Michael Larsen, Seattle, WA – 45 at time of event (2005)
Michael is a pianist. He was once a large pianist — now he’s more careful, and slimmer! In 1999 he suffered a severe heart attack and needed a quadruple bypass. Unfortunately, his heart muscle was damaged and his EF remains very low. At that time ICDs were not implanted as a safety measure like they are now for LVEF <%35. So that brings us to his story.
Working in Seattle on a stage production, Michael had just finished a tiring day and was walking down Pike Place past the market that is a Seattle institution. He was on the cell phone checking in with his producer, apparently telling her that he felt fine, “never felt better before” were his words. Not that Michael can remember the conversation...
He fell face down onto the pavement, dead. A passerby stopped and called 9-1-1, then started CPR. The Seattle paramedics arrived in 4 minutes flat. Michael knows this because he was given the hospital records, including the EMS report sheet. Today, he explains there was a checkbox marked “deceased”. He also notes that he was put into a coma and his body was chilled to help prevent brain damage.
“They saved my life! They got my heart beat going again in the ambulance, and they saved me. I went back to work four days later,” Michael said with pride. “The doctors in Seattle were spectacular, I can’t begin to tell you.”
Although, this time he left the hospital with an ICD in his chest. It was highly unlikely he would be lucky enough next time, not only being in one of the best cities in USA for resuscitation, but also to have a witnessed cardiac arrest.
Born in New York, living in Denver at the time and working in Seattle, Michael had a hectic schedule. He followed the show around the country, and in 2008 he moved back to his home town. Christmas evening he was in a downtown restaurant with a friend. It was a quiet, relaxed meal, only one or two other tables occupied. Suddenly, he felt a powerful kick in his chest, knocking the glass from his hand. Michael called out “Oh, Not now!”
He had realized what it was, and then it did it again. And again. He fell to the floor as his defibrillator proceeded to shock him twenty six times! He passed out several times, and, after a while, awoke to see the EMTs tending to him.
“With the [first] heart attack, and the cardiac arrest in Seattle, I don’t remember any of it, I was out! I didn’t know what had happened. It was the people around you, my family, my friends, they were the ones that really suffered,” Michael said with emotion. “[But] this incident, this past Christmas, was so visceral, so horrifying, and yet it saved my life!”
“The defibrillator was acting appropriately, I needed the 26 shocks until...[the paramedics could administer drugs to stabilize his heart rhythm.]
“The paramedics arrived pretty fast — not as fast as in Seattle I can tell you that!” Michael recalled.
“I was awake! I was thoroughly aware of what was going on! I was frightened out of my mind. And it hurt. It really hurt, getting shocked really hurt.” Michael cried.
Michael subsequently had an ablation procedure and was given an anti-arrhythmic drug regime. He also had a new ICD with new leads to assist his heat beat.* It’s been months now and he has had no hint of further trouble.
“I’m feeling really good about that. I feel safe,” Michael explained. He has changed his diet again, and resumed the exercise.
“Between pizza and Chinese food in NY, it was almost inevitable. I was so disciplined ten years ago! Now I realize I can have the life I want in NYC and still take care of this hand I was dealt.”
-Jeremy Whitehead
* Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with a biventricular pacemaker/ICD to “help the heart pump more effectively without strain”.