in a stent or balloon in the case of a blockage or active heart attack, resulting in lives saved and better heart function. The team was able to open up Hall’s blockages, and he was admitted to AdventHealth Gordon’s ICU, where he focused on his recovery.
“The care I received through the whole process, from the team at AdventHealth Murray to the cardiology team at AdventHealth Gordon, was more than I could ever ask for. The nurses in the ICU, the floor staff and each person who helped me were sent by God,” said Hall.
Hall is still recovering from his heart attack and is more appreciative of the people around him. He is grateful for his second chance at life and for his split-second decision to walk into the emergency room at AdventHealth Murray that fateful morning.
It’s critical to seek care right away if you are experiencing a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Jaw, neck or back pain
- Lightheadedness or weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Shoulder discomfort or pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sudden fatigue
Delaying treatment for a possible heart attack can be dangerous and seeking help right away can not only save your life but lead to a faster and better recovery. AdventHealth EMS team members are trained to provide life-saving care for you on the way to the hospital and can also prepare the hospital staff for your arrival, making your transition quicker and easier.