Carrying a load of laundry isn’t usually a difficult task for a 41-year-old, but as Justin Dunleavy was doing just that back in September, he became weak and fell to his knees. He’d been experiencing shortness of breath, bloating and nausea for several weeks, and his symptoms had been getting progressively worse.
“I couldn’t breathe, and I blacked out for a few seconds,” he recalled. “It was obvious something was not right, and I couldn’t ignore my symptoms anymore.”
Justin went to the nearest emergency department, where he was diagnosed with acute heart failure.
“I was shocked; I had no history of heart problems or conditions. The doctors were surprised too.”
He was admitted to the hospital and underwent treatment for eight days, but his condition quickly worsened.
“Justin was going downhill fast. I was told to make end-of-life decisions,” shared Justin’s husband, Chad Bauman, executive director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. “I knew if we didn’t do something different, Justin would die. I called Dr. John Crouch, who’s heavily involved with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.”
Dr. Crouch, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, recommended transferring Justin to the hospital’s Tendick Center for Advanced Heart Failure Therapies.
“It was the best decision I’ve ever made,” said Chad. “We really learned the difference between a general cardiologist and a heart failure specialist.”
Doctors at Aurora St. Luke’s set Justin on a new course of treatment including different medications that were constantly monitored and adjusted when needed. He had a Swan-Ganz catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure to monitor his heart function.
“Heart medications are very powerful, and if given at the wrong time or under the wrong conditions, it can be very serious – and that’s what had happened to Justin,” explained Chad. “The medication he was on previously was too much for his congested heart, and that’s why he came so close to dying. Every decision about his care at Aurora St. Luke’s was made thoughtfully and with careful consideration about how it could affect him.”
“From the time I arrived at St. Luke’s, I felt more secure and more confident that things were going in the right direction,” added Justin. “The level of care was exceptional in every way.”
He spent two weeks in the cardiac intensive care unit at Aurora St. Luke’s.
“It was a scary time, but the doctors were very communicative. They drew diagrams and made sure we understood the plan and what my prognosis was,” said Justin.
“They treated us like a team. I tend to ask a lot of questions,” admitted Chad, “and they were incredibly accommodating. They would take as much time as we needed to answer questions. And the nurses were just phenomenal.”
There’s no cure for heart failure. Justin will have to manage his condition for the rest of his life. But the couple is grateful that he has the chance to live his life – and watch their 2-year-old son grow up.
“It’s a hard thing to think about when you’re in your 40s. We just adopted our son. We never thought about him not growing up with both of his parents,” shared Chad.
“I feel great now. I’ve had to make significant life changes, and I have an external defibrillator, but I’m back to exercising, doing chores and even traveling for work,” said Justin. “I’m so grateful to Dr. Crouch, Dr. Jacob Luthman, Dr. Nasir Sulemanjee and everyone who helped save my life.”
How you can help
The Tendick Center for Advanced Heart Failure Therapies at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center was established on October 3, 2003, through a generous gift from the Donald W. and Rosemary Tendick, Sr. Trust to develop and advance the treatment of heart failure.
“If you want world-class care in your backyard, you have to support it. We think quite a bit about our philanthropic efforts to make Milwaukee a better place, and this level of care is absolutely worth supporting,” said Chad. “Having Aurora St. Luke’s really was the difference between life and death for my husband.”
You can support lifesaving care at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center by making a gift today.