By Robin McClelland
Globe Gazette
MASON CITY, Iowa 鈥� Bruce Seidel has been practicing gratitude.
On Nov. 18, while doing some yard work at his Mason City residence, he began to feel unwell. He鈥檇 been working hard cutting branches, tidying up and rushing to get the job done. 鈥淚鈥檇 been pushing to finish and didn鈥檛 take enough breaks. I could feel I wasn鈥檛 breathing well, but I thought I鈥檇 be OK,鈥� he said.
Before long, Seidel, 66, realized he needed medical assistance. He called out to his partner, Jill, to dial 911 and made his way out front to meet the ambulance.
Although Mason City Fire and Rescue arrived within minutes, during the short wait, Seidel experienced a cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, the team quickly assessed the situation and took over CPR efforts from Jill.
Seidel鈥檚 heart began beating briefly, only to stop again.
Now, 1st Battalion responders, known to Seidel as 鈥淭he Fearsome Foursome,鈥� Lt. Dustin Pillard, Scott Watson, Wes Hardy and Eric Maki, had to act fast. Seidel wasn鈥檛 responding to their efforts and they made the decision to use a Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System, or LUCAS device.
A LUCAS device provides mechanical chest compressions at a fixed rate in order to allow first responders to focus on other tasks. Every Mason City ambulance has one on board. In Seidel鈥檚 case, it may have been the difference between life and death.
On that terrifying evening, the MCFD team made all the right moves. They were able to transfer Seidel to the ambulance and then to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center鈥檚 emergency department.
Seidel wasn鈥檛 aware of the frenzied pace as healthcare workers scrambled to stabilize him. The amount of time he had been without a heartbeat made the case that much more dramatic.
In order to give him the best chance at recovery, Seidel was placed in a coma and his body temperature was lowered to just 34 degrees. For three days, he lay in this state of suspended animation.
Seidel鈥檚 nephew, Hunter Dean, recalls the IVs, medications and machines Seidel was attached to. 鈥淗e had tubes coming from just about everywhere,鈥� Dean recalled.
In a bit of serendipity, Dean had been participating in the Mason City Fire Department鈥檚 Explorer program. The program allows young people to job shadow firefighters to determine if the career suits them.
Dean works at 4-C Western Wear in Mason City and is planning to major in fire science and attend the fire medic program in Green Bay, Wis.
鈥淚 was really just checking out some options and had really enjoyed the program. Now, and this event with Bruce didn鈥檛 cement it, exactly, but now I can see myself going forward in the fire service,鈥� Dean explained.
After the emergency team got Seidel stabilized, he was moved to the critical care unit on MercyOne North Iowa鈥檚 sixth floor. There, he was supported by doctors, nurses and staff.
鈥淓very moment I was at MercyOne, I was treated with the most respect,鈥� Seidel said through tears.
Tests revealed that Seidel suffers from an Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, known as A1AD. In particular, Seidel has the SZ variant. This deficiency means he is unable to produce the antitrypsin protein that can protect the lungs from irritants. The Alpha-1 antitrypsin protein is produced in the liver. Without it, patients are at risk of chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder (COPD).
Seidel鈥檚 gratitude extends to every person he encountered during his nearly two-week stay at MercyOne North Iowa. He started his gratitude drawing not long after he was awakened from his coma.
Since his release, Seidel has been staying with his sister, Kim, and brother-in-law, Denny Withers. 鈥淚鈥檓 all on one floor here, no worrying about the stairs,鈥� Seidel said with relief.
While the road to recovery may be long, Seidel has few concerns.
鈥淚鈥檓 just happy to be here, which I wouldn鈥檛 be without them all. It was the people that made it so good,鈥� said Seidel. 鈥淓very person in the whole hospital experience touched my heart.鈥�
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