A Birthday Turned Blessing

By Carrie Anna Strange

For most people, birthdays are a time of celebration. But for Willie Davis of Manning, this year’s birthday began under the shadow of loss. 

He was traveling to be with family after the passing of his granddaughter when an unexpected series of events changed the course of his life and health for the better.

A snowstorm had delayed flights, and after his flight out of Savannah was canceled, Willie began feeling an unusual tightness in his chest. “It felt like a belt tightening around me,” he recalled. 

“As a veteran, I knew something wasn’t right.”

Despite icy roads and treacherous driving conditions, he made the decision to head home because he wasn’t feeling well. 

The closer he got to home, the more anxious he became and decided to go straight to the hospital rather than home.

When he arrived at the Emergency Department at McLeod Health Clarendon, the staff quickly rushed him into an exam room, suspecting a cardiac issue. 

The medical team performed an EKG and drew labs, and the test results confirmed that Willie had indeed experienced a cardiac event.

The McLeod Health Air Reach helicopter transported Willie to McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, South Carolina, for an emergency heart catheterization.

“I joked with the flight crew that God had given me my own private flight,” said Willie.

McLeod Interventional Cardiologist Dr. James T. Lee performed the procedure, which revealed a 100 percent blockage in the left anterior descending artery. 

Dr. Lee performed a minimally invasive procedure to place a stent and restore blood flow. The rest of Willie’s heart and vessels were strong and did not require intervention.

But his recovery would require more than a hospital stay.

Just one week later, he began McLeod Cardiac Rehabilitation at McLeod Health Clarendon. “They started me slow, but I wanted to do more. I didn’t realize how important it was to build up gradually. The staff monitored everything and made sure I was getting stronger safely.”

After graduating from the Cardiac Rehabilitation program earlier this year, Willie did not stop there. Motivated to maintain his progress, he joined the McLeod Health & Fitness Center through the SilverSneakers® program. 

Now, he works out four days a week, following many of the same exercises he learned during Cardiac Rehab. 

“I feel great,” he says. “I can honestly say I’m stronger now than before my heart attack.”

At 80 years old, Willie sees his journey as both a blessing and a reminder.

“It could have gone either way that night. I believe God had a plan for me. This was my birthday gift. 

“More time, better health and a chance to encourage others to listen to your body, seek help when something feels wrong and take full advantage of the resources McLeod offers for recovery and long-term wellness. 

“Cardiac Rehab didn’t just get me back on my feet; it helped set me up for a whole new way of living.”

*Both McLeod Regional Medical Center and McLeod Health Seacoast offer Interventional Cardiology services. In addition, McLeod Cardiac Rehab services are offered at McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Clarendon, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Seacoast and McLeod Regional Medical Center. 

 

Signs of a Heart Attack
For both men and women, the most common signs of a heart attack include:

• Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Feeling faint
• Breaking out in a cold sweat

If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911. Never attempt to drive yourself to the Emergency Department. Emergency Medical Services staff are trained to begin heart attack treatment immediately while en route to the hospital.