Wayne County Man Gets Life Saving Care At Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center
8/9/2023
In a heartfelt testimony, Tonya Burress of Wayne County shares her harrowing experience of her husband's sudden medical emergency and the exceptional care provided by Clearwater Ambulance District and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.
“The doctors didn’t approach us like a job, they really cared about Wayne and me. They made sure I was comfortable and informed at all times.” On July 4, Tonya’s husband Wayne started feeling weak, tired and having indigestion and before they knew it, “he was collapsed in the driveway.” Tonya immediately called 911 and within 10 minutes, Clearwater Ambulance District arrived.
Tonya recalls the moment two ambulances arrived and the EMS teams tirelessly worked to resuscitate Wayne, administering five shocks in their driveway before rushing him to the emergency room.
During transport, Clearwater Ambulance District communicated with PBRMC’s emergency room team on what was happening. Once at the hospital, the ER team was ready and expecting Wayne.
The ER team rushed Wayne to the cardiac catheterization lab. Dr. Roland Njoh, interventional cardiologist, found that Wayne had suffered a heart attack and a cardiac arrest due to 100% blockage in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). This type of heart attack is commonly referred to as the “widow-maker heart attack.” Dr. Njoh had to make the unfortunate decision to wait until he could be stable and instead had a clot busting drug administered “to give him the best chance possible.”
“Dr. Njoh took me aside, explained what was happening and what needed to happen to proceed,” said Tonya. “He told me we needed a miracle, and I reached out to family and friends across the country, requesting prayers for Wayne's recovery.”
The next day, Wayne showed signs of stabilization and Dr. Njoh and the cath lab team went to work putting in a stent to open up his blood flow. Within a few days, Wayne was showing significant signs of improvement and after a few more days, he was discharged from the hospital to head home.
The survival rate to hospital discharge after cardiac arrest in LAD is 3-10%.
"I made him a sandwich for lunch and by dinner time he was in the ICU. It happened so quickly,” Tonya added. “What Poplar Bluff Regional’s team did for my husband was nothing short of a miracle.”
The exceptional care provided by the emergency responders, the ER staff, cath lab, and critical care team at PBRMC did not go unnoticed by the Burresses. We are so thankful for everyone involved; they are heroes who saved my husband’s life,” Tonya added.
“You would never know I had a heart attack; I am walking, talking and not going to slow down anytime soon,” Wayne said.
Wayne and Tonya’s experience serves as a testament to the dedication and excellence of our local emergency response teams and PBRMC’s medical professionals. Working together in emergency situations ensures the well-being of our community members; treating every life with safe, thorough, quality healthcare.
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