Community, Care and Cardiology: Julie’s Story

Julie MacCash, 63, doesn’t slow down. She works as an American Greetings representative for 11 Dollar General stores, runs a dog-walking business and supports local seniors with everyday tasks. 

Rolla has been her home since third grade, and she loves the community and the family atmosphere. It’s where she raised her boys, built strong friendships and became part of a neighborhood that looks out for one another.

Julie begins most mornings by walking her three dogs through her subdivision. She began noticing that she was getting more out of breath than normal during those walks, but chalked it up to being out of shape. She planned to bring it up at her next appointment with her primary care provider, Pecos Coble, DO.

“In October, I went to help one of the ladies I assist,” Julie said. “She told me, ‘Oh my gosh, you have this gray color. Why don’t you just go home and go to bed?’ I went home and slept for about 3 hours.”

When Julie awoke, pain ran in a line across her upper back, between her shoulder blades. She dismissed it, aside from noting how odd it felt.

The next morning, Julie set out to walk her dogs as normal. Making her way through the neighborhood, she waved to her best friend, Martha.

A short while later, as Julie was nearing Martha’s house on her way home, pain gripped her. Spreading from her back to her chest, it radiated down her right arm and up into her neck—stopping her in her tracks. As a sweaty, clammy feeling spread over her, she tried to shout for help but no sound came. She was having a heart attack.

Martha saw what was happening and, with the help of her son, hustled Julie over to sit down. She called 9-1-1 and within minutes, an ambulance had arrived and two paramedics were assessing Julie. They explained each step as they worked, gave her aspirin and nitroglycerin to ease the pain, and prepared to transport her to the hospital.

“Anytime they approached me, they told me exactly what they were doing,” Julie said. “I appreciated that communication.”

As the ambulance raced away, Martha called Julie’s husband, Rusty, who was at work. His truck was in the shop for an oil change, but news of Julie’s emergency spread quickly.

“His phone was blowing up with messages from his coworkers,” Julie laughed. “Everybody was offering him a ride to the hospital. But that's a small town—and that's good.”

Julie’s ride to the hospital was a blur. She didn’t remember arriving at the Emergency Department (ED), only that she was suddenly surrounded by a care team and quickly given an IV of heparin and nitroglycerin. Gradually, she felt the pain ease.

Phelps Health Interventional Cardiologist Stilianos Efstratiadis, MD, FACC, FSCAI—known to his patients as Dr. E—explained that Julie would need a cardiac catheterization—a procedure that lets doctors see how well blood is flowing through the heart. A thin, flexible tube is guided through a blood vessel from the wrist or groin up to the heart. Using imaging and contrast dye, doctors can quickly identify blockages and place stents.

Brandon Lamberth, FNP-C, who lives in Julie’s neighborhood, was also part of the care team as Dr. E’s collaborating provider.

Julie was admitted for the night and in the morning, Dr. E placed two stents—one in an artery that was 99 percent blocked and the other in an artery 87 percent blocked, immediately restoring blood flow to her heart. 

“I cannot say enough about how wonderful everyone was,” Julie said. “From the moment I got in the ambulance, they made me feel like family.”

Within 2 weeks, Julie was back to her active, busy routine. She uses the Phelps Health MyChart app to keep track of her lab results and follow-up appointments and to review visit summaries. She appreciates that it allows her to stay informed without slowing her busy days. 

“You get the information when you're in the doctor's office,” Julie said. “But sometimes you miss it because your mind is going on to the next project of the day. It's nice to be able to sit down and read the summary later in the evening.”

Julie’s experience with Phelps Health reflected what she values most about her hometown—neighbors looking out for one another and a strong sense of community. 

“I would recommend Phelps Health in a heartbeat,” Julie said. “Rolla is lucky to have Dr. E and Phelps Health.”