Part II
Ron Rollin's heart attack
Staff Writer for ColumbusGeorgiaOnline.com
Ins and Outs of Harris County.
Ron is a laid back, easy going, fun loving Country Boy that has lived in Harris County for thirty years or more. Having his own business in Whitesville and Pine Mountain, Georgia and also Volunteer Fire Chief for the Northwest Harris Volunteer Fire Department for over thirty years.
 June 4th 2006 Ron and I spent the day working on my Waldrop's Genealogy and his Jacksons. I notice by the afternoon Ron was acting like he was beyond himself but didn't know what to do about it. About 6 p.m. two of Ron's Jackson cousins, Millard and Michael came driving up the long drive way in front of Ron's home across from Pine Lake on Pine Lake Road. They were driving their Harley Motorcycles up the long stretch. The two Jackson cousins had just drove down from Gwenette County Georgia less than a week after the Jackson Family Reunion. In less than a week they were back to sit and talk about the days when families were really close. They talked for a couple of hours or more then the brothers said they wanted to leave before it became dark.
The cousins discussed when the next family reunion would be held. Then they snapped on their helmets and started up their Harley Motorcycles and went back down the long driveway, leaving Ron in what they thought good health, laughing and talking. Little did they know Ron was in the makings of a serious heart attack that would be threatening his life before the night was over.
It was late so Ron settled for a stir fry over rice and a pear salad. It was getting late but this meal was quick and easy to prepare. After Ron had eaten he sat for a while then he mentioned he felt like he had indigestion, his chest was burning. I asked him where and he ran his fingers down the middle of his chest. I gave him something for indigestion and in a few minutes the burning backed off.
About twenty minutes later he started talking about the back of his neck hurting more and in the back of his head than in his shoulder blades (The pain never went into his shoulders or arms). I rubbed his neck and shoulders with Sports Cream. After a good burp and the Sports Cream he was quiet for a little while. Then he stood up and said, " I can't sit and I can't stand" he started walking. This is what I remembered about my heart attack. I had to be on the move. That was when he got my attention that this might not be just indigestion and a sore neck.
By this time he had to leave the living room and walk out onto the deck. He broke out in a sweat and wanted to walk in the cool night air, but he received no comfort outside. The inside was cool and he walked out into the warm night. He was at the point of not wanting to be closed in so he sat, stood and walked on the deck until the Ambulance arrived.
Once again he burped, now we have no sweats, no neck soreness and no burning which felt like indigestion. So Ron sat in the deck chair and we thought it had backed off, whatever it was.
I was carrying the telephone, waiting for that one sign that would let me know Ron was having a heart attack. By now he was feeling almost back to normal. Then came the hot water in the throat and him bending over the deck feeling nausea, again we thought the Stir Fry made him sick or he had food poison from something he had eaten over the week end. All of these signs were few and far between according to what you would believe heart attack symptoms would be.
 Standing there, Ron made a gesture that made my blood run cold, he put his right hand over his left arm and said something that I didn't even hear. When I saw that right hand holding his left arm, to me, that was the sign to start getting help. I did ask Ron if he wanted me to call 911. While I was asking him he was already telling me something was wrong and to call 911. When this big ole Country Boy was willing to surrender I knew we were in trouble.
I called 911, 58 year old male, symptoms heart attack and gave address. The operator asked questions and kept me on the line while contacting the Ambulance. While talking to 911 Ron gets up out of the chair and goes to the front of the deck and does sort of a knee bend, another burp and stood up straight. He sat back down and by then the Ambulance was almost there. We feel foolish calling 911 because he no longer has any signs of being sick. What ever it was bothering him, he said he felt like it was over.( The feeling Ron had was the feeling that led him to accept a ride in the Ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Columbus. Though he wasn't in pain, he knew something was wrong.)
We sat and talked while the Ambulance was traveling towards Whitesville, Georgia. When they arrived they pulled up at the same time as Cason Callaway III pulled up as first responder for the Northwest Harris Volunteer Fire Department. Cason is laying in bed listening to the fire monitor. When the operator paged out a 58 year old male on Pine Lake Road Cason was up like a flash of lighting knowing this was the Chief and he was on his way.
