Ajai Patel, a 51-year-old father, husband and Waco hotel general manager, was in the middle of a tennis match during a fundraiser for his son’s school when he suddenly began to feel faint.
“It did catch me off guard,” Ajai said. “I just got dizzy and lightheaded.” The next thing he remembers is being in the back of an ambulance, unsure of what had happened.
Fortunately, a heroic school nurse in the audience immediately started performing CPR on Ajai when he collapsed, buying him precious time until the paramedics arrived.
“The saving grace for Mr. Patel was a bystander that did the CPR—that was a critical moment in time—because they were able to revive the patient and minimize any sort of damage or trauma to the rest of the body,” said Richard Helmer, MD, director of cardiothoracic & vascular surgery at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest. “That person was truly the key to his survival.”
This was Ajai’s first heart attack, occurring at the same age his father also had a heart attack. After an ambulance ride to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest, doctors performed tests to check for blockages and determined how many arteries were clogged. Once they had the results, Ajai stayed in the ICU for three days before undergoing surgery for a triple bypass.
Despite the challenges, Ajai remained determined to recover and return to his family and work. “The support from my family and the medical team has been incredible,” Ajai said. “I can’t express how amazing my wife has been throughout my recovery. Her care and support have been incredible, and she has handled all the sudden changes with such grace and strength.”
Surviving the heart attack has given Ajai a new outlook on life. He says he’s not sweating the small things anymore and is thankful to everyone who helped save his life and supported his family in the months after his heart attack.
“I am deeply grateful to the entire staff, especially the nurses, who provided exceptional care. I am also immensely thankful to the donors who contributed to Hillcrest; their generosity truly saved my life.”
Ajai continues to recover and is committed to making lifestyle changes to improve his heart health. “The experience has been a wake-up call,” Ajai said. “I’m focused on my health now more than ever and want to be there for my family for many years to come.”
