dorrisIn November 2014, while on a vacation to Breckenridge, Colorado, celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, a young couple’s life would change in an instant. What was meant to be a joyful trip took a terrifying turn when she began to experience an unusual tightness in her chest and tingling down her left arm.
At first, she dismissed the symptoms, thinking it was nothing serious. After taking aspirin, the symptoms subsided, and she convinced herself that it wasn’t worth ruining their vacation over something minor.
However, just two days later, in the middle of the night, the symptoms returned with greater intensity. Waking up, she quietly slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom, hoping the discomfort would pass on its own. But as the pain lingered, she could no longer ignore it. She woke her husband, and they decided to go to the emergency room, realizing something wasn’t right.
In the ER, the doctor noticed slight abnormalities in her EKG and elevated troponin levels, indicating that her heart was under distress. The couple was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty, but they tried to stay strong for each other. The doctor recommended that she be transferred by ambulance to a hospital in Denver for further testing.
As the ambulance ride stretched on, both were silently praying for answers, trying to stay hopeful despite the grim reality they were now facing.
The following morning, during a routine cardiac catheterization, she suffered a massive heart attack. The doctors discovered that three of her main coronary arteries had multiple tears, a condition known as Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD).
She was quickly airlifted to another hospital with the specialized care needed to save her life.
It was clear that she would need a heart transplant to survive. Her husband, devastated but determined, begged the doctors to wake her up so he could tell her everything he wished he had said before the ordeal.
For 13 days, she remained unconscious, kept alive by machines. During this time, her husband held vigil, fighting back tears while trying to stay strong, not knowing whether or not his wife would make it through.
Then, a miracle happened: a matching heart became available.
When she woke up after the transplant, the couple shared an overwhelming moment of relief and gratitude. It was a second chance, one that neither of them had ever expected but both deeply appreciated.
Though the road ahead was uncertain, the experience taught them both profound lessons about the fragility of life. Living with a donor heart and surviving SCAD, she became an advocate for raising awareness about heart disease, especially in women.
Despite the lack of answers about the causes of SCAD, they both understood the importance of seeking medical attention at the first sign of symptoms. Her journey, one filled with fear, hope, and love, serves as a reminder that sometimes, survival is not just about the person who fights, but also about the unwavering support of those who stand by them through it all.
Together, they now embrace each day as a precious gift – one that would have been impossible without the strength of both the survivor and the co-survivor.