The 911 operator was listening to my remarks about Ron and she picked up on he needed someone closer than the Ambulance this is when she paged for First Responders Northwest Harris Volunteer Fire Department. By the time Cason and the Ambulance arrived Ron was sitting on the deck waiting for them. Ron never felt a pain just mixed symptoms that could have been caused by other illnesses.
So here is Ron greeting everyone. The Blood Pressure is taken, seems okay, the EKG was taken, seems okay, temperature taken, seems okay. I am sitting back hoping and praying they would take him in and check him out. Before anyone could say anything the Ambulance Attendance spoke up and said he advised Ron to go to the Emergency Room for a follow up.(to my surprise, Ron said, "okay". I don't know if that was Ron talking or the voice of God. The choice Ron made help save his life. I truly believe that God All Mighty was in control.
Ron walks down the steps where they rolled him to the Ambulance. He sits in the Ambulance and talks to Cason and the Ambulance Attendants. This is when I said, this was supposed to be my week end as my back was out. Cason turned around pulled up his shirt and he had on a back brace. We laughed, here we are in pain and Ron is sitting there being taken care of. Of the three of us Cason and I looked the worst.
Ron talks to the Ambulance attendant (Jimmy Waites) about Ron's grandmother's house om 20th Street in Phenix City, Alabama. Their conversation showed how alert Ron was. As they shut the Ambulance door Ron was still giving us orders, turn off the lights, get my billfold, get my insurance card. I thought Awwwman, this ole County Boy just won't give up even laying in the back of an Ambulance.
 One of the Ambulance attendance asked me if I wanted to ride in the back with him. I told her I wanted to drive my car so we would have a way home when they were through with him. She commented this was a good attitude to have.
As I turn my car around to head out the driveway I looked up stairs and there is "Patches," Ron's heart and soul, his companion and his bed buddy. This little girl cat is sitting in the window watching everything that is going on. She watches as her daddy leaves in a big truck with lights and making a noise. Not knowing where he is going or if he is coming back.
When I would drive up to feed and water Patches I would find her sitting on the back of the couch in the sun room waiting for her daddy. When Jan and I walked through the sliding glass door she would look around us . She looked out the door and looked around for her daddy. The whole time we were there Patches wouldn't leave the back of the couch. It appeared she stayed on the back of the couch from Sunday night until Wednesday afternoon as though she knew he would return like he did everyday when he came home from work.
When Ron walked in the door coming home from the Hospital, you have never heard such talking to her daddy and walking around in circles around his legs as to welcome him home. Ron brought this little girl home about a year ago and she loves him as though she knows he saved her life. She was going to be put to sleep the day Ron said he would take her. This ole Country Boy is a Gentle Giant when it comes to his Patches.
Now, back to following the Ambulance to the Hospital. When the Ambulance reached Mulberry Grove they left me standing still. They were out of sight in a matter of seconds. I tried to keep up. But it was dark and the Deer were out so I thought it was better to drive at a safe speed. At the time I didn't know he was going down. They called in and everyone met them at the Emergency room door ready to assist him as a possible heart attack.
As they worked with him, all Ron remembers is that they did cruel and mean things to his body. They started getting him ready for a Cardiac Catherization and a stint. Dr. Darrah was there waiting for him and started working. One of Ron's arteries had closed 98% and he was sitting at Death's door. Dr. Darrah was very serious when he talked about the Heart Attack. He said Ron flat lined on the table twice and he actually died twice.
Then after all the painful things they did to Ron's body, Dr. Darrah has the nerve, after shocking him twice with the paddles, leaving his body looking like a war zone...to break the big news to Ron that he has to stop smoking and drinking if he wants to live. :O( This was like adding insult to injury. But Dr. Darrah was serious. If he wants to live he will have to stop smoking. Ron is taking him seriously.
The heart attack happened somewhere between the Emergency Room door and while Dr. Darrah was working on him. As serious as the Heart attack was. Ron was in ICU one day and in the hospital two days.
Ron was rolled out the front door of St. Francis Hospital a new man. Even with a 98% blocked artery that was pulling on him he never thought it was his heart. None of the symptoms ever pointed towards heart problems.
In the two years I have worked with Ron in mine and his family's genealogy and the History of Harris County and the surrounding Counties, this the first time I have seen him walk up the steps and not stop with heavy breathing problems. He can now walk from here to yonder without stopping and leaning on what ever is available. His eyes are clear, his chin is up and he is walking tall.
