How Fast Action and the Right Team Saved One Man from a Widow-Maker Heart Attack
For Jarred Koos, survival came down to timing, people and a series of moments that had to unfold exactly as they did. If even one detail had been different — his nearby coworkers, a second paramedic on duty, an ambulance just blocks away, technology that sent his heart readings to the hospital ahead of time — his story might have ended in tragedy.
“The doctor told me afterward that the cards had to fall the way they did for the outcome we got,” Koos says.
Every Second Counts: Recognizing Heart Attack Symptoms Early
On what began as a normal Monday at work, the 40-year-old service manager at Roeder Brothers in Bellevue chatted with a coworker before returning to his desk. Moments later, a sudden, intense pain gripped his chest. At first, Koos assumed it was heartburn, but the pain didn’t fade. Something about it felt wrong.
A coworker in the office next to him was a certified EMT. Another nearby colleague was a paramedic. Koos, himself, had volunteer firefighting experience, giving him a basic understanding of emergency situations, so he knew what was happening.
He laid down immediately, and his coworkers called 911.
Just two blocks away, an ambulance crew typically staffed by one person happened to have two paramedics on duty. They arrived in minutes, ran a 12-lead EKG and transmitted the results directly to UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital while in route.
Heart Attack at 40-Years-Old
The findings were clear: Koos had a heart attack.
“I asked her to [give it to me] straight,” Koos says. “The EMT told me eight out of the 12 leads were showing a possible heart attack. I still thought I’d be –fine — that they’d get me there, I’d get checked out and be out the door.”
Because of the real-time data sent from the ambulance, Finley’s cardiac team was ready before Koos arrived. Instead of stopping in the emergency department, he was taken straight to the cardiac catheterization lab, where UnityPoint Health interventional cardiologist Tauseef Khan, MD, and his team were waiting.
“They told me it was serious, and they’d take care of me,” Koos says.
Fully conscious, Koos was prepped for the procedure. At one point, he asked when they were going to put him under, but he says, “They told me they already started.”
LAD Artery Blockage Reveals 'Widow Maker'
The team accessed his artery through his wrist, and Dr. Khan discovered a 100% blockage in Koos’ left anterior descending (LAD) artery, often referred to as the “widow maker” because of how deadly it can be if blocked. A long, sticky blood clot had completely cut off blood flow. Dr. Khan successfully removed the clot and placed a stent, restoring circulation.
Koos later learned if his heart attack had happened outside a hospital setting, his chance of survival would have been as low as 12%.
“It really was the right people in the right places at the right time,” he says. “Everything lined up.”
Moving Forward: Heart Attack Rehab and Recovery
After the procedure, Koos was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he spent the next 24 hours under close observation. Across three shift changes, nurses carefully explained each step of his care, checked in constantly and made sure he felt informed and supported.
“From the cardiac team to the ICU staff, everyone was amazing,” Koos says. “I can’t thank them enough.”
Perhaps most surprising was Koos had no prior heart issues. There were no warning signs or family history of heart issues at a young age. He’s active, fit, works out regularly, coaches football and plays sports. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint a specific cause.
Just two weeks later, he was cleared to return to work. After completing cardiac pulmonary rehabilitation at Finley Hospital, he gradually resumed his regular routine. Today, he’s back to his regular activities.
Koos reflects on how close he came to a very different outcome.
“I probably wouldn’t be having this conversation if things hadn’t lined up the way they did,” he says.
Talk to Your Doctor
Don't wait for a wake-up call. Heart attacks can strike without warning, even in healthy, active people. Schedule time with your doctor to discuss your heart attack risk and learn the symptoms, because knowing what to look for could save your life or someone else's.