A Life-Saving Journey

By Jaime Hayes

On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 9, Dillon resident Linda Battle was preparing for Bible Study at her church. “I had a backache,” she recalls, “but this was painful and unlike anything I had experienced before.” Thinking the feeling may pass, Linda decided she would take a Tylenol and lie down for a while. 

“The next thing I knew, I had a piercing pain across my chest and began to feel lightheaded,” she says. “I knew I needed to seek immediate care.” 

Upon her arrival at the Emergency Department at McLeod Health Dillon, Linda had become short of breath and needed a wheelchair to make it inside. Dr. John Bingham, an Emergency Physician, ran a series of tests on Linda, including an EKG and MRI. 

A few minutes later, Dr. Bingham shared the results of the tests. Linda had suffered a heart attack and would be transferred by helicopter to McLeod Regional Medical Center (MRMC) in Florence for specialized heart care. 

“A heart attack occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked, reducing or eliminating blood flow to the heart muscle. If adequate blood flow is not restored quickly, by opening the blocked heart artery, permanent damage to the heart may occur,” explains Dr. Bingham.

“Once I learned I was being airlifted to the McLeod Chest Pain Center, I felt a wave of nervousness and anxiety wash over me, as I realized just how serious my condition was in that moment.” 

Her care team at MRMC met her at the entrance and immediately took her to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Interventional Cardiologist Dr. James Lee performed an angioplasty to open the blocked or narrowed coronary arteries, and placed four stents on the right side to restore blood flow to Linda’s heart. 

“Dr. Lee told me I coded five times on that table,” says Linda. “I was in shock because I had never experienced any heart problems before. It is a miracle that I am here today.”

Two days later, Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Anil Om placed two additional stents on the left side of Linda’s heart to clear additional blockages. 

Recalling the moment her symptoms began, Linda never thought they were those of a heart attack. “I have always heard that women can experience different symptoms than men when they are having a heart attack, and now, I believe it. If I had not arrived at the hospital quickly, I would not be here to tell my story.”

Linda was released from the hospital on Saturday following her heart attack. She was prescribed 36 sessions of Cardiac Rehabilitation at McLeod Health Dillon, where Linda enjoys the staff and fellow patients.

“I am loving Cardiac Rehab,” she said. “We support and push each other and just have a good time together.”

Linda also volunteers with the McLeod Health Dillon Auxiliary in the hospital gift shop, where she is now back at work. 

“I enjoy connecting with the employees and visitors we see. No one can believe I had a heart attack,” she adds.

Linda now encourages people to seek immediate care if something doesn’t seem right. “It might be nothing, but it could save your life.”

Anyone who believes they may be experiencing any of the signs of a heart attack – pain in the chest, shortness of breath, and a recurrent discomfort that feels like indigestion – should not ignore the pain. 

Call 911 and if you are able, take an aspirin. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff will begin treatment when they arrive at your location and continue care on the way to the hospital. 

The key to a successful outcome from a heart attack is early detection and treatment. Most of the damage from a heart attack occurs in the first several hours. Therefore, the earlier a patient can get to the hospital, the better chance they have of surviving a heart attack with less muscle damage.

Warning Sign of Heart Attacks in Women:
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. Women are also more likely to experience certain symptoms of a heart attack than men, including:

• Pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the chest
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, upper back, stomach
• Shortness of breath or fatigue 
• Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

It is important to seek  help immediately if you think you may be having a heart attack.