The reason I wanted to share Ron's story with you is that I pray it will plant a seed in someone's mind as to how a heart attack can work on you for a year or two and then all of a sudden you are at death's door.
I Thank The All Mighty God we called 911 just when we did. Dr. Darrah said thirty minutes later and Ron would have died on the way to the Hospital. "If we had not called 911 when we did he would have died." This comment stayed in my mind for days. As it was the Will of the Heavenly Father, doors were open and waiting for him. Our Prayers were answered. My Jan and I prayed and asked our Heavenly Father to watch over Ron and take care of him and the Heavenly Father did. This we asked in the name of Jesus. We Thanked the Father and Son and are still Thanking them.
Now here are some signs that may help anyone who reads this story see how Ron's heart attack in progress could be misleading,
A Heart Attack:
A heart attack is a colloquial term referring to a serious, sudden heart condition that presents as varying degrees of chest pain, weakness, sweating, nausea and vomiting, sometimes causing loss of consciousness. A heart attack is a medical emergency. By Ron's actions and symptoms I didn't see a heart attack and the on and off symptoms up until a point Ron and I knew he was in trouble. Even when we called for medical emergency, by the time they arrived, Ron seem to be fine even though a heart attack was in progress. This is when the old saying comes in, " It's better to be safe than sorry."
Remember Ron never had any pain. Pain is a warning sign and Ron to this day had no pain. Several symptoms but no pain.
Only Ron can tell you what went on in the Ambulance what he saw and felt while being working on behind closed door. Ron told me he was facing out the back window of the Ambulance when he saw the in the reflection of the window how the pace changed. Another spray of under the tongue, the ambulance speeding up and the lights on, this is where it stops for me, then he picks up again remembering a few things at St. Francis Hospital. When Ron arrived at the Emergency Room the race was on to save his life.
The medical term for a heart attack is acute myocardial infarction...AMI or MIA acute means sudden, myo refers to muscle and cardium refers to the heart. My heart attack was called Myocardium Infarction. I threw a Blood Clot. I had the feeling of someone's fist around my heart squeezing it and it felt like two elephants standing on my elbows.
Remember, a heart attack can also occur if the work load of the heart suddenly rises and the necessary oxygen cannot be supplied quickly enough. This is why extreme stress or physical exertion can result in heart attacks.
Remember, Only 65-69% cases have the classical symptom of a heart attack as chest pain. Pain most characteristic of a heart attack is described as Intense pressure. Like an elephant sitting on your chest.
Remember, a heart attack is a life-threatening medical emergency which demands immediate activation of the emergency medical services. One needs to be transported by an ambulance to a hospital.
Remember, If the patient is conscious and able to swallow, it may be advisable to give one baby aspirin. Look to see if the patient has nitroglycerin tablets or patches available, particularly if they have been the victim of prior heart attacks.
Some associated symptoms include dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath and diahoresis(excessive sweating). In the absence of the symptom, sharp chest pain which goes away promptly when the patient stops moving chest and arm muscles often is not associated with a heart; but a sharp chest pain that persists despite lack of movement is a strong indicator of a heart attack.
Women are just as likely to die of a heart attack as men. Heart attacks sometimes occur with atypical pain or in the absence of classical symptoms, particularly in women, who may experience simply chest discomfort, a sensation of uncomfortable chest pressure, cold sweats, nausea, or pains in the arm, back, jaw, or stomach.
Even with my grandpapa, my daddy, my daughter Jan who has had a heart attack and my daughter Norma Kay who has had heart problems and heart surgery, my oldest sister Juanita Waldrop Hirsch who had a couple of heart attacks and open heart surgery and my sister Norma Waldrop Heid who had a form (heart muscles) of heart trouble I was not able to see the hand writing on the wall. With a family like mine with all the symptoms and signs I still wasn't able to see the hand writing on the wall.
So far my son Wally Doolittle is the only one in my family that doesn't have heart problems. By the time my girls were Wally's age Jan had already had a heart attack and Norma Kay open heart surgery.
Ron has five children and June 4, 2006 sent out a red flag for his children to take control of their lives. Now is the time to prvent this happening to them .
Now back to the 'Glory Days". Next story will be about the
"Telephone Man".
Thanks for letting me share my memories with you.
Sandra
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