Kelley Miller thought she was experiencing heartburn.
She woke up with heavy pressure on her chest and dismissed it as indigestion. But hours later, the pain began radiating through her arms and into other parts of her body. That’s when she knew something was wrong.
Kelley drove herself to the CHRISTUS Emergency Room in Bossier City, where the clinical team immediately recognized the signs of a cardiac emergency.
“I told the receptionist I thought I might be having a heart attack,” Kelley said.
The team acted quickly, administering three doses of nitroglycerin at 15-minute intervals. The medication widened her blood vessels, improved blood flow, and eased the pain in her chest. Kelley said the calm and reassuring way the team spoke to her helped ease the fear that comes with such a frightening situation.
“Even though I was in a life-threatening situation physically, I found comfort in all that the nurses were doing,” she said. “Their professionalism made them feel like ER rockstars to me.”
Dr. Faye Lee, an emergency medicine specialist and Kelley’s ER physician that morning, confirmed that Kelley had suffered a heart attack and prepared to have her transferred to another facility.
But Kelley insisted on being taken to the cardiac catheterization lab at CHRISTUS Shreveport Bossier – Highland Medical Center, where she trusted she would receive the best care.
“The doctor asked the nurses, ‘Don’t we have to send her to the nearest facility?’” Kelley recalled. “One nurse replied, ‘We are sending her to the best. She is going to CHRISTUS Highland.’”
Paramedics transported Kelley to CHRISTUS Shreveport Bossier at Highland Medical Center, where the cath lab team was already preparing for her arrival. She was quickly readied for an emergency heart catheterization procedure.
Before the procedure began, a member of the care team prayed with Kelley.
“One of the ladies gave me a miniature figurine of Jesus and held my hand as she prayed with me,” Kelley said.
While on the operating table, Kelley shared that her father had died from a heart attack during surgery. Cardiologist Dr. Paul “Corkey” Davis leaned down and reassured her.
“You are going to be just fine,” he told her.
Kelley’s heart catheterization revealed that her heart attack was not caused by coronary artery disease. Instead, she was diagnosed with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare condition caused by a tear in the coronary artery wall.
Because her artery was expected to heal on its own, Kelley did not require a stent.
After spending three days on the cardiac floor, Kelley reflected on the care she received.
“I will count all the CHRISTUS health care professionals I encountered during my cardiac event among my many blessings,” she said. “I am truly grateful to them all.”
Chest discomfort can be confusing. Heartburn and heart attack symptoms can feel similar—especially in women—but the difference matters.
Seek emergency care right away if symptoms include:
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. Early evaluation can save your life.
Take our heart assessment to see if you are at risk of heart disease.
