This series spotlights Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic colleagues who are participating in the American Heart Association’s Philadelphia Heart Walk on Nov. 1.
If Alana Irlich’s father, Thomas Macaluso, waited just another day before seeing his cardiologist, he would not be here today. That’s why for Irlich, practice manager at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Medical Group’s Primary Care Rhawn and Nazareth Health Residency Center, the American Heart Association’s Philadelphia Heart Walk on Nov. 1 is a true day of celebration.
Macaluso, 71, has battled heart issues since his late 40s, when he had stents put in. Trusting that the stents were a cure-all, he was hesitant to seek medical attention when his health began declining two years ago.
“He kept having indigestion and acid reflux. He tried all of the home remedies, but he kept getting weird chest pain and shortness of breath,” says Irlich. “He was also looking gray and would just instantly fall asleep while sitting there.”
Upon hearing these symptoms, Macaluso’s provider at Primary Care Rhawn urged him to come into the office for an EKG. What she found concerned her deeply and she sent him to a cardiologist. During his cardiology visit at a nearby hospital, which was not even 24 hours after seeing his PCP, Macaluso’s condition became critical.
“He had no oxygen or blood flow in his left ventricle,” says Irlich. “As he was going to the ER, he coded and died for almost five minutes. They had to CPR him and broke every rib in his body. They tried capping him while he was on the ground and he was 100 percent blocked. So, they had to paddle him three times to bring him back.”
An ECMO machine kept him alive until he was able to undergo a triple bypass surgery the next day, which was a success.
“The surgeon told me and my mom that if he would have waited, 100 percent he would have died in his sleep over the weekend.” – Alana Irlich
Irlich couldn’t be more grateful that she still has her dad around … especially upon learning just how close she came to losing him. After his Thursday PCP appointment, Macaluso—whom Irlich says can sometimes be “stubborn”—initially wanted to wait until the following week to see the cardiologist.
“The surgeon told me and my mom that if he would have waited, 100 percent he would have died in his sleep over the weekend,” says Irlich. “It was scary. And the surgeon even said that they’ve never seen someone die for that long and come back fully aware of things and not have brain damage. We always say, ‘You’re here for a reason.’ For him to die for that long and be able to come back and survive it with no brain damage, it’s a gift.”
Currently, Macaluso is doing well. Though Irlich admits that his stress levels could be lower (he’s a staunch consumer of the news), he’s taking his medications, watching his diet and staying active as much as possible, largely thanks to Irlich’s energetic six-year-old son.
Her wish for her dad is that he embraces his second chance at life, which she’ll be celebrating at the Heart Walk. Through her participation, Irlich hopes to spread awareness about the importance of seeing a PCP on a regular basis, as well as the role that family history plays in heart health. In Irlich’s family, heart issues go back several generations, so she’s being proactive by getting echocardiograms and stress tests.
By walking and sharing her father’s story, she also wants to remind people that heart failure isn’t always a death sentence.
“People should come to support each other. You will learn more than what you think hearing other people’s stories,” says Irlich. “Everyone knows someone with heart issues at some point, so it’s great to come together as a community. It’s a great cause.”
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is a proud sponsor of the Philadelphia Heart Walk. To make a donation or to join a team, visit our Company Page.