Survivors offer advice straight from the heart

  • Published
  • By Lanorris Askew
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  It began as a good day for Kim Manning. On March 29, 2004, her alarm clock’s snooze button, which usually works overtime, got the day off, while a warm shower and a hot cup of coffee propelled her out the door and off to work.

Less than half an hour later her good day went bad, real bad.

Just miles from her home she became short of breath and noticed tightness in her chest.

With no cell phone and very few vehicles on the road at 6 a.m., she said she did not want to pull over, so she continued toward the base. The closer she got, the worse her symptoms became.

“I broke out into a cold sweat,” she said. “I was sweating so much that my hair was wet even though I had the air conditioner going full blast.”

The sweating was accompanied by a numbing sensation in her left hand, blurred vision and chest pains that replaced the earlier tightness. Mrs. Manning made it safely to the base and Senior Airman Thomas Garner jumped into action.

“By the time I got to the gate, I couldn’t move my left arm at all, and my vision was really blurred,” she said.

She said she remembers Airman Garner screaming “call 911 and make sure they send an ambulance.”

Mrs. Manning said she also recalls him standing next to her taking her vitals and monitoring her condition while another Airman found her home phone number and called her husband.

Airman Garner’s quick assessment of the situation and call for aid may very well have added years to Mrs. Manning’s life, she said.

“How do you thank someone who helped saved your life?” she said. “Just saying thank you is not nearly enough.”

Nearly a year later, the budget analyst is back at work and doing well, but she said her life has changed in many ways.

“You get your priorities in order very quickly when something like that happens,” she said.

Besides living healthier by not smoking and making better food choices, she said she also has a much closer relationship with her family and friends.

Living life after a triple bypass at age 41, Mrs. Manning said she sees life through new eyes.

“I appreciate life a lot more,” she said. “Every time I see my scar, it reminds me of how blessed I am.”

While Mrs. Manning had the typical tingling in the hand, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath, those symptoms are not always present when a heart attack occurs.

Ann Hulett, a data systems analyst in the maintenance directorate, had a completely different story.

“I’ve had three major heart attacks,” she said, “and have no clue when I had them.”

When Ms. Hulett went in for a stress test as a part of a routine annual physical Nov. 17, three minutes into the test she was pulled off of the treadmill and an ambulance was called.

She was taken to the hospital to undergo a cardiac catheterization where a tiny tube is inserted through the femoral artery and run up into the heart. Once the tube is in place, doctors inject a dye which allows blockages to be seen clearly on a monitor.

During the procedure, doctors found six blockages each of which ranged from 75 to 100 percent, and she was immediately scheduled for five bypasses.

“Looking back now, aside from realizing that I was slowing down and that I was tired, it really blindsided me, my family and friends,” she said. “Even the doctors were unnerved. They don’t know why I’m alive.”

Much like Mrs. Manning, Ms. Hulett has a fresh outlook on life.

“I don’t let things bother me anymore,” said the mother of two and grandmother of three. “If it’s not something I can fix, I try to just let it go, and I thank God every day when I get out of bed.”

More than her outlook has changed though.

“Until 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 17, I was a smoker,” she said. “That was my third risk factor for heart disease -- an elevated cholesterol level and elevated blood pressure being the other two.”

She said those factors in her life’s equation have been reduced greatly. She no longer smokes, she exercises regularly and reads food labels religiously.

“I can’t do my own yard work. I can’t pick up anything much heavier than my laptop,” she said. “Instead of still being fiercely independent, I have to depend on others to do simple things for me like get clothes out of the washer, sweep and mop, but I’m so thankful to hear the alarm clock every morning. I have been given a chance that few people receive. I survived three silent heart attacks.”

She is getting better day by day. At her last appointment, doctors estimated that her heart is now functioning at 30 percent -- up from an earlier 20 percent. And, after two months of cardiac rehabilitation, she can run a 20-minute mile on the treadmill while barely breaking a sweat.

“I know that sounds lame, but considering two months ago I could barely get in or out of bed by myself, I truly feel blessed,” she said.

“People ask, how and why did I come back to work after only six weeks. I guess it was (for) the same reason I was still alive - determination and intestinal fortitude. Also, I knew that if I had to stay home much longer I would be completely nuts.”

Ms. Hulett said she has a message for everyone who hears her story.

“Please have your cholesterol checked annually, check your blood pressure periodically and stop smoking,” she said. “Listen to your body; question why you don’t want to do things because it’s too hot, it’s too far to drive or you’re too tired.”

Mrs. Manning agreed.

“I wasn’t overweight, didn’t suffer from high blood pressure and had no high cholesterol concerns,” she said. “Be aware of your body and your family history.”

While both women were smokers and not exercise enthusiasts, one of the main risk factors for both was heredity. Four of Mrs. Mannings’ uncles suffered heart attacks, and Ms. Hulett’s mother and grandmother suffered from heart disease too.

Although both these stories have happy endings many do not. As American Heart Month draws to a close officials said it is important that everyone remember to watch for warning signs and reduce risk factors as much as possible so they can see another birthday come and go.

“I turned 52 on Dec. 15, and I was tickled pea green to see that birthday,” Ms. Hulett said.