On the day before her son Paul’s wedding, Janet Flick of Bloomsburg woke up to a phone call from her cardiologist’s office that would add an extra element to the wedding checklist for the weekend ahead ― an emergency pacemaker surgery.
Having gone to bed the night before with thoughts of wedding plans, setting up the venue, and celebrating such an important event with her son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Janet wasn’t expecting the call that morning and the news shared.
“I was just getting up for the day when the doctor’s office called,” recalls Janet. “The nurse said my doctor, interventional cardiologist Leslie Webb, MD, had reviewed the data from my heart monitor and that I needed to have emergency pacemaker surgery.
"Surgery was the last thing on my mind, and I tried to put it off until the Monday after the wedding, but after my husband, son, and I talked with the nurse, we knew this was my only choice, and we had to do what was needed.”
Janet’s Care at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Dr. Webb and her team cared for Janet’s heart health for some time and were concerned about a few recent events, including an experience with abnormal heart rates as recorded by her smartwatch and an episode where she lost consciousness. The latter resulted in an emergency department visit to a hospital locally and a timely follow-up with her UPMC team for additional testing and monitoring. The results from that monitoring period helped paint a clearer picture in which the implantation of an emergency pacemaker was critical.
The team at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Williamsport was aware of Paul’s wedding and how important it was to Janet. They agreed they’d do everything they could to try to get her there, so the plan was set in motion. She would arrive early Friday morning for the emergency procedure with electrophysiologist Suppiramaniam Sreeharikesan, MD, who goes by Dr. Kesan for short.
“There was so much going on that it all still seems to be such a blur,” explains Janet. “I don’t really remember the surgery, but I do remember talking with Dr. Kesan and the team after surgery. Hearing everything went well was a relief, and it also meant that getting to the wedding was still a possibility. While not a typical recovery, the team was confident that if my initial monitoring went well, I’d be on my way.”
From the Hospital to the Dance Floor
Janet spent the night at UPMC Williamsport under observation and underwent the necessary post-surgical screenings before being cleared for discharge on Saturday, Oct. 11 ― Paul's wedding day.
“We all knew how important the wedding was for her, and based on how she was recovering from the procedure, we felt there was no reason for her to miss out,” says Dr. Webb.
Working with her care team, Janet’s family was prepared to do whatever it took to get her to the wedding. With her ride waiting and ready, she left the hospital and headed directly to the venue.
“Everyone helped me get in the car, get to the venue, get my dress on, put on makeup, and do my hair," she says. "It was a team effort. I was in a sling from the procedure, but with a little help, I could still wear the dress I had bought earlier in the summer.
"It was also nice to have hair and makeup because I don’t believe anyone looks wedding-ready after surgery,” jokes Janet.
After a little more than 24 hours that seemed like an eternity, Janet was where she had intended to be just days before ― on the dance floor with her son for the mother-son dance.
Not only had the team at UPMC given her lifesaving medical care, but their above-and-beyond effort saved her lifetime moment.
Janet is still working closely with Dr. Webb and the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute team. She knows there’s still more ahead for her but she has full confidence in her care team.
“Everything worked out, and I was right where I was supposed to be with my family,," Janet says. "I honestly don’t know how we did it, but we did. I’m so grateful to everyone who made it possible. And I know I’m in good hands when I’m in the care of the teams at UPMC.”
Janet’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.
