High blood pressure runs in Mike Tucker’s family.
But what he thought would be an annual checkup and a refill of his blood pressure medication turned swiftly into something quite unexpected for the rural Virginia resident: a diagnosis of a life-threatening aortic aneurysm.
“I had just retired and moved down to Blackstone from Chicago to be close to my parents,” he said. “I was working out at the gym, just living life. Not one of my previous doctors had ever said anything about why I have high blood pressure. I’ve had it for nearly 30 years. If they only would have looked further.”
Bon Secours’ Dr. Dennis Swann referred Tucker to Allison Longest, an advanced practice clinician running a weekly cardiology outreach clinic within the Bon Secours Blackstone Family Practice Center, expanding specialty care to this rural community. Longest reviewed Tucker’s chart and ordered a cardiac echocardiogram to see if there was something else going on with Tucker’s heart and streamline his care. There was. The life-threatening aneurysm had been there for years; scar tissue surrounded it.
Tucker credits the persistence and support of the Blackstone Family Practice Center medical team, as well as cardiac surgeon Dr. Brody Wehman and the team at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville, for what happened next.
Within two days, Tucker found himself under the knife, with Dr. Wehman resecting the aortic aneurysm and replacing his ascending aorta. He also underwent a coronary artery bypass surgery during the same procedure to treat a blocked heart artery that was also found unexpectedly as part of his preoperative evaluation.
“Everyone was so optimistic, and I don’t know, it was just a funny feeling I had, but I wasn’t worried about coming out of the surgery. Everyone on the team kept telling me everything would be fine,” he said. “I’m just grateful for the entire team. They were fantastic.”
And close by. Tucker credits the rural access to Bon Secours, as well as the continuity of care, for his diagnosis and successful treatment.
“I believe things happen for a reason,” said Longest. “There was a reason he was referred to me, a reason I preordered the echo, and a reason I was in the office when his testing was completed. The communication was fantastic, and we are lucky to have such great teamwork.”
“They saved my life,” Tucker said. “And every member of the care team, including the technicians, the nurses, everyone, were right there with me throughout the entire ordeal. In rural areas like this, having a provider like Bon Secours is important because it allows greater access to and quality of healthcare services, without having to drive too far.”
“Mr. Tucker is very lucky this was found when it was. It was probably the biggest aortic aneurysm we have ever operated on, which greatly increases the risk of life-threatening complications like rupture or dissection,” said Dr. Wehman. “Thanks to Dr. Swann and Allison, we were able to admit him to our hospital quickly and start the preparation for surgery right away.”
Following the March surgery, Tucker said his care team worked with him diligently throughout the recovery period.
“That was probably the hardest part,” Tucker said. “When I came home, I wasn’t able to walk 10 steps without having breathing difficulty. But the doctors kept reassuring me and encouraging me, telling me that everything I was experiencing was normal. They were there for me.”
Nearly five months later, Tucker has returned to the gym, living life and feeling great. His blood pressure is under control, and he knows his heart is in good shape.
For more information about Bon Secours Blackstone Family Practice Center, please visit bonsecours.com.
