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Alex Cabrero ReportingA Sandy man achieved a medical milestone recently, but it's one he'd probably rather not have. He became the 100th person in the country to receive a life-saving heart pump.
Medical technology today is certainly amazing. When Scott Glade went through the hospital doors in July, his heart had stopped. Now it's beating, he's alive, and doctors think he'll be okay.
Working at a candy factory, you can't help but smile every day you come into work, but this past July, Taffy Town co-owner David Glade was horrified.
David Glade: “I still remember the day coming in here and finding him slumped over and breathing heavy and hard.”
It was his cousin and business partner, Scott Glade.
Scott Glade: "The last memory I had was flopping on my partners couch with a little shortness of breath."
It turns out Scott was suffering a massive heart attack. On the way to LDS hospital his heart actually stopped beating.
Dr. James Revenaugh, Cardiologist, LDS Hospital: "We didn't really feel it was something he would survive."
Doctors warned the Glade family it didn't look good.
Claire Glade, Scott's Wife: "We were pretty much told we needed to get our family together because it was, we were told, the last time we'd see him."
But before doctors gave up hope, they decided to try something. A relatively new procedure, involving a small pump that would be placed outside Scott's body, but connected to his heart.
Dr. James Revenaugh: "We advance these tubes through the veins and arteries in the legs, and through the mid-body."
This way, blood would continue to circulate to the vital organs and allow doctors to operate on his heart.
Scott Glade: “I’m getting better and it certainly saved my life.”
Scott also found out he's the 100th person in the country to undergo this type of procedure.
Scott Glade: “There are other things I’d rather have. I do appreciate the technology. No technology, no me.”
And after lots of rehab, he and his cousin can get back to eating, or selling all that candy, together.
David Glade: “I told him, ‘You got to get back here because I don’t want to be the only old guy here.’”
Scott Glade: “I appreciate the help. I’m tough enough to finish it and I will finish it.”
Scott is set to be released from LDS Hospital in the next couple of days. The external pump is gone now, but he still has a small pump in his heart to keep it beating. Eventually though, he will need a heart transplant. But he says that's in the future; for now he's just concentrating on getting better.
