Intermountain Health Helps Montana Man After Two Heart Events
Kevin Witherspoon, 49, and father of three young daughters has faced not one but two life-threatening heart incidents over the last 18 months, emerging with a strong faith and overwhelming gratitude for those who have cared for him.
As Intermountain Health observes American Heart Month this February, Witherspoon’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of heart health and the incredible caregivers who support patients on their road to recovery.
Witherspoon’s health challenges began on July 3, 2023, a day that started like any other, doing household chores and running errands.
"When I got home, I really didn't feel well. I was disoriented and felt nauseous. I knew something was going on,” said Witherspoon.
His wife, a registered nurse, immediately recognized the severity of the situation and called for an ambulance.
Witherspoon was experiencing a serious heart attack and a cardiac arrest. He would need to be revived by caregivers 11 times between the ambulance and the hospital.
"The first couple I do remember because they hurt extremely," he said about the application of the defibrillator. "But after that, I don't remember a thing."
When he arrived at Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital, he was evaluated immediately, and it was determined that he had two complete blockages of his arteries to his heart.
He underwent a catheter procedure to place stents in his heart and was put on an impella heart pump device to keep his heart functioning, while his body recovered.
Because of the severity of his heart attack and the number of times he needed to be revived, a number of his body’s system were impacted.
Witherspoon spent nearly a week in the ICU, where he was kept in an induced coma to stabilize his condition. "I woke up almost a full week later," he recalled. "They kept me immobile and alive, really. The care I received from the emergency team, paramedics, ICU staff, and recovery floor was a total team effort. My heart goes out to everybody that was involved in that whole entire day and the care that I got afterwards," he says.
"Kevin’s heart and body went through a lot during and after his event,” shared Carine Basmadjian, MD, a cardiologist at Intermountain St. Vincent. “We are fortunate to have a great team in place that was able to respond to provide the critical care he needed. From the first responders to the cath lab and the ICU team, our caregivers all worked together to help him survive what could have been a fatal heart attack.”
After several weeks in the hospital, Witherspoon began his working with the Cardiac Rehab program at Intermountain St. Vincent to regain his strength and mobility.
"Everybody that works there has had a hand in my recovery," he said. "They're all such wonderful people, giving of their time and care."
He began a structured cardiac rehabilitation program that included multiple phases. "They start very slow and then work you up, trying to get your strength back and determine how your heart is functioning in response to exercise."
The program provided Witherspoon with valuable information about diet, exercise, and heart health. "We watched a lot of videos while exercising, and I learned so much about diet, exercise, and the numbers associated with heart conditions," he said.
After six months in the program, Witherspoon had regained his strength and stamina and was developing healthier habits. “I developed a pretty decent little home gym and continued to record my weight, blood pressure, and exercises every day,” he shared.
After several months passed, he started to notice some weight gain and was feeling sluggish. Then, in late August 2024, he woke up in the middle of the night and his heart was racing. His wife checked his heart rate, which was at 120 beats per minute. They decided to go to the hospital, where Witherspoon was admitted after his heart rate stabilized.
Everybody that works there has had a hand in my recovery. They're all such wonderful people, giving of their time and care.
Tests revealed that Witherspoon had a significant amount of fluid in his body, and further examination showed that his heart wasn’t pumping efficiently. After addressing the issue with the fluid retention in his body, he dropped 20 lbs. His heart team recommended open-heart surgery to perform a bypass.
This was a lot for him to take in after his first incident, but he had the trust and confidence in his heart team at Intermountain St. Vincent.
"I put my faith in God, and I put my faith in science. I knew I was getting the best of both worlds,” he said.
The surgery was successful, and the recovery began immediately, for a second time. "I felt good, sore obviously, but good," he recalled. "The next day, I was already doing laps with a walker. The progress was phenomenal."
Despite having an open-heart procedure, the second recovery was swift, thanks to his prior experience and the exceptional care he received. "I knew the routine," he said. "Diet, eating, and regular monitoring. The care was fantastic, and they made sure my heart was responding well."
Witherspoon started the cardiac rehab process all over again but jumped right in with a great attitude "Lynn (physical therapist) came and saw me in the hospital, and I was all about it," he said. "The second time around was as phenomenal as the first, if not even better.”
Although he was one of the younger members of the cardiac rehab class, he was the veteran of the program encouraging others and sharing his experience. He has several months left but is determined to get back to even better shape than he was before his heart attack and surgery.
“Kevin’s faith and spirit are an inspiration,” shared Dr. Basmadjian. “Despite needing a second intervention and surgery, he continues to respond with a positive attitude and determination that have been so important to his continued recovery and health.”
Witherspoon’s journey has taught him the importance of knowing your family history and living a healthy lifestyle. "A lot can be said about your genes," he advised. "If you don't know a lot about your family history, try to get to know some of that with family members."
He also emphasized the importance of regular check-ups and making heart health a priority. "It's never too late to start," Witherspoon said. "Eating healthy and exercising becomes more of a lifestyle rather than a burdensome routine."
Witherspoon’s faith and determination have been key to his resilience. "I want to be around my family," he said. "Seeing my kids grow up, being there for graduations and weddings – that's what keeps me going every day."
He also shared his admiration for his wife as she has been by his side throughout the journey. "My wife is my angel. She literally saved my life that day of my heart attack and has been my rock through all the days afterwards. I can't say enough about her care and dedication."