Joe's Story

Joe is a retired – though still working and practicing – lawyer in Council Bluffs. In March, 2009, he was not feeling well, but encouraged his wife, Mary Lou, to go ahead to a party they were invited to. When she returned, he was in a lot of pain and said he needed to go to the hospital. Joe had always resisted going to the doctor, so Mary Lou knew it must be pretty serious.

They went to the emergency department at Mercy Hospital, where Joe was sent immediately to the catheterization lab. Mary Lou was impressed with how quickly the staff worked to treat Joe. As a former nurse, she knew the importance of treatment during the first moments of a heart attack. Within a matter of 90 minutes Joe had received a stent and was resting in his room.

Joe “graduated” (complete with cap and gown and the pictures to prove it) from the Cardiac Rehabilitation program. He now parks farther away from his office to get more exercise.