West Michigan couple saved by timely, compassionate emergency care

Fruitport residents Tom (84) and Diane (81) Keenan enjoy their Sunday walks. After one recent walk, Tom arrived home first, and Diane walked a bit further before returning home.

“I came home and Tom was in his brand-new recliner,” said Diane. “I ran into the living room when I heard a gurgling sound coming from Tom. I immediately called 911. I could tell he wasn’t breathing, so I did CPR” — which she recalled from a course she had taken seven years ago.

By chance, Diane’s son, Tim Coddington, happened to stop by about five minutes later.

Tim recalls: “I was shocked. When I announced myself at the door, Mom said, ‘Get in here! Take over!’ Dad looked dead. It was traumatic.”

To Diane’s relief, Tim took over performing CPR.

Trinity Health First Responders

“Then the fire department, police, and two Trinity Health ambulances arrived,” said Diane. “Tom quit breathing a total of four times; twice with me.”

Trinity Health EMS paramedics and EMTs cover about 85 percent of Muskegon County by responding to basic life support and emergency/advanced life support (trauma, heart attack, stroke) 9-1-1 calls.  They also provide transportation in Kent and Muskegon counties — to and from Trinity Health facilities.

Paramedics Greg Diehl, CCP-C; and James Convey, CCP-C, immediately began resuscitating Tom.

“The EMS crew were highly professional,” said Tim. “They got right to work and did everything they could. They put the LUCAS machine (a battery-operated machine that delivers automated, continuous chest compressions to patients experiencing cardiac arrest) on Dad. They were bagging him. They worked on him for 45 minutes to an hour. They did not give up on him.”

Chad Crook, MBA, BS, EMT-P, operations Director, Trinity Health EMS, shared what his crews said was happening with Diane at that time.

“Diane let the second EMS crew — Daniel Young, CCP-C, field supervisor, and Elizabeth Schrotenboer, EMT — know she was having chest pains, as well,” said Chad. “However, she refused to go to the hospital while they were still working on her husband. She insisted they care for Tom first.”

Once Tom’s heart achieved sustained rhythm, the paramedics transported both patients to the emergency room at Trinity Health Muskegon.

“The paramedics kept Tom alive,” said Diane. 

The Emergency Room

Both Tom and Diane had been under cardiac care with another health system in West Michigan before this incident. Tom has AFib and had a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeats. Diane was being monitored for a partially blocked artery that didn’t require intervention. Just a week before, their hearts had been evaluated, and they had received a clean bill of health.

In the emergency room, Steven Mast, MD, Trinity Health Medical Group, Cardiology - Muskegon, took care of Diane.

“Diane had a heart attack saving her husband’s life. She is an amazing lady,” said Dr. Mast. “An ultrasound suggested that she had either a stress-induced heart attack or a blockage, but the results from the catheterization lab showed that Diane had a 70 percent narrowing of a heart vessel.”

Diane was hospitalized for four days, during which Noah Thormeier, DO, Trinity Health Medical Group, Cardiology – Muskegon, performed an angioplasty and installed a stent to open her blocked artery.

Douglas Stewart, MD, Trinity Health Medical Group, Cardiology – Muskegon, cared for Tom. Dr. Stuart removed the Tom’s pacemaker and inserted a defibrillator. His recovery took longer.

Compassionate Hospital Care

Diane stayed with Tom the entire time he was in the hospital during his cardiac care at Trinity Health Muskegon and his inpatient rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed in Muskegon. He returned home on Aug. 29.

“They were first-class professionals all the way,” said Tom. “All the people who came in to care for me also checked on Diane. I emphasize the word ‘care.’ Absolutely everyone was caring,” he added.

Diane agrees. “The staff were incredible, caring, and thoughtful. The team went overboard with Tom and with me. You didn’t have to ask for anything. If you had a question, they had the answers. They made you feel totally comfortable. Tom has no brain damage, he is walking on his own after rehab, and he is doing amazing.”

“The whole experience from start to finish was just like you’d want it to be for anyone,” said Tim. “Trinity Health Muskegon’s critical care was top-notch. It couldn’t have been better.”

Read: How Trinity Health is making schools safer through CPR training.

Amazing Outcome

“It is rare to be discharged with no neurological deficits,” said Chad. “It is amazing to have such a positive outcome. 

“Our EMS crews give everyone the same treatment — they didn’t do anything special in this circumstance. Every person we care for is treated like family. It is a gift to our EMTs to see the results of their labors and to know they made such a positive difference,” Chad added. 

Dr. Mast considers the outcome miraculous. “What Diane did was exactly right during a crisis. She called EMS first to activate the chain of survival and then performed CPR. She couldn’t have done anything better. It’s remarkable. Everyone should know CPR.” 

“We’re grateful for Trinity Health being so close by,” Tom said. “We’re both doing well. We just started cardiac rehab. We’re switching our healthcare to Trinity Health.”

Learn More About Heart and Emergency Care

Whether you need expert cardiovascular treatment or want to learn more about emergency medical services in West Michigan, Trinity Health is here for you with compassionate, lifesaving care close to home.