A Renewed Heart
When Ken Hershberger of Northridge was told earlier this year he needed heart surgery, he didn’t waltz on over to Columbus or quickstep up to Cleveland. He stayed in Springfield.
He took the advice of his doctor, Tom Ericksen, M.D.: that Community Mercy Health Partners* has two of the state’s best cardiovascular surgeons.
An avid ballroom dancer and instructor, as well as hiker and walker, Ken said he was “totally shocked” that he had heart disease. “I had no symptoms.” Friends were surprised, too. Ken, who is always on the go as director of planned giving for the Ohio Masonic Home’s Benevolent Endowment Fund, Inc., said, “People know I go 140 miles an hour. They said, ‘You had to have open heart surgery?’”
Shortly before his diagnosis, he danced with his usual vigor at the PRIMO event at the Springfield Museum of Art. The carpeted floor added resistance to his steps, but even then, he said, “I felt no chest tightness. I was not short of breath. I didn’t even break a sweat.”
The only reason he discovered he had narrowed arteries was that Dr. Ericksen—who had just accepted him as a new patient when his previous doctor moved—recommended he have some tests.
“He told me, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘I know you feel well at 64, but why don’t we tear you apart and be sure that there’s nothing hiding in there.’” And the doctor jokingly admitted an ulterior motive to Ken. “He and his wife, Diane, take lessons from me, and he said he needs to preserve me so I can teach him more.”
Everything checked out fine, except a cardiac screening CT scan. It detected extensive calcifications in the arteries of his heart—a clear sign of heart disease. Cardiologist Faiq Akhter, M.D. conducted a stress test and a cardiac catheterization, which revealed that he needed bypasses of three coronary arteries.
On March 2, cardiovascular surgeon Lofton Misick, M.D., performed the triple bypass at Springfield Regional Medical Center.
Ken is now completing cardiac rehabilitation at Springfield Regional. “After just three sessions,” he said, “my legs were already coming back.” Time off the dance floor, he said, “basically turned them to jelly.”
The cardiac rehab staff tailored a program to help Ken return to cutting a rug in fine fashion. “They know what I want and need to do, and they’re helping me accomplish it.”
Ohio Masonic Home residents have noticed the difference, too. “The residents watch me like a hawk. They say I have a new spring in my step.”
He added, “I’m thoroughly pleased with the care I received. Look at me – three and a half months post-surgery, and I have a new spring in my step. I have a completely rejuvenated heart.” He also has 27 fewer pounds to carry around the dance floor.
“I’m thrilled with all of the services Springfield Regional provided, from the diagnostic tests, the catheterization, to the surgery team, to the CCU staff, to home health care and now cardiac rehabilitation.
“A number of people have asked me, ‘Where did you have the work done … Columbus? … Cleveland?’”
“’No,’ I tell them, ‘I stayed right here in Springfield and I’m happy I did. As a result, my dancing partner, friends, fellow Rotarians, fellow employees and Masonic organizations in this area were able to offer me the recovery help and support that I needed.”
*In 2006, CMHP won the Premier Award for Quality for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
