Marcia Moody never imagined she would be facing a life-threatening heart attack. At 70 years old, she had not been to a doctor in many years. Her health had always seemed fine, and she lived an active life managing apartments and helping others. But in October 2024, everything changed.

Marcia had been feeling unwell for months but dismissed her symptoms. “I probably wasn’t feeling good the whole year, but I put it on the back burner,” she admitted. Her husband had been battling cancer, and she was focused on his treatment and recovery. But by October’s arrival, she could barely walk five feet without struggling to breathe. That’s when her husband insisted she seek help. “He loves me and said he needed me,” remembered Marcia.

She was taken to the emergency department at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, where doctors discovered her heart was functioning at only 20 to 25% (normal is 55 – 65%). She suffered a heart attack while in the hospital, and the medical team revived her. “I don’t remember a whole lot,” Marcia recalled. “I remember them telling me to get up, but my body was frozen.”

Doctors determined she was not a candidate for bypass surgery due to her weakened heart muscle. Instead, they placed two stents in her arteries, which were severely blocked. After nine days in the hospital, doctors discharged Marcia, but her journey was far from over.

Her care team required her to wear a LifeVest, a portable defibrillator that shocks her heart if it stops. It’s a temporary solution while the heart can recover and potentially avoid a pacemaker implant.

“I hate it,” she admitted. “It’s so uncomfortable, and at night, if I move wrong, it can go off, and I have to stop it before it shocks me.” She looks forward to the day when her doctor can implant a permanent defibrillator instead.

Rebuilding Strength Through Cardiac Rehabilitation

Marcia’s road to recovery included cardiac rehabilitation, which is a medically supervised program to improve heart health after a heart attack or heart surgery. The program aims to help patients become healthier while managing their heart condition and preventing further complications.

Patients visit Perham Health thrice a week for up to 36 sessions over three months. Sessions are typically one hour and include exercise training, education, and nutrition consultations designed to improve overall heart health. Staff members monitor patients’ heart rates and blood pressure before, during, and after exercise.

Marcia worked with Katie Rosenthal, RN. “Marcia was pretty fragile when she first came in. She couldn’t exercise for very long. We had her using a recumbent stepper, arm-strengthening machines, and walking the halls, which gradually built up her strength,” said Katie.

“Marcia will be dealing with her heart condition for the rest of her life, so she must know how to monitor and manage symptoms so she isn’t making unnecessary trips to the emergency department. We worked on a variety of things like how to eat a heart-healthy diet, reviewing her medications, dealing with stress, the importance of sleep, and recognizing symptoms and how to manage them,” explained Katie.

Despite the challenges, the hard work paid off. After completing rehab, Marcia’s heart function improved from 20% to 35%, and she increased her exercise time from 24 minutes to 50 minutes.

Katie noted, “That is a huge improvement. Marcia has an enjoyable personality and was easy to coach.”

“I had the best nurses, especially Katie. They made me feel like family, and it was wonderful not to drive to Fargo,” she said.

Looking Forward with Hope

Though Marcia is grateful for her progress, she now realizes the importance of regular medical care. “I wish I had gone in sooner,” she admitted. “I was scared, and we never had good insurance. We couldn’t afford it back then.”

Katie seconded the importance of regular checkups: “Many of my patients wish they had gone to see their health care provider sooner. Maybe the provider would have caught their heart condition. Patients often say, ‘If I knew I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.’  Taking action versus waiting until chronic health issues arise is so important. You don’t want your days to revolve around appointments and managing chronic conditions that may have been preventable.”

Marcia urges others to prioritize their health and not ignore warning signs. “Start thinking about yourself more,” she advises. “You don’t want to be selfish, but you must take care of yourself.”

Despite the hardships, Marcia remains hopeful. Once her LifeVest is gone, she plans to join the Perham Area Community Center to stay active. Marcia is also passionate about helping others and will seek volunteer opportunities once she recovers. “I want to feel better so I can do more for others,” she said.

Learn more about Cardiac Rehabilitation.