Kaysville physician thanks EMTs who responded to his heart attack

SALT LAKE CITY — A family medicine doctor in Kaysville is back at work just two weeks after suffering a major heart attack right in his practice.

The Kaysville Fire Department shared his story online, highlighting how important CPR and a quick response time has been to this doctor's recovery.

Dr. Layne Kamalu said it was a regular Monday morning; he arrived at Kaysville Clinic Family Medicine at 9 a.m., saw one patient, then collapsed in his office.

"The vessel that was blocked, they call that the 'widowmaker' because, a lot of times you don't survive it," explained Kamalu. The doctor fell in front of his office door, so his staff had to climb in and shift his body before beginning lifesaving measures.

"We just immediately went into CPR. And luckily, I took a class cause he believed his staff should have them," said office manager Shannon Nielsen.

EMTs arrived within 90 seconds of the 911 call; Fire Station 61 sits right across the street from the clinic. Responders shocked Kamalu's heart four times before he revived, then loaded the doctor into an ambulance with the help of a CPR machine called a LUCAS device. Kamalu was in surgery within 30 minutes of his fall.

After three days in the ICU, Kamalu went to meet the EMTs who helped save him.

"After I was discharged, I wanted to thank each one of them in-person," Kamalu said. "We could kind of talk the same language. So that was nice."

Kamalu said he is a healthy and active man with no risk factors for heart attack. He rides in the Kaysville parade each year as Captain America. "That's life. And, you know, you can do everything perfectly, and stuff still happens," he said.

We may not be able to avoid all of life's hurdles, but we can always be a little more prepared. Kamalu and his staff strongly recommend that everyone take a CPR class. The American Red Cross offers CPR classes throughout our community; find a class near you on its website.

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