Ronald “Bren” Henderson’s passion is coaching.  In 2022, he was inducted into the Utica Athletic Hall of Fame for his work with the high school baseball team from 2007 to 2019.  He was named coach of the year five times, and the team won 193 games and four Mid-Buckeye Conference championships during his tenure.  Utica had 10 players earn all-state honors, and 33 players earn all-district honors under Bren’s leadership.  He now coaches football and baseball at Licking Valley.

At a football camp in the summer of 2024, Bren began experiencing an odd sensation as though his heart had sped up.  He was concerned about the issue and made an appointment with his primary care physician.  The physician suggested that Bren wear a heart monitor for a time in order to better understand what was happening.  After wearing the monitor, he was contacted by Licking Memorial Cardiology.  Bren met with Eesha Maiodna, M.D., who explained that the testing revealed a heart rhythm abnormality called an arrhythmia.

“Dr. Maiodna and her nurse, Melissa McMillan, were extremely helpful,” Bren said.  “While Dr. Maiodna explained my condition, Missy helped me understand and navigate through the electronic health record, MyChart.”

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that occurs when the electrical signals are disrupted or change from the normal sequence of electrical impulses.  The heart may beat too fast or too slow, or the pattern of the heartbeat may be inconsistent.  An arrhythmia can lead to serious health complications, including heart failure or blood clots that may lead to a stroke.  Symptoms include lightheadedness or dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, or chest pain and discomfort.

During week two of the football season, Bren’s arrhythmia became more concerning.  His heart was racing and he felt ill.  After the game, he went to Licking Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department.  He was admitted and kept overnight to monitor his heart.  Hassan Rajjoub, M.D., among other LMH cardiologists conferred and spoke with Bren about his choices to correct the arrhythmia including medications or surgery.  Bren felt very strongly against taking medication for the rest of his life to control the issue.  Dr. Rajjoub explained that Bren was a good candidate for heart ablation, a procedure in which heat or cold energy is utilized to create tiny scars in the heart to block faulty heart signals and restore a typical heartbeat.  Since the incident at the football game, Dr. Rajjoub assisted in expediting a meeting with an electrophysiologist.

In August 2024, LMHS added Licking Memorial Cardiac Electrophysiology as a specialty physician practice to expand access to cardiovascular services within the community.  Electrophysiologist John J. Keller, M.D., joined the practice, and has been offering a range of procedures, including heart ablations, to Licking County residents.  In addition, new equipment was installed at LMH that allows Dr. Keller to perform safer and more efficient heart procedures.
 
Soon after meeting with Dr. Keller, Bren was scheduled for a heart ablation for an atrial flutter to control his symptoms.  An atrial flutter produces a relatively regular, fast heartbeat.  The first ablation procedure was performed as outpatient surgery, meaning Bren received the procedure and was released to go home the same day, a Wednesday.  By Friday, he felt well enough to return to work and was able to coach the varsity football game that night.

“Dr. Keller took time to explain everything to me in plain language,” Bren shared.  “He made it very easy to understand the procedure, the benefits, and the possible side effects.  His team also was very involved in the process, and they were kind and supportive.”

After his first procedure, Bren continued to experience the arrhythmia and was then diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib).  During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers, called the atria, beat chaotically, irregularly, and out of sync with the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles.  On November 20, Dr. Keller and his team performed the first AFib ablation at LMH on Bren.  Due to the complexity of the surgery, Bren was kept overnight for monitoring.

“Throughout the process, the LMHS staff including Amanda Betts and Seth Montgomery, were extremely helpful and offered amazing care,” Bren expressed.  “Everyone from the surgical technicians to the nurses checked on me to see if I was comfortable and treated me very well.  My wife, Robin, is a certified surgical technologist, and she too was impressed with my care team and how well the procedure went.”

Currently, Bren is still taking medication to assist with his recovery; however, he hopes that after further follow-up visits he will no longer need it.  Dr. Keller assured him the procedure was successful, and that after scarring the heart muscle during the procedure that Bren needed to be patient and allow time for healing.  He expressed his gratitude to everyone who cared for him and that he is able to continue coaching.