Mason City man feels 100% better after cardiology intervention

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Harold’s heart journey: regaining independence with MercyOne North Iowa Heart Center

Harold Lewis, 69, is a retiree from Winnebago, a proud father of five and grandfather of nine. Harold vividly remembers the debilitating symptoms he experienced five years ago.

“I was waking up at night and couldn’t breathe. During the day, I was always very tired and felt fatigued,” said Harold.

Seeking relief, Harold went to see his MercyOne family medicine physician, Dr. Brett Mulkey. Upon Dr. Mulkey’s referral, Harold was introduced to Jennifer McCambridge, PA, at MercyOne North Iowa Heart Center. Recognizing the signs, Jennifer suspected Harold might have sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP machine – a mask that he would wear while sleeping to help him breathe.

Jennifer continued to monitor Harold’s condition, discovering blockages in his arteries. To address this concern, the team proposed an angioplasty, a procedure designed to alleviate blocked areas by inserting a balloon to stretch open the arteries. Additionally, a wire mesh tube called a stent was permanently implanted to hold the artery open, improving blood flow to the heart muscle, and relieving Harold of chest pain.

"Dr. Samuel Congello, placed the stents, and two years ago, a MercyOne electrophysiologist implanted a defibrillator due to symptoms of irregular heartbeats," said Harold.

Since receiving the defibrillator, Harold hasn’t required any further stents. According to the American Heart Association, an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) is crucial for people at high risk of life-threatening arrhythmias, like the one Harold had. These devices not only prevent sudden death, but also serve as pacemakers when needed. Implanted near the collarbone, the ICD detects irregular heart rhythms and restores normal heart function through electrical signals.

“I feel 100% better,” said Harold. “I am sleeping at night, can help my wife with errands and housework. I can even drive to Des Moines to see some of my kids and grandkids, which I would not have been able to do before my heart care with MercyOne.”

Harold says the dedicated team at MercyOne North Iowa Heart Center has saved his life.

“Dr. Congello is excellent. He is very easy to get along with. He explains things in the way I can understand it. And Jennifer helps manage my symptoms through medication. I know Dr. Congello and Jennifer have saved my life a couple of times.”