Sharon and her family( left to right) Tony, Reese, Sharon, Krissta, Ricky and Brya.
Taking No Time For Granted
After a series of medical setbacks, SBL nurse never leaves anything unsaid.
If there is one thing Sharon Updegraff, RN, knows, it’ s that there are few guarantees in life. She’ s seen too much as an ER nurse, mother, daughter and patient to think otherwise.
November 8, 2013 was set to be a big day for Sharon. Having long delayed a total hip replacement until she could no longer endure the pain of two bones rubbing together, Sharon looked forward to the surgery with hopeful anticipation. She knew that the surgery would enable her to again work free of pain and live the life that she had enjoyed years earlier.
The surgery was smooth –“ routine” as they say – until the very end. As Sharon’ s surgeon was closing her incision, Nurse Anesthetist Tara Crews, CRNA, noted that Sharon was having a heart attack.“ Tara was my guardian angel that day,” Sharon said, explaining that Tara’ s careful monitoring of her vital signs led to an immediate intervention.
Sharon was rushed from surgery to the Sarah Bush Lincoln catheterization lab.
Prairie Heart Interventional Cardiologist Amit Dande, MD, quickly identified that Sharon’ s right coronary artery was obstructed. He first used an aspiration catheter to remove a clot, and then he performed an angioplasty by inflating a tiny balloon into the artery to help widen the opening in the blood vessel. Lastly, a stent was inserted to help keep the artery open and return blood flow. This quick response prevented permanent damage to Sharon’ s heart. Crisis averted – momentarily.
2 healthstyles may 2017