Although his 200-year-old farmhouse in Linden, Pa., has been quiet since his beloved wife of 45 years, Kathleen, passed away from cancer three years ago, Terry Keagle, 66, loves living in the country. He especially enjoys having time during retirement for his car and motorcycle collection.
Terry’s Challenge: Chest Pain
For about eight months, Terry experienced occasional chest pain, for which he'd take a nitroglycerin pill and find relief. But the pain worsened over time, and in early May 2024, Terry woke up on the floor with no recollection of how he'd gotten there.
He knew it was time to seek help.
The Path to UPMC’s Heart and Vascular Institute
Terry made an appointment to see his primary care provider, Katherin Lorson, PA-C, who practices at UPMC Primary Care in Williamsport and Montoursville. After listening to Terry’s symptoms and doing a physical exam, she immediately referred him to Leslie Webb, MD, an interventional cardiologist at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Williamsport.
Dr. Webb performed an EKG and noted several abnormalities. After a heart catheterization revealed several blockages, she suggested Terry go to the hospital.
Because Terry has had type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, his blood had to be cleared of the medication he takes for that condition before Michael Lazar, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, could do surgery on his heart.
Dr. Lazar’s bedside manner and kind personality immediately put Terry at ease.
"Prior to my procedure, I asked Dr. Lazar if he could give me a lightning bolt scar so that I would look like Frankenstein," he says. "Dr. Lazar’s ability to keep the situation light kept my anxiety to a minimum.”
The Solution: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
Terry’s left anterior descending artery — the largest coronary artery, which supplies most of the blood to the left side of the heart — was 99% blocked. One of Terry's physician assistants was amazed he could function with such a significant blockage.
Dr. Lazar performed a quadruple coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure on Terry.
Terry recalls every encounter with the UPMC Williamsport team with fondness.
“The members of the dietary team opened my food items when my hands and arms were having trouble navigating the wires and IVs that were connected to me," he says. "The nurses made their rounds regularly and were available to provide for my needs — so much so that I never needed to press the call button. One of the nurses stayed with me after I had woken up abruptly after experiencing a bad dream.”
The Road to Recovery
After the procedure, Terry was so eager to start the recovery process that at 3 a.m., he was assisted out of his hospital bed and into a chair. He did so well sitting up that he moved on to the next step in his recovery — going for a walk.
Terry was able to walk the entirety of the unit on the sixth floor. After he conquered several more walking trips, the next goal was to tackle stairs. With the help of his physical therapy team, Terry was able to go up and down steps without significantly elevating his heart rate.
Once he passed all of the hospital recovery milestones, Terry was eligible to be released and go home. His hospital recovery was remarkably quick, from surgery on Friday to discharge on Tuesday. His brother, Bobby, picked him up and helped with his recovery at home.
Before he left, the cardiology team told Terry that cardiac rehab was optional for him. Given the size of his property, they knew he'd have no problem walking the suggested 100-yard distance three times a day.
Thankful for a Renewed Sense of Health
“After the procedure, I felt completely different — like a new person,” says Terry. “When setting goals in the hospital, I told them that I wanted them to fix me. And they certainly did!”
Terry now has plenty of energy and no chest pain. In addition, his legs no longer feel heavy. For 10 years, he assumed that was a diabetes side effect. But after the CABG procedure, he realized the heaviness in his legs was from a lack of blood flow and walking became much easier.
So grateful for his care at UPMC Williamsport, Terry placed an ad in a local newspaper, the Webb Weekly, to recognize his care team.
“A small gesture to let my care team know how thankful I am for the care I received while I was in the hospital," he says. "It felt like a simple thank you just wasn’t enough.”
Terry’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.
