Robin Goff had a routine checkup with a doctor at the LMH Health Main Campus. Everything was normal, but she started feeling a bit queasy. When she got off the elevator as she left the appointment, Robin thought she should sit down because she just didn’t feel right.

“My sternum was aching, and I felt shaky and weird, so I thought I should sit down for a few minutes before I went out into the heat,” she said.

Volunteer Trudy Rinne looked at Robin as she sat in the hospital lobby and knew something didn’t look right. Trudy turned to her supervisor, Guest Services Manager Shane Heiman, for help.

“Trudy told me she was concerned about someone in the lobby and knew she needed help,” Heiman said. “I approached Robin and told her I thought she needed to go to the Emergency Department to get checked out.”

It was a moment that quietly changed everything.

From subtle symptoms to a serious event

Robin has run a natural sanctuary near Baldwin City for 31 years, teaching about energy and natural healing. She was getting close to age 79 and was, by her own account, pretty healthy. Her blood pressure and pulse were generally low. She had a few episodes of atrial fibrillation before, but she didn’t think much of it since they’d always resolved.

“I didn’t say anything to the doctor because I felt a little silly, but when Trudy came and asked if I was okay – it really made me question myself,” Robin said.

When she arrived at the Emergency Department, things moved quickly. Assessments showed that Robin’s pulse was only 40 and her troponin levels – the measurement of proteins in the blood released when heart muscle is damaged – were significantly elevated. 

Robin was having a heart attack. 

Robin’s next stop was the cardiac cath lab, where interventional cardiologist Dr. Christopher Larson discovered the extent of her cardiac issue.

“Robin had a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), which is a type of heart attack caused by a partial blockage of blood flow to the coronary artery. It reduces blood flow to the heart muscle,” Dr. Larson explained.

The cath lab team needed to place stents in Robin’s heart to restore the blood flow. Typically, they insert a catheter into a patient’s wrist, thread it to the heart and inflate a small balloon so the cardiologist can place a stent to open the blocked artery. 

After the catheter was inserted, the team took additional diagnostic images. Those showed that Robin’s cardiac issue was more complex than initially thought. A larger catheter was needed, which meant taking a different approach through the femoral artery in her leg. 

“Ultimately, a blood clot caused a couple of blockages in Robin’s left circumflex artery and the left main artery also had an 80-90% blockage, so we placed three stents in her heart to restore the blood flow,” Dr. Larson said. 

After more than two and a half hours in the cath lab – more than twice the time a typical case lasts – Robin was transferred to an inpatient unit to begin her recovery.

Women’s heart attacks are different

Why didn’t Robin know she was having a heart attack? Dr. Darcy Conaway is Robin’s cardiologist at the LMH Health Heart Center. She explained that women often present with atypical or “silent” symptoms, including unusual fatigue, indigestion and shortness of breath.

“Women often don’t present with classic chest pain,” said Dr. Conaway. “About 40% have atypical symptoms, and they can be attributed to other causes which can make it harder for clinicians to diagnose.”

The bottom line: If something doesn’t feel right, it’s important to get checked out. Don’t hesitate. 

“If something feels new or different and you’re not sure what it is, get checked in the emergency department,” said Dr. Conaway. “When it comes to heart attacks, treating it early is the key to doing well.”

Recovery, rehabilitation and the new normal

Robin’s recovery didn’t end when she was released from the hospital. It continued with cardiac rehab, a personalized treatment plan that’s an important part of care for patients who have been treated for a serious cardiac event.

Inpatients at LMH Health receive a referral to the cardiac rehab team, who follow up after discharge to schedule an appointment.

“The program is tailored for each individual patient. We work as their coaches for diet, exercise and medication, and we provide them with knowledge about heart disease, heart health and risk factor modification,” said registered nurse and cardiac rehab team member Leann Dickson. “Each session we go over a different topic, like a diet recommended by the American Heart Association. It may only be a few minutes out of your session, but getting the information in these little bites really sticks with our patients.”

The monitored exercise and instant feedback gave Robin the boost she needed.

“Cardiac rehab gave me confidence,” she said. “It helped me trust my body again.”

Another big change for Robin was adjusting from the naturopathic approaches she’d always followed to learning to incorporate medication into her everyday life. 

“This is a whole new ballgame with tests, interventions and medications,” she said. “It’s been quite an adjustment, but I trust Dr. Conaway and I’m following her recommendations.” 

Prevention playbook

Dr. Larson emphasizes that genetics play a significant role in heart disease, but what matters just as much are the risk factors people can control.

“Avoid tobacco in all forms,” he said. “That includes smoking, vaping, chew, and nicotine pouches. Focus on a heart-healthy, Mediterranean-style diet, and if cholesterol is elevated, medication may be an important part of reducing long-term risk.”

Dr. Conaway reinforces the importance of daily habits and preventive care.

“Move your body for 30 to 60 minutes most days,” she said. “Prioritize good sleep, manage stress, and stay current with recommended screenings—like cholesterol checks and coronary calcium scoring—so potential problems can be identified early.”

Awareness saves lives

Robin is grateful for the experience she had with the nurses and physicians across LMH Health and shares her story with anyone who will listen. 

Her message to women is be alert to subtle symptoms, genetics and stress matter, and don’t wait or dismiss what your body is telling you. She knows she wouldn’t be doing as well as she is without having had Trudy’s watchful eye. She now refers to Trudy and Shane as her angels. 

“If I hadn’t been in that building on that day, the outcome would have been very different. One person paying attention changed my whole story.”

Autumn Bishop is the marketing manager and content strategist at LMH Health.

Breakout

The LMH Health Foundation has launched a $10 million campaign – its most ambitious effort yet – to expand and increase access within a new LMH Health Heart Center. The renovation will expand the number of cath lab procedure rooms and will allow us to:

  • Reduce wait times for urgent and scheduled procedures
  • Improve capacity to handle multiple emergencies simultaneously
  • Increase access to new services like electrophysiology and expanded vascular care
  • Keep patients close 

“Every second matters when it comes to heart care,” said Rich McKain, senior director of ancillary and support services. “Saving more lives – closer to home – is the foundation of the LMH Health Heart Center expansion initiative.”

To share a meaningful gift toward the Heart Center campaign, visit lmh.org/donate. Your gift will make a difference.