Female surgeon

“I proved that anyone can fall over dead,” Henry Wardrop says with a laugh. “This shouldn’t be about me. It should be about the people that took care of me — they are the reason I’m alive!”

Those people included an off-duty nurse, gym patrons, gym staff, paramedics, and the teams at UPMC Hanover and UPMC Harrisburg.

Henry didn’t know he was going to meet them when he left home on June 28 to go to the UPMC Fitness Center for a workout. 

“It was a typical day,” Henry said. “I finished my exercise routine on one of the machines, and I just fell over. I don’t remember anything after that.” 

Never Miss a Beat!

Get Healthy Tips Sent to Your Phone!

Message and data rates may apply. Text the word STOP to opt out and HELP for help. Click here to view the privacy and terms.

Lifesaving Care

Henry’s heart had stopped — sudden cardiac arrest.

According to the American Heart Association, out-of–hospital cardiac arrest like Henry’s strikes more than 356,000 people in the United States each year. Nearly 90% of cases are fatal.

Fortunately, for people like Henry, when bystanders jump to action with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator) equipment, the likelihood of survival dramatically increases.

When Henry collapsed, a nurse who happened to be there started giving him chest compressions. A fellow gym patron gave him rescue breathing, and the gym staff grabbed the AED.

“One of the people said I was a beautiful shade of blue,” Henry says.

Within 10 minutes, the paramedics were rushing him to UPMC Hanover.

“The team at UPMC Hanover quickly opened the blockage in his heart and restored blood flow,” says J. Andre Garabedian, DO, cardiologist, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Hanover. “However, we could tell that he had other blockages and would need bypass surgery.”

Dr. Garabedian reached out to A. Reza Abrishamchian, MD, cardiovascular surgeon, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, UPMC Harrisburg, for his expertise.

“The cardiovascular surgeons at UPMC Harrisburg are among the best in the area,” Dr. Garabedian says.

Henry was still unconscious, so the decision was up to his wife, Jane.

“I had a choice of which hospital,” she says. “But having seen the good care UPMC Hanover provided him, it made sense to continue that quality of care at UPMC Harrisburg.”

After doctors stabilized Henry’s condition, he was transported to UPMC Harrisburg.

“The bypass surgery involved taking veins from his legs and using them to reroute the way the blood gets to the heart,” Dr. Abrishamchian says.

The operation went smoothly.

“He did really well and went home in a few days,” Dr. Abrishamchian says.

Says Henry: “I remember waking up in Harrisburg. The staff there were great, great folks. Just terrific. Dr. Abrishamchian did a terrific job.”

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .

About Heart and Vascular Institute

The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute has long been a leader in cardiovascular care, with a rich history in clinical research and innovation. As one of the first heart transplant centers in the country and as the developer of one of the first heart-assist devices, UPMC has contributed to advancing the field of cardiovascular medicine. We strive to provide the most advanced, cutting-edge care for our patients, treating both common and complex conditions. We also offer services that seek to improve the health of our communities, including heart screenings, free clinics, and heart health education. Find an expert near you.

This article is most relevant to people located in Central Pa.. If you want to only be shown articles relevant to your region, then please update your preferred region here: