August 22, 2019 Vol. 20, No. 13
In This Issue DIRECTIONS
Most memorable 50th anniversary
Edmond’s Larry Fryer survives heart attack on special day Directions, by Joe Slack, in real life is located in front of OnCue, at 15th and I-35, 4100 E. 15th Street, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email c o n te s t @ e d m o n d p a p e r. c o m with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
North pom team pictured See Page 19
Kay and Larry Fryer
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 Mostly Cloudy High 90° Low 73°
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 Partly Cloudy High 89° Low 72°
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 Partly Cloudy High 93° Low 73°
By Valerie Pautsch OU Medicine On the evening of March 17, Larry Fryer, 78, was doing what property owners do - making routine checks of his rental properties to address miscellaneous maintenance issues. Like most people, Fryer experienced occasional fatigue and after a long day, his weariness was not surprising. Although his medical history included high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and an incidence of cancer, he had only recently undergone a comprehensive physical exam with no serious concerns noted. As he drove, his breathing suddenly became so labored, he knew he was in trouble. “My friend drove me to the emergency department at OU Medical Center Edmond,” he said. He arrived at the hospital exhibiting shortness of breath and complaining of chest tightness. In addition to these symptoms, he had hypoxia, a dangerous condition that
deprives the body of oxygen and may compromise vital organs. He was admitted for observation and testing, as the source of symptoms causing his discomfort was not conclusive at the time. Fryer remembers waking in terror the next morning. “I couldn’t breathe at all. A nurse rushed in as I tried to call my wife, Kay, but I couldn’t get enough air behind the words.” Colby Pyle, R.N., OU Medical Center Edmond Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, took the phone and spoke with Mrs. Fryer. Fluid buildup had impaired Fryer’s breathing and by mid-morning, he had been moved to the ICU. He received medications that effectively relieved the excessive fluid retention. It was March 20, the Fryers’ 50th wedding anniversary. Although still a patient in ICU, Fryer was confident his condition was well on the way to a successful resolution. “By early evening, I really felt pretty good. My son was visiting from
PHOTO PROVIDED
Tulsa, and I told him he should go home. Everything was fine, and my friend was willing to stay with me a while longer.” However, the situation took a dramatic turn later in the evening. Fryer has some memory of falling asleep, but other recollections are vague. When he awoke, he learned he had survived a heart attack. He also believes he experienced death in those moments before midnight, a belief confirmed by his healthcare team. Mandy Nelson, DNP, APRN-CNS, ACNS-BC, CCRN, director of the OU Medical Center Edmond ICU, explained that Fryer experienced Torsades de pointes, an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to sudden cardiac death. “On March 20, around 11:30 p.m., Mr. Fryer’s heart rhythm became non-life sustaining,” she said. “Nursing staff intervened, performing chest compressions for about a minute. A defibrillator was used to continued on Page 3