On April 6, 2024, Ken Terrell was playing in a tennis doubles tournament at the Boonsboro Country Club when he noticed back and shoulder pain on his left side. After trying to rest, his pain increased, and he started feeling nauseous; he decided it was time for him to stop playing and go home. Thankfully, his wife Kelly was present during his match and decided to drive him home.
As Kelly was driving home, she started to realize that Ken was losing consciousness and stopped breathing. She quickly pulled over on the side of the road and attempted to call 911. A couple of other good Samaritans also noticed something was wrong and helped Kelly call 911 and tried to drag Ken out of the car.
At the same time, Hunter Long, a perfusionist with Centra, was driving by with his wife and family after visiting the park. He immediately understood what was happening and realized that Ken was in cardiac arrest. Hunter jumped into action and teamed up with the other person who had stopped, who happened to be an NP with CVFP. After checking for a pulse and realizing there was none, Hunter began chest compressions. After about five minutes, the Lynchburg Fire Department arrived and transported Ken directly to the Cardiac Cath Lab at Lynchburg General Hospital.
During the procedure, Dr. Peter O’Brien, an Interventional Cardiologist with Centra saw that there was a blockage in one of the main arteries that caused the heart attack. They removed the blockage and inserted a device to help pump the heart. However, Ken was still suffering from multiple cardiac arrests during the surgery.
Dr. Jason Higey, a Cardiologist with Centra’s Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI), oversaw Ken’s care in the ICU and helped get Ken transferred to Duke for a potential heart transplant. However, once Ken arrived, he had made about a 50% recovery and would not require a heart transplant anymore, thanks to the immediate care he received through Centra.
Dr. Higey now oversees Ken’s continued care at HVI, where Ken reports that he is getting stronger every day. “I wanted to make a 57% recovery, so I would wake up each morning and write 57 on my chest,” Ken said.
To Ken and Dr. Higey’s surprise, according to his echocardiogram, Ken made an astounding 100% recovery one month after his surgery.
When asked about his life now, Ken remarked that he is taking care of his diet, losing 48 pounds, cutting back on his work schedule, and going part-time. He spends more time with family, exercises daily, and plays tennis. He has even just returned from a ski trip in Colorado. Ken and his wife are eternally thankful to everyone who played an essential role, from the pedestrians who saved his life to the EMS, to the Centra heart surgeons, to the ICU, and to the HVI and rehab team in continuing his care.
