Cardiac Rehab Center a benefit for Shoshone County
Photo by JOSH MCDONALD Amber Melun and Larry Curry stand next to one of the specialty treadmills at the Shoshone Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. Curry was one of the first graduates of the clinic following a heart attack last year and now volunteers at the clinic as a motivator.
KELLOGG — It’s National Heart Health Month, and what better way to kick off the month-long celebration of healthy living than with a local story of courage, hard work and success from one of the newest assets at our local hospital.
Shoshone Medical Center opened their cardiac rehabilitation center last year as part of the renovated wing that expanded their facilities for not only cardiac rehabilitation, but also cardiac testing and monitoring, endoscopy, pulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory therapy and wound care.
Early last year, Shoshone County resident Larry Curry suffered a heart attack and underwent triple-bypass surgery.
At the time of his incident, SMC was still getting ready to open the cardiac rehabilitation center; but the timing matched up and Curry was set to begin his recovery as one of SMC’s first cardiac rehabilitation patients.
The cardiac rehabilitation program is 36 sessions long (three sessions per week) and tackles the physical recovery process, as well as helping cardiac trauma survivors overcome the mental and emotional aspects of surviving and recovering from cardiac issues.
Curry was one of the first two graduates from the program and now regularly comes in to be a motivator for current patients, and to be an example of how the program can positively impact lives.
“Physical improvement is obviously very important,” cardiac rehabilitation nurse Amber Melun said. “What isn’t captured as often and often goes unnoticed by even the patient is the emotional change. People come into this class after they’ve crashed a bit. They never thought it could happen to them. You see people who are very active and are in great shape otherwise, and then they have a heart attack. It takes an emotional toll.”
Prior to the clinic’s opening, Silver Valley cardiac rehabilitation patients would have to make the drive to Coeur d’Alene three times a week, which adds costs, and can be even more stressful, given that roads aren’t always in peak traveling condition.
Curry says that having this program locally is a game changer for these patients.
“It’s a life saver. After open heart surgery your whole life changes, both mentally and physically,” he said. “It takes something beyond just going home after being in the hospital to keep your body going. You have to redo your whole body. Mentally and physically, you learn so many things about your body. You have to train your body to live again and that’s what this place does.”
Melun has been a part of the program since its opening and has seen how the program has evolved.
“It was that first graduation that opened up this whole other side of the process,” Melun said. “You get to know people, their families, you are spending a lot of time with them. If people are looking to improve their lives after a cardiac event, they have to completely change their lifestyle. And we can help do that.”
The clinic has had 18 graduates and more than 600 visits over the last year.
Curry firmly believes that he is still alive because of the cardiac rehabilitation clinic and hopes to see this program stay at SMC and continue to grow.
“I believe it has helped save my life,” Curry said. “This is one of the best things that has ever come to Kellogg. I’ve seen things come and go at this hospital and this is one of the best.”