Mere seconds away from losing his life, a man from St. Louis who came close to dying from cardiac arrest is now determined to give back, two years later.
Tony Meneses, a first-generation Filipino American, has spent most of his adult life residing in St. Louis and working in the field of IT before retiring.
Paula Howard and her husband have made south St. Louis City their home for almost five years. However, what sets them apart is their love for traveling the world together.
When he’s not traveling, you can likely find Meneses riding his bike, participating in rides and races throughout the area.
In 2022, Meneses collapsed and experienced cardiac arrest while attending a party, which came as a surprise given his healthy lifestyle.
“I was feeling perfectly fine, just going about my day,” Meneses recalled. “But out of nowhere, exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. I was heading towards my chair when I suddenly collapsed.”
Meneses narrowly escaped death, as he recalls the harrowing ordeal. He was immediately transported to a nearby emergency room, where medical professionals tirelessly performed CPR for over an hour in a desperate attempt to revive him, unfortunately without success.
After multiple failed attempts to revive Meneses, doctors informed his spouse that it was time to bid him a final farewell. Just as she began saying her goodbyes, doctors started disconnecting the different machines attached to Meneses. In a truly cinematic twist, something unexpected occurred.
“I reached out and felt his heartbeat, and suddenly, a voice exclaimed, ‘I can feel a pulse!’ Howard recalls. In a frenzy, everyone rushed back into the room and resumed their efforts to save him. Miraculously, they were able to stabilize him, and he came back to life.”
That fateful moment marked the beginning of Meneses’s arduous two-year-long journey towards recovery. Following his transfer to Barnes Jewish Hospital for treatment, he underwent several weeks in a medically induced coma. During this time, both his doctors and his family remained uncertain about whether he would ever regain his true self.
Howard recounted how the medical team would often ask Tony to squeeze his wife’s hand, but there was no response for a long time. However, one day, Tony finally managed to do so, surprising everyone.
Doctors discovered that Meneses had experienced cardiogenic shock, a rare heart condition with a survival rate of only 10%.
Dr. Joel Schilling, MD, PhD, played a crucial role in Meneses’ care team at BJC.
Dr. Schilling highlighted the severity of having a blocked artery in the same location that the individual in question did. This artery supplies a significant portion of the heart. He emphasized that many patients in such situations don’t even survive long enough to make it to the hospital. According to him, any complications or delays in addressing this issue could have resulted in irreversible brain damage.
Meneses developed ischemic cardiomyopathy, a prevalent type of heart disease that impairs the heart’s ability to efficiently pump blood throughout the body.
Doctors in St. Louis arranged for Meneses to receive a heart transplant at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. To ensure his safe transfer, his family organized a private plane charter.
After going through the process of relearning how to walk, eat, and drink, Meneses has now regained the ability to lead a normal life. It has been nearly two years since the day he collapsed, and he can only describe his experience as something straight out of a Hollywood film. Meneses expresses his gratitude towards the countless doctors in all three hospitals who played a crucial role in saving his life.
Meneses compared the situation to the movie “Saving Private Ryan,” where teams were organized and rotated in the mornings and evenings.
Meneses expresses deep gratitude for the invaluable effort made to save his life, particularly because some of his family members have worked in the medical field.
He decided to share his story now with the intention of inspiring others to pursue careers in medicine and nursing, and ultimately save more lives. He also aspires to address young individuals in the future, emphasizing the significance of doctors and the need for maintaining a healthy heart.
According to Dr. Schilling, there are two common methods to promote heart health: regular exercise and a healthy diet. However, he emphasizes that, just like in Meneses’ situation, severe symptoms can unexpectedly manifest.
If you experience symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, nausea, or extreme shortness of breath, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. Dr. Smith advises that you should visit a doctor’s office or, in severe cases, go to the emergency room.
Meneses and Howard are excited to resume their regular travel routines and spend quality time with their siblings and children.
