Kevin Kapela of Long Island, New York, was playing golf recently when he suddenly felt ill and experienced severe pain in his arms. Despite struggling to breathe, the 64-year-old managed to walk to his car and drive three-and-a-half miles to the hospital, calling his wife on the way to tell her he thought he was having a heart attack. Now doctors are saying Kapela was suffering a "widowmaker" heart attack and he’s lucky to be alive.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Dr. Guarav Rao confirmed that Kapela was exhibiting classic signs of the severe "widowmaker" heart attack, caused by a completely blocked artery. Dr. Rao inserted two stents and used a machine to deliver supersaturated oxygen to heal Kapela's heart muscle, marking one of the first times this particular therapy has been used.
Now Kapela is crediting his survival to light traffic, green lights, and golf. He says if he had been at home instead of on the golf course, he might not have gotten medical attention as quickly. According to the American Heart Association, only 12% of people suffering from "widowmaker" heart attacks outside the hospital survive. And while doctors are glad Kapela made it to the ER, they advise others to call 911 instead of attempting to drive themselves.
Source: NBC New York