THE TWO HOUR DRIVE TO SAVE MY HEART

Weeks prior to my heart attack I had been suffering from constant indigestion and extreme fatigue. On April 8th, 2017 the shoulder and jaw pain should have alerted me that I was about to have a heart attack. My heart attack occurred in the early hours of that morning. I was in complete denial and tried to relax on the recliner in our living room. That morning soon after breakfast I asked my husband to drop me off at the Emergency Department at RIH. An ECG and blood test subsequently confirmed that I had sustained a heart attack.

Later that evening I was moved from the Emergency Department to Floor 7 at RIH where I was monitored constantly. Four days later I was transported by ambulance to have an Angiogram done at KGH. I was quite nervous during the 2 hour ride from RIH to KGH and was surprised that RIH was not equipped to perform this procedure. Upon my return by ambulance to RIH (2 hrs after the angiogram) I was told that I had 100%, 90%, 70% and 50% blockages and that a quadruple bypass surgery was scheduled for me on April 18th , 2017 at KGH.

I remained at RIH until April 14th, 2017 and when a room became available at KGH I was transported by ambulance to Vernon where I was moved to another ambulance before arriving at KGH.

Thankfully my open heart surgery was completely successful and I am extremely grateful for the excellent care I received at both RIH and KGH. I am hopeful that a Cath Lab will be built at RIH in the very near future. Heart patients should not be put under the stress of a 2 hour ambulance ride to have an Angiogram performed. - Brenda Rezansoff