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One fateful day on the golf course
It was a simple mistake, but it left the life of Ken Artz in jeopardy.
When there is a heart attack, a few minutes makes all the difference. 911 was called, but the paramedics went to the wrong location. Fortunate for Artz, there was a back-up system that worked. Friends, and a quick acting golf pro, helped to save his life.
It was a typical summer Friday morning at the Newport Beach Country Club (NBCC). Ken and his buddies were making their way on to the back nine when suddenly he crumbled to the ground. One friend recognized the problem and began CPR. Another used a cell phone to call 911. A physician playing in another group was called over to assist while another group rushed to the pro shop to call for help.
As Artz’s complexion became increasing blue and his likeness started to fade, the rescuers determination to save a friend began to shift to fear. Artz had little pulse and was not responding.
Several years ago, Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute donated defibrillators to the local country clubs. Now the equipment would be put to the test. Fortunately, NBCC head pro Paul Hahn had been trained on the use of the defibrillator, but he had never used the equipment in a life or death situation.
“Paul had been my coach, so we knew each other well. But when he got there, he didn’t even recognize the faceless blob on the ground as me,” explained Artz. “And the eerie part is, he wasn’t even supposed to be at the club. I remember seeing him hours earlier when he had mentioned he was on his way out.”
By this point, roughly 10 minutes into the terrifying event, the ambulance that had been called still hadn’t arrived. The 911 call was dialed on a cell phone, rendering emergency personnel unable to trace the call back to the country club. Had the ambulance navigators been clear on the location of the emergency, much of the situation might have
been avoided.
Once Hahn arrived on the scene, he administered the defibrillator, jolting Artz’s heart back to life. While the color began to return to his face, the paramedics arrived to transport Artz to Hoag Hospital.
Since that life-threatening event, Artz has gotten a clean bill of health from his cardiologist, stating that the heart attack left no permanent damage.
Now, looking back on the experience, he knows how truly blessed he is to have lived through that day.
“While I was in the hospital, I had no less than 12 doctors and nurses stop by my room and say, ‘So you’re the guy that cheated death. It’s a miracle,’” recalled Artz. “These were medical professionals who see death all the time.”
But, it wasn’t Ken’s time. “As much as I know, heaven is going to be a great place. I am thrilled to have another day to talk with our kids, Kevin and Kelly, enjoy a sunset with Kathy and someday hold a grandchild in my arms,” said Artz. “To feel like you have been given extra time changes your perspective.”
Although he was a Hoag supporter before the incident, as a member of the 552 Club and a contributor to the Toshiba Classic, Artz has since gained a new appreciation for the value of Hoag Hospital.
“You have a family church, and you have a family hospital,” asserted Artz. “Hoag has always been that for us.”
“It’s important that Hoag always remain state of the art,” he said. “To do our part, we will be more supportive of the hospital in the future. It’s good to have Hoag here.”
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