Thomas Hufford, medical miracle

Thomas Hufford, 76, of Loveland, endured a massive heart attack in his urologist’s office Sept. 29. Now, doctors consider him a miracle.

Thomas experienced 25 minutes without blood circulation, and in order to save his life, Dr. Andrew Burger at University Hospital put him into a hypothermic protocol.

The core body temperature was decreased to approximately 75 degrees.

“He was so cold,” said Janet Hufford, his wife. “I’d feel his arm and it was
like a rock. Just frozen. But they knew what they were doing.”

Thomas continued the hypothermia therapy to prevent brain damage and alleviate the stress on vital organs.

In the condition of hypothermia, the body reduces its need for oxygen and the chemical reactions associated with injury, according to the American Heart Association.

“We had no idea how he was going to respond,” Janet said. “The doctors said ‘we’re going to thaw him out now,’ and they tested his reactions.”

Thomas spent 10 days undergoing hypothermia therapy. Once he regained full function on Oct. 8, Dr. J. Michael Smith, chief of cardiac surgery at University Hospital, assessed him and decided he was fit for coronary artery bypass surgery.

“My arteries were so blocked the doctors said it was like going through concrete,” Thomas said. “They had to pull veins out of my legs – they couldn’t use a stint.”

Smith was unable to perform an angioplasty because of intense calcification of his arteries and moved to a bypass as the next viable option.

“What I did was no big deal,” Smith said. “What was a big deal was the doctors who put him into the hypothermic protocol and saved his life, saved his brain.”

Smith released Thomas Oct. 13, confident in a full recovery with very little damage to the heart after the massive heart attack.

“Dr. Smith was great and very personable,” Janet said. “It was scary, but I trusted them.”

The Norwood urology center where Thomas recevies treatment from Dr. Gary Kirsch for his prostate cancer has much gratitude from Janet.
After complaining of dizziness, nurses asked Thomas to take a seat; that’s when his body launched into cardiac arrest.

“The fact they we were in the office was the most fortunate thing in the world,” Janet said. “If he had gotten in my car, he would not be here. The nurses did CPR all the way to the hospital.”

Burger has performed this type of treatment on at least three other patients and Thomas is the only one to completely recover.

In March 2001, doctors at University Hospital treated Thomas after a head-on collision on Mitchell Avenue. With cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and multiple fractures, Thomas knows that his recent visit was more catastrophic.

“They took great care of me both times,” Thomas said.

While resting at home with his wife and cat, Sugar, Thomas looks forward to the day he can renew his pilot license or get his hands dirty working on planes. That day is nearly six months away due to recovery time, but flying has always been his passion.

“He’s a go-getter,” Janet said. “He’s not going to let this bring him down.”