Bob Dickey says the team members at Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center went above and beyond in saving his life and providing excellent follow-up care after his quadruple bypass surgery this past spring.
“I wouldn’t be here without them – all of them – they all did their part,” says Bob, 77, who lives in Aberdeen. “They took care of me so I wanted to see what I could do for them.”
Bob recently made a generous donation to Bayshore in Holmdel in honor of the cardiac rehab team, where he “graduated” 12 weeks of rehabilitation in September following a surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.The dedication and expertise of the cardiac rehab team inspired Bob to make his donation in their honor, a heartfelt gesture that reflects his gratitude for the support and encouragement he experienced throughout his journey.
A former merchant marine and retired engineer at AT&T, Bob is back substitute teaching at schools in Monmouth County and enjoying time with his wife, Mary-Ellen, their two children and three grandchildren.
“I’m feeling fine, the people in the hospital and rehab saved me,” he said.
Bob had been feeling lightheaded and short of breath for a while – he’d even had chest pain – but previous electrocardiograms and stress tests revealed no problem with his heart. But after feeling poorly during a family trip to Ireland and Scotland, Bob headed straight to his primary care doctor, Vasantha Perkari, M.D., who has offices across from Bayshore.
Family nurse practitioner, Katherine Clemente, APN, sent him for a cardiac calcium score test, a non-invasive CT scan that measures the amount of calcium in the heart's arteries. The test, which took place at Bayshore, took only a few seconds to complete, Bob shared. “It cost $99, which insurance and Medicare did not cover, but it was the best $99 I have ever spent.”
The calcium score can help predict the risk of heart attack.
“My doctor said she'd never seen numbers that high,” recalls Bob.
Most insurance plans don’t pay for the test, but Bob now recommends it to everyone, as it provided the first indication that his arteries – including the so-called widowmaker (left anterior descending) – were blocked.
Bob was referred to cardiologist Brett Sealove, M.D., FACC, RPVI, who made room in his schedule to see Bob, coming to the office on his day off. Dr. Sealove was diligent and took his complaints seriously, Bob recalled. After more tests at Jersey Shore, Dr. Sealove told Bob he wouldn’t be leaving the hospital that day as his arteries were dangerously clogged. Within a couple days, Kourosh Asgarian, M.D., performed a quadruple bypass.
“He saved my life,” said Bob. “He said my arteries were so bad that he was surprised I’d survived the plane ride home from Ireland.”
We thank Bob for his generous support and are so glad to hear he is doing well! To make a gift to Bayshore Medical Center, contact Marisa Medina, executive director at Bayshore Medical Center Foundation, at marisa.medina@hmhn.org or visit GiveHMH.org/Bayshore.
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