‘They help me stay healthy, out of the hospital and living my life’

He had his first heart attack at age 29. Since then, he has had 11 heart stents, and “coded” four times.

As a cross-country truck driver for 25 years, Eric Hetrick didn’t eat well and pushed himself into bad health. Add diabetes, a bad back, leg problems and the genetic fact that his father died of congestive heart failure at age 55 and his mother passed of heart failure at 66.

It culminated in multiple visits to Conemaugh Health System’s emergency room and intensive care unit (ICU) in Johnstown, and rehabilitation at Conemaugh’s Meyersdale Hospital. “I always pushed myself too hard. I was a ticking time bomb,” said 59-year-old Eric. “I died four times and they shocked me back to life.”

During one visit to the ICU, his outlook was so bleak that he requested not to be resuscitated if he coded again. “But all the nurses told me, ‘You're way too young to just let go,’” the Shanksville resident said. “I’m really glad they talked me out of it. Otherwise, I’d be dead today.”

He attributes cardiologist Dr. Lou Mastrine, physician assistant Matt Hodge and registered nurse Jamie Penrod with saving his life – and restoring his hope.

“They’re great. They treat me like family,” he said of his experience at Conemaugh’s Heart-Failure Program. “They know exactly what’s going on inside me. They keep me calm and relaxed. They look, listen and discuss treatment options. And make me a key part of every decision. They really care and are just so down to earth.”

A year ago, Eric was making several visits each week to Conemaugh’s Heart-Failure Program. Now those visits are down to about once a month. “I still have troubles, but not nearly like before. I highly recommend the Heart-Failure Program. They give me an IV, track my vitals, and get rid of the fluid that could cause congestive heart failure. The bottom line is they help me to stay healthy, out of the hospital, and just living my life.”