How I Survived and Continued to Live After My Heart Attack

On July 15, 2023, I called 911 after getting severe chest pains and shortness of breath. I just returned from a road trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I was planning to host my 2023 Great Lakes Christian Film Festival at Grace Christian University. I just unloaded the last item from my vehicle, and immediately I was feeling week and pain in my chest. My daughter Moriah (21, years old, diagnosed with autism) was with me, so I called my next-door neighbor to help me watch her until her mother could be contacted to get her.

My neighbors came, followed by the EMT to get me to the ambulance and transport me to the nearest hospital. Within minutes of arriving at the ER at Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo, I behand to struggle to breath, and, as I was grasping for air, calling that I couldn’t breath. Finally, they got me on oxygen, took X-rays, and rushed me through the process of getting angioplasty lines through to my heart. I was indeed, had congestive heart failure.

After a night of tests and diagnoses, the head cardio surgeon recommended I be sent to Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital for a heart transplant. On July 19, 2023, they performed an open heart procedure to install lines for an external pump called an Impella, a medical device that helps the heart to pump. For four weeks, I was in the Cardio ICU, recovering from the operation. During my stay in Rochester, I updated my progress on three livestreams on my YouTube Channel (July 18, Aug 1, Aug 10).

Weeks later, after I was finally strong enough walk on my own, I was discharged August 10, 2023, to be resting at home for another few weeks. With the new medication, and nurse visits to my home, I was able to get around the house. I did have one moment a week later, where I tried to get up to go to the bathroom, but I was too dizzy and passed out. I hit my head on my dresser, causing my flat screen television to fall on my head, and cutting my ear in the process. It was embarrassing to be in such a helpless state, but, I was determined to get healed and completely recover.

Follow-ups were continued by the Buffalo Veteran Administration Medical Center, in Buffalo, where all my healthcare needs have been serviced the past twelve years. Since then, I have been on the Cardio Rehab program, exercising two times a week, as well as, gone to various doctor’s appointments. I have continued to check in with Strong Memorial Hospital every three months to ensure everything is still improving.

What has been amazing, is that initially, I was support to get a transplant. Then they installed an external pump, stating they needed to install an internal pump before I leave the hospital. Then, I was discharged with out any pump, and monitored for four months with a defibrillator vest. In December 2023, they said I no longer needed to wear a monitor, but to continue with medication.

It’s one year later, after my surgery, and I have been driving, walking, exercising, and playing drums as normal. I still have feeling of the scare tissue, but other than that, I feel I’ve been doing great. One thing’s for sure, I have been determined to work harder for the Kingdom of God than ever. The proof was my Missions Trip to Pakistan and my commitment to serving God at my local church. (Read more about my volunteer work at the Bread of Life Church in South Buffalo on my previous blog post).

I posted on my podcast the update from home on August 29th, 2023:

Post-discharge updates, resuming the podcast, Film Project, next steps The Shawn P Greene Show (2023-08-29)