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Prioritizing his health and self-care was always important for John MacMartin. Every year, he would have a check-up every six months with Bruce Roach, MD, Primary Care at Trinity Health, to ensure he stayed well. However, a recent check-up turned more serious when the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) couldn’t get a consistent pulse reading.

Knowing something was “off,” Dr. Roach had John get an electrocardiogram to check the electrical activity of his heart, then John went on to meet Samir Turk, MD, Cardiologist at Trinity Health. When meeting with Dr. Turk, John learned that his heart was in atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm.

Upon learning about his diagnosis, John was surprised to hear he had an irregular heart rhythm. However, in hindsight, he realized that there were previously signs and symptoms that reflected this.

“I was short of breath more often. I live in a two-story home, and climbing stairs was an issue, but I never thought huffing and puffing or being a little out of breath was a huge problem,” said John. “It wasn’t uncommon for me to sit down in my chair and fall asleep in the afternoon. I was a little more tired than usual, but I didn’t realize there was more going on at the time.”

As John was processing the news about his heart issue, he couldn’t help but think about how scary this news was and what it would potentially mean for the rest of his life. However, Dr. Turk and Amanda Weidler, FNP-C, Cardiology at Trinity Health, who also spent some time with John, answered all of his questions and made him feel better about his diagnosis.

“In the conversations with Dr. Turk and Amanda, I realized that people could live long lives who are going through something similar to me. I walked out of my appointments knowing that if I was doing something and became out of breath, sitting down and taking a short break rather than trying to push through was pivotal,” said John.

This realization prompted John to make lifestyle changes that could improve his quality of life, in addition to taking his prescribed medication. Since that meeting, he is satisfied with where he is. “Life has become pretty good. Without Dr. Turk and the Cardiology team at Trinity Health, I believe it might have turned out differently. I don’t know if I would be as comfortable with my situation, and might be more worried.”

Knowing his condition and paying attention to his body, whenever John is doing tasks around the house or helping his wife pack up a trailer for quilt shows, he takes moments to sit down, have a glass of water, pause for five minutes and then return to the task. This, John says, feels easier on his body and doesn’t make him feel as worn out at the end of the day.

Looking back on his experience, John feels grateful for the care he received and the resources available so close to home. He credits Trinity Health’s team not only with helping him understand his condition but also with giving him the confidence to manage it day by day. Today, John continues to feel well and thankful.

“One of the things that is important to a community and our quality of life is a hospital. Trinity Health is our hospital, and I feel very fortunate. We have quality healthcare in Minot, and that’s incredibly important for our community and the future growth of our community,” said John.

He added, “I am extraordinarily appreciative of Trinity Health over the last 30-plus years that I’ve been in Minot. I don’t hesitate to call Dr. Roach or see Dr. Turk because I know I’m in good hands, and that’s peace of mind that’s hard to find.”

Dr. Turk and Amanda Weidler are part of Trinity Health’s expanded heart team that offers advanced, specialized heart care close to home, elevating the heart services that are offered locally.