Heart in Motion

Medical Center of McKinney’s ER and Cath Lab teams restarted Wanda Lester’s heart 12 times

Courtesy Medical Center of McKinney, Texoma and Collin LIVING WELL Magazines (formerly SENIOR Magazine)

When Wanda Lester went to bed on March 29, 2010, she felt just fine and never dreamed what the following morning would bring. Looking back later, she realized the significance of the ensuing morning and, that it could easily have been her last.

“I awoke that morning with an urgent sensation that I needed to cough,” Wanda says. “As soon as I did, I was overcome with a sharp pain in my chest.”  A short time later, area paramedics determined Wanda was indeed experiencing a heart attack and rushed her to the nearest full-service facility, Medical Center of McKinney (MCM).

As Wanda entered the doors of MCM’s Emergency Department, her heart literally stopped and, remarkably enough, stopped 11 more times in rapid succession in the cath lab.

“Wanda’s heart was experiencing ventricular fibrillation, which literally stops the heart from pumping,” says Ricardo Guerra, Jr., MD, cardiologist on staff at MCM. “What many people don’t realize is that abnormal heart rhythms like this are a common reason why people die from heart attack rather than the heart becoming too weak to pump. Being in the right place like in an ER or hospital will give you the best chance of surviving. In Wanda’s case, the ER and cath lab staffs were able to keep resuscitating her until her closed heart artery was reopened, thus stopping her heart attack and abnormal rhythms.”

As for Wanda, the series of events after she entered MCM’s ER are a complete blur. What is crystal clear though is this: “MCM’s team of doctors and nurses brought me back to life 12 times!” she says. “All I know is they fought for my life. Had I gone anywhere else, I don’t know if I would be here to talk about it.”

Wanda continues, “Before all of this, I knew what a heart attack was, of course, and had seen plenty of medical shows about emergencies on TV. But, this wasn’t TV. And it wasn’t someone else who was having the heart attack. I know their job is to try and save lives, but I am still absolutely amazed at how hard the MCM team worked together to keep me alive. I believe the key to my survival was the fact that I went to the right place at the right time.”

There’s no stopping her now.

It’s been almost a year since Wanda Lester had her heart attack. How is she doing today?  “I feel really good!” she says. “I’ve always been a very active person and am happy to say I am enjoying my life again and growing stronger every day. I’m so grateful to those who saved my life. I know I am very, very lucky.”

Dr. Guerra agrees. “We are very pleased with how well Wanda is doing. This is in large part due to the emergent care she was able to get in the necessary time frame. If this hadn’t been the case, she may have been faced with serious lasting consequences including brain damage. Again, in terms of a heart attack, we can’t stress enough that ‘time is muscle.’ In that situation getting to an accredited facility like MCM provides a much better opportunity of getting out of the hospital and being able to live a normal life.”

Right Place, Right Time

While it is imperative the necessary technology and specialized services are available at a hospital, it is just as vital that the entire team – doctors, nurses and other support staff members – is able to perform rapidly and efficiently. “With a heart attack or stroke, best results are achieved when treatment can be administered within 90 minutes of the event,” Dr. Guerra says. “Very often at MCM, we are able to achieve this in an hour or less. We have an amazing team that is fully committed to not simply meeting the criterion, but exceeding it as often as humanly possible. Quite simply, we know this can make the difference between life and death.”

At the time Wanda had her heart attack, she wasn’t aware MCM is the only accredited chest pain center and stroke center in McKinney, Frisco and Allen. But, you can bet she is aware of that now. “I believe I am living proof that the right hospital matters,” she says. “I’m here because MCM was there!”

Alive and well to tell the tale

As important as it is to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, it can be a bit confusing. “The possibility of having a heart attack wasn’t something I’d given much thought to before it happened to me,” Wanda says. “As time has passed, the severity of what could have happened has really hit home. That’s why I want to do whatever I can to help to get the word out about preventing heart disease.”

Medical Center of McKinney may be reached at 972-547-8002, or visit their website at www.MedicalCenterOfMckinney.com.