Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA)
POMONA, Calif. — Dusty Callow thanks God for putting him in the right place.
That right place was in the hands of emergency medical services personnel following a heart attack in June that led to the clogging of one of his main arteries.
The Ontario resident on Thursday was among dozens of people who gave thanks to EMS personnel during an open house breakfast at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. The breakfast honored EMS workers from firefighters to nurses for their dedication to heart attack and stroke survivors.
“With the excellent emergency care and attention to detail by EMS personnel and their cooperative partnership and teamwork with PVHMC, together we save lives,” said Deborah Keasler, director of the Stead Heart and Vascular Center.
Callow suffered a heart attack in June while playing in a football game in Diamond Bar.
He went in seven minutes from complaints of stomach pain to flat-lining. Bystanders, law enforcement and paramedics performed CPR on him.
Callow’s wife, Susan, said the responders were incredible in performing life-saving measures and in the transportation of her husband.
“It was just a wonderful, concerted effort,” she said.
Problems for Callow did not end after receiving the initial treatment. After a 26-day hospital stay and some rehabilitation, Callow wasn’t out of the woods yet.
In December, he started having chest and jaw pains. Medical professionals told him to get to the Pomona Valley emergency room as soon as possible. Their advice was key, Callow’s left main artery were almost 100 percent blocked.
“I’m very thankful that God put the right people in place,” he said.
Stories like that were plentiful on Thursday.
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