Published: February 14, 2025
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Absorbing the grandeur of the Grand Canyon remains a bucket-list item for Terrie Slack. She wants to experience the canyon’s enormous beauty and complete a hike, even if it’s an adventure on which she chooses “an easy trail.”
To appreciate her aspirations, you have to appreciate her incredible health journey, one that began suddenly with a massive heart attack in October 2015.
“I never had any indications,” said Terrie, now a peppy, 74-year-old, semiretired schoolteacher. “I thought I was healthy.”
Terrie survived a second heart attack a few days later while waiting for initial complications to improve before undergoing triple-bypass heart surgery. Following surgery, she remained unconscious for three weeks due to additional setbacks. Eventually, Terrie would need her left foot and part of her left leg to be amputated, as a result of weakened blood flow during her recovery. According to Terri, her family wasn’t sure she would survive.
Nearly 10 years later, she’s alive and thriving, thanks to an incredible team of physicians and therapists, which includes the cardiac rehabilitation team at Norton King’s Daughters’ Health in Madison, Indiana.
“The staff encourages you and holds you accountable,” Terrie said. “It’s comforting to know they are tracking your heart rate and blood pressure. They are always willing to answer questions and check on you; it’s such a huge benefit.”
When Terrie first began cardiac rehabilitation in January 2016, nearly four months after her heart attack, her initial ejection fraction — or EF as she calls it — was only 30%. Ejection fraction is one indicator of the heart’s efficiency at pumping blood. Through Terrie’s hard work and continuous effort, her heart’s ejection fraction is now 50% to 55%, which Terrie described as “low normal” for someone her age. After barely being able to exercise for six minutes initially, she now attends cardiac rehab twice a week for 45 minutes.
“Even if I was disciplined enough to keep exercising on my own, it’s a huge benefit coming here,” Terrie said.
She continues in the maintenance phase, or Phase 3, of cardiac rehabilitation at Norton King’s Daughters’ Health.
“The team becomes like family. You also get to encourage other people and get encouragement from them,” Terrie said. “It was a long journey for me; maybe I can help someone else.”
Throughout her stints in physical therapy, which included learning how to use her prosthetic foot and leg, Terrie cherished her local access to heart care.
“I doubt I would have driven somewhere two or three times a week,” she said. “Having local care makes all the difference. The people are wonderful.”
Jared Rogers, exercise physiologist, and Nancy Gibson, a cardiovascular technician, both with the rehab program in Madison, “are great,” according to Terrie.
Jared sees firsthand the difference cardiac rehab makes in the lives of heart patients. Initially, patients complete Phase 1, which focuses on regaining strength and conditioning. Phase 2 helps patients transition to independence, which is the goal of the cardiac rehab program. Phase 3 is a self-pay option for patients who simply want to maintain their success.
“Patients like the social atmosphere and building relationships,” Jared said. “We want to help patients understand that it takes a lifestyle change to be successful. It’s rewarding to see patients reach their goals and make improvements. We want them to be independent.”
Steven L. Vorhies, M.D., is a family medicine specialist at Norton Community Medical Associates and is Terrie’s primary care physician. He praised Terrie’s mental fortitude as a reason for her success.
“Her mental approach to recovery … is remarkable,” Dr. Vorhies said. “Her rehab helped her immensely. She set a goal to be active, live her life and do what she wants to do. Her mental attitude is wonderful. She’s always smiling.”
Today, Terrie enjoys spending time with her husband of 53 years, Curt. Their family consists of three adult children and a grandson, whom Terrie enjoys watching play a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball and football.
“I can do most things I want to do,” Terrie said. “My leg limits me more than my heart.”