Thankful for the Life-Saving Heart Care Team at Northwest Health: A Patient’s Story
4/9/2024
When Pam Hoffman, a 73-year-old retired teacher from the Chicago Public School System, moved to La Porte County she remembers being a little nervous about the level of medical care available at a smaller hospital.
“At that time, my family and I thought that a small town hospital could never compare to the level of healthcare we had received at the hospitals in Chicago,” said Pam. “Well, I’m alive today to say we had no reason for concern, and to give my family, and my neighbors, peace of mind. The amazing care I received at Northwest Health – La Porte saved my life after a near-fatal heart attack. It’s an excellent hospital with the best people.”
Pam’s Story
On December 26, Pam returned to her La Porte County home after spending several wonderful days with her children and grandchildren at Christmas. “I felt fine that night and went to bed around 9 p.m. I woke two hours later with chest pain and covered in sweat. Thank goodness my son, who was visiting from Florida, was still here. He insisted that I needed immediate care and called 911. Looking back, I’m so grateful he did.”
The ambulance arrived minutes later and Pam was taken to the ER at Northwest Health – La Porte – which unbeknownst to her is a Chest Pain ER certified by the American College of Cardiology.
“The last thing I remember was the paramedic talking to me in the ambulance,” said Pam. “Later I was told I suffered a massive heart attack and my heart stopped three times. They had to use a defibrillator to get it going again. Once they did, they rushed me to the cath lab.”
There, interventional cardiologist Dr. Setri Fugar determined that Pam had 100% blockage of her right coronary artery. He and the heart care team placed a stent to open up the blockage and return blood flow to the heart.
Due to the severity of her heart attack, Pam suffered cardiogenic shock – a life-threatening condition in which her heart could not pump enough blood to meet her body’s needs causing respiratory failure. Pam was moved to the ICU where she was put on a ventilator to help support her breathing. The team then used therapeutic hypothermia, or medically induced cooling of the body’s temperature, to help reduce damage to her brain, heart and organs, and improve Pam’s chances of recovery.
Ten days later, Pam was weaned off the hypothermia protocol and ventilator.
“After waking, I was told my children and many other family members had been at the hospital every day; and that’s when they told me my twin eight-year-old grandchildren kept cheering ‘Grandma woke up! Grandma woke up!’” said Pam. “I don’t know if I have ever been more touched to hear that, or more grateful to see my family.”
Pam’s recovery progressed quickly after that. Days later, she was released to an inpatient rehabilitation center to help her regain her strength. She is now home and just started cardiac rehabilitation at Northwest Health.
“I tell everyone that I’m only alive today because of the amazing care I received at Northwest Health – La Porte,” said Pam. “Everyone – Dr. Fugar, the ER and ICU teams, the nurses, the therapists – were all so impressive. Before leaving, I just kept thanking them for saving my life. My children, grandchildren and all my brothers and sisters think it’s a miracle that I survived and know it’s all because of the great care I received at Northwest Health – La Porte.”
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