Patient Story - Richard Amore
As a member of Toastmasters International, Richard Amore enjoys teaching others the art of public speaking, telling stories, and performing stand-up comedy. He often uses his real-life experiences to entertain audiences, especially the story of how he met his wife. Richard was working at Owens Corning when a coworker told him she had a friend that might enjoy going out on a double date. However, the friend declined the double date because she had never met Richard before and did not know him. Determined to prove himself a worthy date, Richard went to the young lady’s house and knocked on the door.
“I drove up and down State Route 79 a few times to build-up the courage to approach the door. I introduced myself, and Carol let me into the house,” Richard shared. “After spending an hour talking to her and her mother, I said, ‘now that you know me – how about that date?’”
The two married a short time later and spent 53 years together. Richard began working for Carol’s father, and later purchased Helmick’s Exterminating from the Helmick family. Carol became a nurse and was employed at Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) for a number of years. After earning her master’s degree and becoming a Nurse Practitioner, she received a position at a Columbus Cancer Hospital.
In 2021, Carol passed away due to complications from triple bypass surgery. Three weeks later, Richard began experiencing his own medical issues. As he stood to walk his dog, he became lightheaded, vomited, then passed out. When he regained consciousness, Richard dialed 911. Emergency Medical Technicians performed a quick exam, but could not determine what may have caused Richard’s sudden illness. They transported him to the Licking Memorial Emergency Department (ED). Upon arrival at the ED, nursing staff implemented protocols to determine if Richard was experiencing a heart attack and performed an electrocardiogram (EKG). The ED physician, Terrill D. Burnworth, D.O., reviewed the EKG, ordered blood tests, and consulted Cardiologist Hassan Rajjoub, M.D. At first, the testing was inconclusive as to whether Richard had experienced a heart attack or an aneurysm.
“As I was waiting for more test results, the monitors detected a cardiac event. I felt no pain in my chest, just some numbness in my jaw, but the staff issued an emergency code for a STEMI,” said Richard. An ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) describes a heart attack in which the artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body is blocked. “I was so thankful that Dr. Rajjoub was there with me. He saved my life that day. I had no idea how dangerous a STEMI can be. It is often called a widow-maker.”
Richard was quickly moved to the catheretization laboratory where staff members prepared him for an angioplasty – a procedure used to open blocked coronary arteries. A long, thin catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm or groin, then guided to the blocked coronary artery. The catheter contains a tiny balloon that is inflated at the narrowed area of the heart artery, and a stent – an expandable metal mesh coil, is placed in the opening. Dr. Rajjoub discovered several blockages and informed Richard that he would also have to bypass surgery once he was stabilized.
“I told my son, ‘I have heard great things about Dr. Rajjoub and his expertise in heart care. I trust him to make good decisions about the next steps in my recovery,’” Richard said. He was told that he would be staying at LMH for three days for monitoring. However, there were concerns about Richard’s blood pressure, and Dr. Rajjoub suggested immediate action be taken. Richard was transported to a Columbus hospital for bypass surgery.
After the surgery and initial recovery, Richard returned home. It was suggested that he undergo cardiac rehabilitation; however, Richard was suffering from spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spaces within the spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. Richard had postponed a scheduled surgery for the condition because of his wife’s bypass surgery, and was now waiting to fully recover from his own heart procedures.
Not long after his return home, Richard once again visited the ED. When he realized he had accidentally sat down on his cat, Richard moved too quickly and fell out of the chair. He could not stand to get off the floor, so he called 911. A computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed he had broken the third bone down in the lumber region of his back. Richard underwent surgery on the broken bone and had the spinal stenosis repaired. With care for his back issues, Richard is now able to participate in cardiac rehabilitation and is working to increase his strength.
In April, Richard made a stage appearance in the Active•Senior Game Show hosted by Licking Memorial Health Systems, winning several prizes. “It took a lot of will power to climb the stairs to the stage, but I was excited to be part of the show. I never turn down an opportunity to be in front of an audience,” Richard shared.
Richard has faced several other challenges since his back surgery, including a second heart attack, and issues with his medication; however, he continues to work to stay active and maintain his wellbeing and weight. After graduating high school, Richard weighed over 420 pounds. He was proud when he lost 240 pounds, and determined to remain active. He volunteered for ski patrol and as a paramedic for many years. Still active with his business, Richard is happy to work with his son, Mike, who serves as a service manager for Helmick’s Exterminating. Richard also enjoys spending time with his granddaughters, Sydney and Addyson, and his son, Paul.
| Posted On : 8/4/2022 11:28:48 AM