A typical Sunday turned into a day a Moorefield couple will never forget last fall.
On Nov. 13, Eric Pehlke and his wife Kathy experienced a life changing event that has left them thankful beyond words.
“There was no indication that anything was wrong,” Eric Pehlke said.
“Sunday afternoon I was changing some plumbing at my daughter’s house, two doors down. I got a headache, which is not usual for me, so, I took some Tylenol, put my tools away and decided to watch television.”
As time passed, Pehlke felt nauseous and started sweating. His wife, Kathy, asked if they should get help. Pehlke replied that he didn’t think so, but then he started to feel strange.
After deciding to take a trip to the hospital, Pehlke only got as far as changing his pants. Kathy called 911.
“I felt no chest pain at all. There was no problem me getting from the chair onto the stretcher when the ambulance arrived. During the short distance from the house to the ambulance my body started shivering and I felt so cold,” Pehlke said.
“Eric’s skin was an awful colour and he was soaked from sweating,” Kathy said. “He kept telling us that he had no chest pain.”
Once settled in the ambulance, Pehlke flatlined and was without vital signs for approximately five minutes.
Scott Moore, a 16-year veteran Mapleton firefighter (Moorefield station), immediately began performing CPR on Pehlke.
Paramedics Beth Haslett and Randy Bonsma of Perth County Emergency Medical Services, working with Moore, were able to revive Pehlke before the ambulance left the couple’s driveway.
“I kept telling Eric to ‘look at me’ during the ambulance ride to keep him focused. I know he doesn’t remember much, but we did talk all the way to the Listowel hospital,” Moore said.
After one hour of treatments at the Listowel hospital, Pehlke was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener.
Testing and scans revealed a 40 per cent blockage in one artery of his heart. The next day a cardiologist performed an angioplasty and inserted a stint. Pehlke watched the procedure on a screen and experienced no pain.
By Tuesday, Pehlke was transported back to the Listowel hospital and returned home on Friday.
“I believe I came through this too easily. The cardiologist said it would take up to three months to heal and healing may not be 100 per cent,” Pehlke said.
“At my six-week checkup the cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health and said you would never know that I had a heart attack. I am healthier now than I was a year ago.”
Mapleton Fire Chief Rick Richardson received a thank you letter from the Pehlke’s addressed to Moore. In the letter the Pehlke’s acknowledged that Eric is alive today because of Moore’s efforts that Sunday afternoon.
The Pehlke’s also shared that Eric’s father was a volunteer fire chief in Monkton for 30 years and his brother for 22 years. It was amazing to the couple that a volunteer firefighter saved Eric’s life.
Straight from the couple’s hearts, penned on paper were these words: “I am a lucky man. You helped me win the lottery of life. My family and friends are grateful for your dedication and training.
“I didn’t know if it was the firefighters or the paramedics that helped me. I understand that most people in my situation do not make it. I am thankful to be alive and thankful to Scott for all he did for me,” Pehlke said.
“I only have pain in my ribs and right side, which I have been told is from Scott performing CPR, nothing to do with my heart. Thank you, Scott.”
Richardson thanked the Pehlke’s for their letter of gratitude. He confirmed that follow up with the department after a call is rare.
“This letter is a boost for us. We’ve had a lot of calls over the past year that have been extremely stressful on our guys. It’s good to have this letter and this meeting. We really appreciate it,” Richardson said.
The Pehlkes noted to find out exactly who was involved after they called 911 took a little bit of work. A few phone calls, delivery of the letter and all the right connections came together for the Jan. 12 meeting.
Speaking for the Moorefield firefighters at the scene, Geoff Wing said, “It’s worth being a firefighter after meeting with the patient after the fact and finding out what happened to him.”
Moore summed up the Pehlkes’ 911 call stating, “We train to be firefighters and it’s our job to help people. We are not in it for the recognition we may receive.
“When we meet someone that we’ve helped, we are happy for them. But, a little recognition is a good thing.”
