Jack Megahee

For Jack Megahee, an afternoon on the links is par for the course.

But for the specialist in long term care insurance and Thomas University head men’s golf coach, a day on the green almost turned tragic.

“I started to feel really weak and had to sit down,” said Megahee. “Then I experienced shortness of breath.”

By the time he should’ve been playing the back nine, Megahee was on a procedure table in the cardiac catheterization lab at Archbold’s Loudermilk Heart and Vascular Center.

“Before I knew it there were six people around me working as fast as I’ve ever seen anyone move,” said Megahee. “They knew what was going on and wasted no time acting on it.”

Megahee was having a heart attack.

Interventional cardiologist Clay Sizemore, MD, performed an emergency angioplasty to restore blood flow to Megahee’s right coronary artery (RCA)—the primary function of which is to deliver blood to the heart muscle.

While inserting a small catheter into the coronary artery, Dr. Sizemore discovered Megahee’s RCA was ninety-five percent occluded (blocked) and limiting the blood flow to his heart. A tiny balloon was then inflated to open up the blood vessel and a stent was inserted to restore blood flow—all within seconds before the artery became one-hundred percent blocked. 

Megahee, who was awake during the entire procedure, has a vivid recollection of the instant sensation he felt once the stent was inserted.

“I felt immediate relief,” said Megahee. “At the time, I was still unsure of what was going on, but I had confidence in the team that was working on me. They knew how serious my condition was, and they knew exactly what to do. I knew I was in good hands.”

When heart attack strikes, every second counts. That’s why having local access to advanced cardiac care and interventional cardiology is so important.

“It’s important for people to immediately recognize the warning signs of a heart attack,” said Megahee. “Never underestimate the symptoms, and don’t wait to seek medical attention. We have the best cardiac care you can get right here in Thomasville at Archbold. I know—they saved my life.”