You don’t have to convince Kelly Doka of the importance of having world-class cardiac care available in southern Saskatchewan. The 70-year-old farmer and cancer survivor from the Kipling area has first-hand experience in our catheterization labs at the Mosaic Heart Centre, in Regina’s General Hospital.
“My wife and I returned from a European holiday with our oldest son and his family in mid-January of this year”, Kelly explains. “Within days, I developed a serious lung infection which lasted about two weeks. At that point, I was admitted to the Kipling hospital where the infection was treated with antibiotics. I was sent home two days later.”
However, Kelly’s relief was short-lived and he returned to the Kipling hospital a couple of days later with severe chest pains and pain shooting down both his arms. This time the diagnosis was more serious. He was having a heart attack.
Kelly was rushed by ambulance from Kipling to Regina, and taken directly to the Mosaic Heart Centre, where he underwent a battery of diagnostic tests. A CT scan revealed a severe lung infection. A subsequent angiogram revealed a blocked coronary artery which, if left untreated, would have resulted in another, likely fatal, heart attack.
“Luckily, it was a fairly easy fix”, Kelly reveals. “Antibiotics eventually took care of the lung infection, and doctors installed a stent to get the blood flowing properly again in my artery.” The angiogram and the procedure to install the stent were performed in one of our two cardiac catheterization labs at the Regina General Hospital.
“We are so grateful for the care we received from everyone in the Mosaic Heart Centre”, Kelly’s wife Karen states. “On top of the excellent care Kelly received, they took the time to answer all our questions. And we had lots!”
A follow-up CT scan in May revealed Kelly’s lung infection was gone, which allowed him to get busy planting his 2024 grain crop. Today, he’s feeling good and is thankful and appreciative for the care he received, and for the support of Hospitals of Regina Foundation donors and partners for Regina’s cardiac program.
“Kelly’s story is a reminder of the importance of ensuring our cardiac teams have access to the best technology possible”, says Lisa Green, senior vice-president, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “That’s why the Foundation has launched a $2.5 million fundraising campaign to upgrade our second catheterization lab. It’s estimated that one in 12 Saskatchewan residents will experience cardiac issues in their lifetime, and we want to ensure the best possible care is available when it’s needed the most, right here at home.”