Cardiac Arrest Patient Thanks CentraCare Team Who Saved His Life

“I just want to thank everybody who assisted and helped me through this. My care at St. Cloud Hospital was awesome. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The way everything fell into place is what saved my life.”

Bruce Turnquist of Milaca doesn’t remember much from when he went into cardiac arrest in July 2023. Now that he’s home, he’s taking time to soak in all that happened to him and to express appreciation to those who helped save his life.

The 50-year-old grandfather of six woke up on July 5 and remembers feeling fine. “I didn’t have any symptoms beforehand. I just felt nauseated. That was it.”

Bruce went to work at Xcel Energy Power Plant in Becker, as he normally does. But, when he arrived, he told a co-worker that he wasn’t feeling right.

He spoke with his general foreman and reported feeling his chest pounding and his jaw hurting. Bruce has no memory of that conversation or the events that followed.

The general foreman helped Bruce get into a truck with plans to head to a nearby health clinic. Just as the vehicle was pulling out of the security gate, Bruce went into cardiac arrest.

The general foreman rushed out of the truck, calling 9-1-1 while pulling Bruce to the ground to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Emergency phone operators stayed on the phone to deliver instructions until the first responders arrived. Blue and red flashing lights lit up a stretch of Highway 10.

Paramedics performed lifesaving measures on Bruce, including the use of the LUCAS machine, a chest compression system to help improve circulation in cardiac arrest patients.

Bruce was rushed by ambulance to CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital and later told he was without oxygen and legally dead for about 20 minutes.

His care team included CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center Cardiologist John M. Mahowald, MD, Interventional Cardiologist Jacob R. Dutcher, MD, and Courtney L. Brever, PA-C.

Bruce ended up getting a single stent on his right coronary artery. He woke up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nearly 30 hours after the initial incident.

“The next thing I knew it was Thursday. I was wondering what just happened. Supposedly I talked to my boss that morning, and he was asking me questions and I was answering them, but I don’t remember him ever being there,” Bruce confessed.

"Bruce has an amazing story!” said Dr. Dutcher. “The smallest artery of his heart closed that day, but it was enough to place his life at risk. It requires tremendous teamwork to save someone from a cardiac arrest, and Bruce witnessed first-hand the full benefits of a well-coordinated team effort."

Bruce has been put on a heart-healthy diet and attends cardiac rehabilitation three to four days a week to help rebuild muscle strength in his chest and arms.

“I just want to thank everybody who assisted and helped me through this. My care at St. Cloud Hospital was awesome. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The way everything fell into place is what saved my life,” marveled Bruce.