JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Whether it’s a good-paying job, a home, or even good health, we all have one reason or another to be thankful during Thanksgiving.
But for one Jacksonville man, he says he’s just thankful to be alive.
“The main thing is God having favor in me to find this condition that I had and wasn’t aware of. Very grateful for that, “ said Jerome Hill whose story sheds light on the unfortunate reality for a lot of people who unknowingly suffer heart problems with no noticeable symptoms.
Hill, who is 70 years old, was one step away from suffering what’s known as the ‘widow maker,’ a nickname for a massive, deadly heart attack caused by full blockage in the arteries.
Hill’s story began months ago when he was prepping for a minor outpatient procedure from his podiatrist to remove a callus from his foot.
“She wanted to know if I had enough blood flow in my leg,” said Hill.
An arterial scan of the leg was performed, revealing a single blockage.
Baptist Health Dr. Tra’chella Johnson-Foy, Hill’s primary physician, said that after a blockage was detected in Hill’s leg, more scans were required.
“We went in to take a look at his blood vessels to his heart and found out he had a lot more going on than we realized,” said Dr. Johnson-Foy.
“I had two blockages in my heart with no symptoms. The two blockages were 100% and one 80% blockage,” said Hill.
Typically, a stent is placed into the artery to improve blood flow and reduce the chances of causing a heart attack, but Hill’s situation was different.
Experts determined that stents would not help him. Hill’s heart was basically a ticking time bomb that was waiting to explode at any minute without any symptoms or warnings of anything wrong.
“This was one of those circumstances where he could have easily been walking through a parking lot of a grocery store or mowing his grass and end up having a heart attack,” said Dr. Johnson-Foy.
“I needed to have open heart surgery or triple bypass,” said Hill, who underwent the procedure.
Baptist Health Chief of Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Nathan Bates, performed the surgery.
Months later, the two reunited in a hospital conference room where Hill hugged and shook the hand of the man who gave him a new lease on life.
“To see him come in, shake my hand, and thank me for that is a very humbling experience,” said Dr. Bates.
Hill’s wife, Gail, said this Thanksgiving holiday is extra special because she knows how close she came to losing her husband, after she and her husband had already lost their parents, who died from heart problems.
“This is more than about a turkey. It is more than getting together with food. It’s about having him alive to fellowship with him,” said Gail Hill.
“Grateful. Thankful. Yes, I am,” said Hill.
According to the CDC, a heart attack occurs every 40 seconds in the US, and an estimated 170,000 heart attacks are silent, meaning they occur without symptoms leading up to the attack.
Additionally, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. Dr. Johnson-Foy and Dr. Bates said this is why it’s important to stay on top of your health, even if you don’t feel symptoms of heart disease, but you already suffer from other conditions that can affect your heart, or have a family history of heart disease.
“If you have conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and you’re getting older, those are risk factors for heart disease, so make sure you’re seeing your doctor regularly,” said Dr. Johnson-Foy
“My wife’s a primary care physician. She says its goal is to keep patients out of my office. But, if we are needed, we’re here to help you and take great care of you,” said Dr. Bates.
Baptist Heart Hospital is the area’s only freestanding hospital for heart and vascular care with more than 500 doctors, nurses, and staff who focus solely on inpatient and outpatient cardiac treatment.