Keeping Pace with Cardiac Care

Unexpected phone calls can bring unsolicited emotions and feelings. Receiving a call from your spouse could be something as mundane as the need to pick up a gallon of milk or something sublime like holding the winning lotto ticket. For Sandy Mugg, receiving a call from her husband Tim brought something unexpected.

It was just like any other day, on January 19, 2018, when Sandy answered her husband’s phone call. Tim shared how after one of his long runs he was experiencing prolonged shortness of breath, pain running in between his shoulder blades, and lightheadedness. Sandy, Service Area Senior Director for Patient Safety and Risk Management and a registered nurse for over 26 years at Marian Regional Medical Center, immediately recognized these as classic warning signs of a heart attack.

Sandy responded with her clinical training, “Tim, you need to call 911.”

Tim replied that he was in such extreme pain that he could not, thus Sandy made the call on his behalf. Waiting for the paramedics, Tim laid prone on the ground with his wallet and phone in his front pocket. Fortunately, the wait was brief as paramedics quickly arrived.

Tim Mugg, cardiac patient, enjoys a local run recently after his heart attack.

STEMI Care at Marian

Major cardiac events can occur to people who are otherwise healthy and strong. Tim was a lifelong athlete who ran longdistances on a consistent basis and was in excellent health; however, even athletic individuals can succumb to major health related issues.

Luckily for those on the Central Coast, Marian Regional Medical Center is a designated STEMI Receiving Center for the community. When a heart attack occurs, the medical team at Marian is ready to move.

Being a STEMI Receiving Center means that heart attack patients are cared for seamlessly from entry at the Emergency Department until the transfer to a cardiac catheterization lab in the Sue J. Sword Heart Center.

When paramedics notify Marian of incoming STEMI patients, the Emergency Department quickly prepares to receive the patient. A marvel of technology, the EKG is a recording made to determine the heart condition, and is able to be transmitted from the paramedics to Marian, ensuring the medical staff have additional time to prepare, as minutes can make all the difference in cardiac emergencies.

Glimpse of a Legacy

Tim experienced seamless treatment the moment he arrived at the ambulance bay. Upon entry, he was whisked to an available catheterization lab in under 45 minutes.

Years prior to this, Sandy was pivotal in the implementation of the STEMI program protocols at Marian; however, now she was able to witness the program in action on the patient side. “Having put the STEMI receiving protocol in place at Marian, I was comfortable knowing how effectively it works, especially in my husband’s case,” Sandy recounted.

Tim and Sandy Mugg

Sandy did catch a glimpse of something unique though; she saw the legacy of her husband as he was surrounded by his five children. Being a household rooted in faith, their belief in God helped ground them through this life event. Sandy sat back and soaked in the beauty of seeing her children sing and read Bible passages to her husband, having confidence in the high level of care from the medical team.

“I sat back and pondered these things in my heart,” said Sandy. “I caught a glimpse of Tim’s legacy and was at peace in that moment.”

A year later, Tim is now fully recovered from his heart attack. His heart attack was in the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery, commonly referred to as the “widow-maker,” and he further realized that he has a genetic predisposition with immediate family members also having this same condition.

Running 40 miles a week, Tim has made tremendous strides to reclaim his athletic prowess. For Sandy, she is grateful to catch a glimpse of her husband’s legacy and is grateful for the time she has with him. Sandy thoughtfully added, “Seeing Tim’s legacy pass on to his children is a true joy. We are so very blessed to have this STEMI program on the Central Coast.”

Tim and Sandy Mugg (third and fourth from the left in the back row) are surrounded by their children and grandchildren. 13