Truck mechanic Ruford Marcum is an expert at keeping engines humming. But, in 2014, Marcum had to turn to the experts at Reid Hospital in order to get his own engine – his heart – humming again.
In 2010, Marcum had two stents placed to open up clogged arteries. His cardiologist, Allen Joseph, MD, noticed early signs of problems with his aortic valve. In 2014, a cardiac imaging procedure at Reid showed that the mechanic's aortic valve was blocking blood flow from his heart and that he needed valve replacement surgery as soon as possible.
"That was a shocker, but I didn't have a lot of time to worry about it," says Marcum, age 67. "The next day, I was back at the hospital for a bunch of tests. My wife Mary and I met with the heart surgeon, Dr. Paul Howanitz, and other people on the team, (and) my surgery took place the day after that."
Despite having only a day to prepare for his surgery, Marcum says that he felt very much at ease. "The doctors and nurses explained the surgery and recovery to us, told us what to expect, and even showed us which room I'd be in afterward," he says. "They were great with my wife, too. We really felt cared for."
Marcum's surgery went well, and, after a week at Reid, he was transferred to a nearby facility for inpatient rehabilitation therapy. He returned to his home in Connersville, IN, in late April and continued with rehab therapy at Reid Hospital, not far from where he works part-time at Road Ready Tire & Repair. "I tell all my friends, if you need to have something done, go to Reid. It's a great place," he said.
Get more information about Reid Hospital's Reid Heart & Vascular Center.