Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
When Ernie Withers attended the Manatee Chamber of Commerce event Feb. 21 at Roberto Clemente Field, in the Pirate City complex, he had no idea his life was in danger. A retired auto industry executive and former Chamber chairman, Withers was on the ballfield as part of the event when his heart stopped, what’s called cardiac arrest.
“I had no symptoms prior, no warning,” Withers said. “I had no pulse for two to three minutes. I was down.”
The 68-year-old was fortunate, in some ways, to be where he was. Pirates Medical Director Dr. Patrick DeMeo was there and responded quickly, performing CPR and applying an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device to shock Withers’ heart back to life. He was then rushed to Manatee Memorial Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, where cardiologist Jeffrey Rossi, MD, placed four stents to re-open his blocked arteries and cardiologist Jared Collins, DO, implanted a combination pacemaker/defibrillator.
“My care at the hospital was unbelievable. The entire staff kept me informed on every detail,” said Withers, who was in the hospital for three days. “Dr. Teresa Rawe and her staff were so attentive and comforting. The shift changes went so smoothly.”
Just one week after his cardiac episode, Withers was invited back by the Pittsburgh Pirates to throw out the first ball of a spring training game. “I was honored by the gesture and was so happy to be able to thank Dr. DeMeo and his staff for helping to save my life,” he said. “I also thanked the players and coaches for their prayers while I laid on the ground lifeless.”
Withers’ story had ripples beyond his own life. He was invited to sit in Mayor Gene Brown’s box during the game. A few days later, Brown reached out to tell Withers that because of his story, he went to the doctor, had a stress test that uncovered issues, and a stent was placed to improve bloodflow in his heart.
Ironically, Withers’ daughter Lisa Heath has been a nurse at Manatee for the past 18 years. “I am so proud of the medical professionals I get to call co-workers who provided care to my dad and treated him like family,” she said. “Familiar faces gave me an extra layer of confidence and reassurance that he was in good hands.”
Withers is now back to playing golf and has resumed normal activities, and learned a new skill — he and his wife took a class and are now certified in CPR.
“My story is amazing, how everyone was in the right place at the right time,” he said. “I think it was a miracle.”
A wellness screening can save your life. The screening, which takes about 30 minutes, can be scheduled at the Manatee Diagnostic Center by calling 941-747-3034 or visiting manateediagnostic.com.
For more information on Manatee’s Heart and Vascular Center, visit manateememorial.com/services/heart-and-vascular-center.
Manatee Memorial Hospital
206 Second St E Bradenton FL, 34208
(941) 746-5111
manateememorial.com
Another Life Saved
In the end, a friend’s story had an enormous impact on Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown.
Brown invited his good friend Ernie Withers to sit with him in the Mayor’s Box at a Pittsburgh Pirates™ spring training game. A week earlier, Withers had collapsed on the same field and likely would have died had it not been for the fast-acting medical teams at both Pirate City and Manatee Memorial Hospital, who re-started his heart and performed a surgical procedure to re-open bloodflow to his heart.
After listening to Withers’ story, Mayor Brown took his longtime friend’s advice to see his cardiologist. He confided to Dr. Bruce Lipskind of Bradenton Cardiology that he may not have been forthright at his last appointment a year ago, and shared he was having some symptoms, including frequent heartburn. His doctor suggested a stress test to make sure Brown’s heart was OK.
After the test, Dr. Lipskind recommended Brown undergo a cardiac catheterization to get a closer look at the state of his heart. The procedure revealed that he had a 70% blockage of the left anterior descending artery, the largest artery in the heart and the proverbial “widowmaker.” Interventional Cardiologist Dr. James Ngyuen placed a stent in the artery to open it, an experience Brown describes as surreal and that arguably saved his life.
“My thanks go out to Dr. Lipskind, Dr. Ngyuen, the nurses and the whole team who were unbelievable,” Brown said. “I am fortunate to have been under such incredible care and I thank my friend Ernie for his encouragement.”
When asked what message he would like to convey, Brown responded, “Get screened. Do it for you, do it for your family.”
