It was a warm, sunny Sunday in September. Joyce and Harold Parrish arrived at Chapel Hill Methodist Church in rural Davidson County, North Carolina, for Sunday school at 10 a.m. Harold, age 78, felt fine as the Sunday service began around 11:15 a.m.
Joyce was sitting with the choir while Harold was with the congregation. Without warning, Harold collapsed onto a church member seated next to him. Matt Howard, a paramedic seated in front of Harold, quickly jumped up to check Harold’s pulse but couldn’t find one.
Brantley Surratt, an ER nurse and church member, was in the parking lot listening to the church service after injuring his ankle. When Harold collapsed, Brantley’s daughter went outside to notify him. Brantley immediately checked Harold but couldn’t find a pulse. He instructed a church member to call 911 and requested a helicopter to transport Harold to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Brantley and Matt laid Harold on the floor and got to work. Brantley stripped off Harold’s clothes and began CPR. Since his heart was not responding to the chest compressions, they used the automated external defibrillator (AED) to shock Harold’s heart three times. After several minutes, they finally got a pulse.
“I was a nervous wreck,” says Joyce. “But the boys knew exactly what they were doing and how to use the defibrillator. We had faith and a great church family praying for him the whole time. God had everything in order – it was just perfect.”
Due to the quick response of the church members, ambulance crew, helicopter team and hospital staff, Harold received the care necessary to save his heart and return to his life in the country.
Dr. Luke Peters, interventional cardiologist with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Cardiology, attributes Harold’s amazing outcome to the efficient collaboration of everyone involved.
“‘Time is muscle’ is a phrase we often use,” says Peters. “We have to move quickly or the heart muscle starts dying. Every moment counts.”
Rapid response and exceptional care
The ambulance crew determined that Harold had a heart attack and notified Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center to prepare for his arrival. The helicopter transported Harold to the hospital in just 20 minutes.
When Harold arrived at the cardiac catheterization laboratory, his condition was still critical, but he was awake and talking. He was having chest pain from the 100% blockage in his left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Harold’s ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) team accessed his heart by way of his right radial artery, placing the stent in his LAD artery. By the time Joyce arrived at the hospital, they had already put the stent in his arm, and he was admitted to intensive care.
Harold's heart suffered significant damage from the heart attack, leaving his heart muscle working at half its normal capacity. During his two-week hospital stay, he received both a defibrillator and a pacemaker.
Harold and Joyce were treated like royalty by the hospital staff. “They were always checking if we needed anything,” notes Joyce. “They were really good to us and provided 24/7 communication, keeping us informed about when Harold could go home.”
Harold adds, “I received the best care anyone could ask for from outstanding doctors and nurses. They told me everything I needed to do and helped prepare me for discharge.”
Lifesaving equipment
Chapel Hill Methodist Church is about 10-15 minutes from Denton, North Carolina. Four years ago, church member Larry Furr bought the AED for the church.
“He’s the kind of guy who is always doing something for someone,” Joyce says. “He said, ‘We may never need it, but it may save one person’s life.’”
Larry and other church members received training on how to use the AED.
“Being able to shock Harold and return his heart to normal rhythm caused less damage to his heart,” says Peters. “In his case, the AED played into saving his life and preserving his heart muscle. Without CPR and the AED, Harold would never have made it to the hospital for his stent.”
Peters recommends installing AEDs in places with large gatherings, such as churches, community centers and gyms.
Heroes in the community
When someone has a heart attack, the goal is to insert a stent to open the blocked artery within 90 minutes. The STEMI team is an on-call emergency team organized to treat patients with severe artery blockages.
“This requires a highly coordinated system, with everyone working together to save the patient’s life,” notes Peters. “It begins with the first responders and ambulance crews and ends with our team when we insert the stent. Our STEMI teams are on call 24/7 and ready to respond to emergencies within 25 minutes of being notified.”
“It’s so rewarding to come to work for an hour and save someone’s life,” Peters adds. “Our STEMI team members are like superheroes in the community.”
Harold’s STEMI team included Peters, a second interventional cardiologist, four nurses and two registered cardiovascular invasive specialists.
Recovery and rehabilitation
Harold relied on a walker during the first few weeks of his recovery. He needed time for his broken ribs, which were damaged by CPR, to heal. He had in-home health care workers visit him for several weeks to check his vital signs and monitor his activity.
Since Joyce had a heart attack in summer 2024, she and Harold decided to do cardiac rehabilitation together at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Cardiac Pulmonary Rehabilitation - Sticht Center.
“You have to move – you can’t just sit,” explains Harold. “I’m getting a lot stronger going to rehab. I couldn’t ask for better nurses and therapists to help me.”
Harold exercises almost daily and experiences no pain or shortness of breath while working out. His most recent echocardiogram showed that his heart muscle has fully recovered, with no permanent damage detected.
New lease on life
As Harold’s recovery continues to progress, he feels better each day.
“I’m so glad to be here – every day I wake up is a blessing,” Harold says. “I’ve got a new lease on life, and I love seeing the trees and animals.”
Harold and Joyce are grateful his heart attack happened in the fall, so he didn’t have to worry about mowing during his recovery. The Parrishes live in Lexington, North Carolina, where Harold mows 8 acres of grass a week across multiple family-owned properties.
Harold thanks God every day for being alive and is thrilled to celebrate milestones, such as another anniversary with Joyce, his wife of 57 years. They treasure spending time with their two daughters and two grandsons.
Learn more about advanced cardiac care at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
If you or a loved one are experiencing hand or wrist pain, schedule a same- or next-day appointment with one of our specialists at 888-716-WAKE (9253) or WakeHealth.edu/HURT.