The Darkest Days

On July 9, 2023, Kyle, then 24, woke up feeling unwell with chest pain. Despite his initial reluctance, his mother, Eugina, took him to Holy Name Hospital.
In the ER, elevated heart enzymes led to his admission to the cardiac floor. His condition deteriorated, culminating in cardiac arrest on July 11th, necessitating 90 minutes of CPR and emergency placement of an Impella CP device.
Transferred to Hackensack University Medical Center on July 12, Kyle was put on ECMO for prolonged cardiac and respiratory support. His LVEF was critically low at 3%, far below the normal range of 50% to 70%. On July 13, a CAT scan showed no significant brain abnormalities despite the extended CPR. By July 15, Kyle showed remarkable signs of recovery, communicating with pen and paper. His progress continued, and by July 21, all life-support devices, including the ventilator, were removed. Kyle transitioned to a step-down unit and was discharged on August 2 after a 24-day hospitalization. He has since made a full recovery and now has an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) to monitor and correct his heart rhythm if needed.