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Ray has heart attack while training
On
Saturday, July 11, 1998 the team was conducting
its annual summer technical training off South
Ridge Trail when veteran team member Dr. Ray
Hussey suffered a heart attack.
That morning the team
assembled at the South Ridge Trail trailhead at
9:00 a.m. and proceeded up the trail to the
training site. Henry Negrete and Bob Baker, who
had planned the training, were in the process of
orienting the two teams for their mock missions
when Dr. Ray realized that something was
"not right." From atop a large rock,
Dr. Ray mentioned to team member Jim Zuberbuhler
that he did not feel very good. Zuberbuhler,
Negrete, and Mike Wimbrow belayed Dr. Ray from
the top of the rock to an area behind the site to
get him out of the sun and allow him to lie down.
Dr.
Ray was hot, sweaty and weak. His initial thought
was that he was having an allergic reaction to
some medication he was taking. Zuberbuhler
radioed for Baker, (an EMT,) to assist with Dr.
Rays care. Baker responded immediately. Dr.
Rays vital signs remained normal and after
resting in the shade for approximately 45
minutes, his condition appeared to improve. Team
members remained with Dr. Ray and continued to
monitor his condition. Over time, Dr. Rays
status gradually began to deteriorate. He became
more uncomfortable, suffering from muscle cramps
and nausea.
With
no apparent improvement in his condition, it was
decided to evacuate Dr. Ray from the site. The
team called Riverside Sheriffs Department
dispatch and requested a helicopter, as others
set up a raise to the top of the rock. The
Sheriffs Departments aviation unit
was "down" and therefore not available.
Wimbrow suggested that a call be made to Landells
Aviation in the Desert. Landells pilot Steve
DeJesus was appraised of the situation. DeJesus
stated that hed be on his way immediately
with an estimated ETA of 20 minutes. Meanwhile,
the team contacted Desert Hospital which was
ready for the helicopters arrival.
After
the phone calls were made, Baker, acting as the
primary caregiver, announced that Dr. Ray was
beginning to present chest pain and shortness of
breath. Dr. Ray was also suddenly experiencing a
substantial amount of back pain. The team
immediately proceeded to tie him into the litter
and lift him to the top of the rock. DeJesus
arrived on time and immediately set the
helicopter down so that the door on the
pilots side could be removed. Negrete and
Wimbrow removed the door and in less than one
minute team members were loading Dr. Ray into the
helicopter. Baker accompanied Dr. Ray in the
helicopter. Notified that the chopper was en
route, Desert Hospital ER confirmed it was
standing by.
Baker
and Dr. Ray had some tense moments in the air,
with Dr. Ray drifting in and out of
consciousness. At one point when Dr. Ray appeared
to be on the edge of full cardiac arrest, Baker,
in his inimitable way, told Dr. Ray that it was
not an option to die on his watch. Dr. Ray
responded appropriately (as anyone who knows Bob
Baker would expect him to!). Upon arrival at the
hospital, tests were performed and it was
determined that Dr. Ray suffered 95% occlusion of
the right coronary. An angioplasty was performed
on the right coronary to clear the blockage. By
the time team members arrived at the hospital 90
minutes later, Dr. Ray was sitting up in the
Cardiac ICU surrounded by his family, alert and
very happy to be alive.
One
month after his heart attack, Dr. Ray is
recuperating at home. He walks around the block
twice a day and has begun riding his bicycle. He
claims to have no discomfort. It is obvious that
Dr. Ray, who is not used to taking it easy,
cannot wait to get back to his usual busy
schedule.
Dr.
Ray is especially appreciative of the efforts
made by Bob Baker who was the primary caregiver
on the rock and Dr. Rays advocate at the
hospital. He also stated that, "Steve
DeJesus is the best damn pilot in the
world." It is Dr. Rays opinion that a
prolonged litter evacuation was not an option. He
believes, (as does everyone else associated with
the rescue) that he would not have made it had he
been wheeled out in a litter. Dr. Ray is also
thankful to the Team for all the assistance and
support on the day of the rescue, as well as the
support he has received over the last month. He
appreciated the visits to the hospital, cards,
gifts, telephone calls and visits to his home.
Dr. Ray stated that he thinks he has been given
"a second chance." The entire Team
looks forward to sharing that second chance with
him when he returns to active duty with RMRU!
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