Dave Harron is being recognized by the Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF) for his efforts to raise money for the organization.
But he believes that his fundraising efforts are merely an effort to give back to the health-care system after it saved his life.
The HRF released an interview with Dave Harron and his wife Wanda on Tuesday afternoon, in which they go into great detail regarding the care he received.
Dave’s experiences started on Nov. 10, 2016, when he accompanied his wife to an exercise class. According to the testimonial from the HRF, he started feeling short of breath a few minutes into the class. Moments later, he fainted.
A follow-up diagnostic test detected a heart murmur, and he was referred to Regina for further testing, including an ultrasound. That test revealed aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the valve.
“I was told that valve replacement surgery was the next step,” he said in the write-up. “I was booked in for surgery at the (Regina) General Hospital on January 25 of 2017."
He was worried, but said he was in great hands with the medical team at the Mosaic Heart Centre. The surgery went as scheduled, and he woke up afterwards thinking it was the next day. It was actually a week later, because he experienced complications.
The initial surgery took longer than expected but was relatively smooth sailing. However, internal bleeding developed as his blood would not clot.
“I was advised to call family members to the hospital at that point,” Wanda Harron said. “They even brought in a priest to administer last rites. Needless to say, I was terrified. But I was also confident that Dave would pull through. After all, he had an outstanding team of doctors and nurses and great technology on his side. I learned afterwards the general hospital’s cardiac care unit is considered one of the best in Canada. Dave is living proof of that."
Dave was discharged from the hospital on Feb. 25, 2017, a month after his valve replacement surgery. During that month after the initial operation, he was in surgery twice more to stem the internal bleeding, was put on dialysis temporarily, and was given more than 30 units of blood.
He spent the first two weeks in intensive care before being transferred to the cardiac surveillance unit and then the cardiology unit (3F).
“When I woke up, I learned I had been in an induced coma,” Dave said. “The chaplain told me it was a miracle I was alive. That was a shock, obviously. I’m very grateful to everyone who played a role in my recovery. That’s why I want to show my appreciation by giving back.”
Not only is he praising the level of care he received in Regina, but he also spent a week at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan, and said the local care was excellent as well.
“There were lots of days where I would have to go to the Estevan hospital every day just to get something done, and they were always good,” said Harron.
An example of Harron’s recovery came last year. A person who sat in front of Dave’s family at Rider games at the old Mosaic Stadium just happened to be in charge of the intensive care unit at Regina General. When Dave came out of the coma, he recognized that physician, but because of Dave’s weakened state, the physician didn’t recognize Dave.
They met up at a Rider game last year for a visit at the Harrons’ seats, which are higher up in the stadium.
“He asked if I walked all the way up there. I said ‘Yep, and I’m doing good.’ When I got out of the hospital … it took me probably 20 minutes or more to make one lap around Affinity. I was walking like I was 90 years old. I was so screwed up when I got home.”
Dave had to learn how to swallow again, thanks to the tracheotomy that was done when he was hospitalized. And there were other issues that he never expected would occur.
Another example of his recovery came earlier this year, when Dave and Wanda Harron were joined by their son Kyle for the Cardiac Care 5K (five-kilometre) Walk/Run, in support of the HRF. He was the top individual fundraiser, collecting $4,100 in pledges, and was given a medal for his efforts.
Friends and family members contributed to the fundraising. His wife and son shared his involvement on social media.
“When we started out, we set a goal of $1,000, and then we raised it to $1,500, and then we just let it go higher,” said Harron. “The online donations brought in around $2,000, and then I had a pledge sheet where people could pledge me $20 or $40.”
He expects he’ll be in the walk again next year to support the cardiac care ward.
Harron has been back to the 3F a couple of times since last year due to bacterial infections. His most recent discharge came in March 2018.
He said he’ll likely need antibiotics for the rest of his life, and they could cause some side effects, but other than that, he’s in pretty good shape.
“I saw my cardiologist a couple of weeks ago, and he said my heart is in perfect shape now. I just have to get some exercise, get out riding a bike and do all that stuff.”
