We continue to monitor COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in our communities. Read the most current information about prevention, testing and where to go if you're sick.

COVID-19 Information
Melissa and Chris post on the sofa with family photos all around.

Early Intervention Makes the Difference

Melissa Ham’s voice is still a little shaky when she recalls being told that her husband, Chris, had about a 1-in-3 chance of surviving the heart attack that occurred at their home on July 13, 2016.

Today, a little more than a year-and-a-half later, her husband of 20 years, father of their four children and grandfather of their three grandchildren, says he feels like a “million bucks” thanks to his wife’s quick thinking and the heart team at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

It all began in the early evening when Chris Ham, 47, had decided to cut up a tree limb that had fallen on his truck after a summer thunderstorm had hit their home in St. Peters.

“I don’t remember anything from that day, not even starting the chainsaw,” Chris says. “My son found me lying next to the truck and ran in to get his mom. They called 9-1-1 from our home phone, and a neighbor called from their cell phone.”

Melissa immediately began CPR, something she’d trained for in the past, and continued chest compressions on Chris until firefighters arrived and took over with a defibrillator. An ambulance then rushed him to Barnes-Jewish St. Peter’s Hospital, the closest local hospital.

While there, he began experiencing pulmonary edema, a condition where his lungs filled with fluid due to severe heart failure. Because his heart was failing and the hospital was unsure of his neurological status after his cardiac arrest, his body temperature was lowered as part of a protocol to enhance brain recovery in the ICU.

As part of a heart care collaboration between Barnes-Jewish St. Peter’s, St. Charles County first responders, and Missouri Baptist, physicians at St. Peter’s consulted with the heart experts at Missouri Baptist to determine the next steps in Chris’ care. He was taken to the cardiac cath lab, where the team diagnosed coronary disease and severe heart failure.

Lifesaving measures

The care team then decided to transfer Chris to Missouri Baptist for more extensive measures unavailable at many more rural hospitals.

“While he was in the ambulance, we got the call that his lungs were filling up with more fluid and they were having a difficult time getting oxygen into his lungs, even with a ventilator,” cardiothoracic surgeon Michael Mauney, MD, said. “We told them to bring him straight to the operating room.

“Chris underwent a two-vessel bypass, but despite the increased blood flow he had round after round of arrhythmias, and was shocked more than 50 times at the end of the operation until we finally got his rhythm under control,” Dr. Mauney says.

“We went through escalating levels of mechanical devices to support him and ended up on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a life-saving heart and lung machine that is used with patients who require a temporary support system for their heart and lungs for days or sometimes weeks.”

Dr. Mauney told Melissa that Chris had about a 1-in-3 chance of surviving. Even if he survived, there was the uncertainty of how his brain would recover from the initial arrest.

“I can’t say enough about Dr. Mauney, who explained everything to us and made sure we understood what to expect. I was overwhelmed by everything, but the nurses and staff were great. They made sure Chris was comfortable, and no one ever gave up on him,” Melissa says. “We had been told before coming to Missouri Baptist that Chris was a ticking time bomb, but they made all the difference and saved his life.”

“The bomb went off for Chris when he had his heart attack. Once you are on such a high level of life support, you have such a mountain to climb to recover,” Dr. Mauney says. “Each hurdle we said he had to clear, he cleared.”

CPR was critical

Without the CPR performed by Melissa, Dr. Mauney is not sure Chris would have survived or even made it to Missouri Baptist.

“She saved his life as much as anybody for recognizing it and doing effective CPR, which circulated enough blood that still had oxygen in it to keep his brain alive,” he says. “Had she stood by and waited for EMS, he would have been brain dead by the next day. You can be impressed by all the bells and whistles of emergency surgery, but CPR was really the most important first step in this.”

Prognosis Good

Chris remained in the cardiovascular recovery unit for several days. On July 19, Dr. Mauney says he and his partner, Joshua Baker, MD, who brought a wealth of ECMO experience to Missouri Baptist from his time in Boston, went back to the OR, where they took all of the pumps out. Five days later, he underwent a tracheostomy and was taken off of the ventilator. He also had a defibrillator put in for his arrhythmia.

Dr. Mauney praised the nurses who cared for Chris both in the cardiovascular recovery unit and on the heart floor during his entire stay.

“The nurses worked 24/7, monitoring all of his life support, rolling and turning Chris to make sure he didn’t have ulcers, putting tube feeds down his stomach,” he says. “They are tireless and truly care for our patients. Seeing someone like Chris recover so well makes it possible for them to do this all over again for other patients.”

After three weeks at Missouri Baptist, Chris went home on Aug. 8, 2016.

Today, he exercises more, eats healthier and doesn’t smoke. He left his job as a mechanic, where he was exposed to too many chemicals, he says, and now works for the St. Charles School District.

“I know I am very lucky and so grateful for everything and everyone,” he says.

“We did a lot of praying,” Melissa adds. “Everything changed when we got to Missouri Baptist. I don’t think Chris would have survived without everyone there.”

The BJC HealthCare family of hospitals allows patients, like Chris, to access a higher level of comprehensive, coordinated heart care. Whether in an emergency situation or through a referral, our heart care team works together to provide seamless care so you can focus on getting well.

Related Heart Content

Find a Doctor or Make an Appointment

Our new search tool will help you choose a doctor or health care provider that is best for you or your family.

Search Now

Heart Matters: Father-Son Heart Surgery Strengthens Bond

When the need for surgery arose, this close-knit family made the decision to travel to St. Louis for a second opinion and care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap). However, Matt and Bill never expected to be in the hospital at the same time, much less have heart surgery on the same day.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Stock photo of young family in kitchen preparing healthy meal

Online Heart Health Assessment

Are you at risk for a heart attack? Learn about your risk factors with our online heart health assessment tool and find help for improving your results.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Mitral Valve Replacement

When Tina needed a new mitral valve, she benefited from BJC HealthCare’s collaborative approach to care that connected her with a multidisciplinary team of heart specialists. Her journey included seamless coordination between medical teams at two BJC HealthCare facilities: Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap).

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Washington University Heart Failure Center at Missouri Baptist

At the Washington University Heart Failure Center at Missouri Baptist, we use a team approach to develop an individualized plan of care for you to manage your disease.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Dr. Stewart Gets a “Second Chance at Life” After Heart Attack

Todd Stewart, MD, is no stranger to critically ill patients and life-saving procedures. As a spinal neurosurgeon and chief of neurosurgery at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, it’s all in a day’s work. But it came as a shock when he suffered a life-threatening heart attack last year.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Helps Tom Return to the Basketball Court

Tom Caspari thought he was too healthy to have a heart attack.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Cardiac Testing at Missouri Baptist Medical Center

Diagnosing a heart condition often requires a combination of cardiovascular diagnostic and screening tests. These advanced tests can often determine the existence, type and severity of heart disease.

At Missouri Baptist Medical Center, our Cardiac Diagnostics Center is equipped with advanced technology and expertly trained staff to conducts these tests. Your test results will be evaluated by a board-certified cardiologist on staff at MoBap and discussed with your physician to tailor a treatment plan for your specific condition.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

MoBap Celebrates 1,000 TAVR Case Milestone

On December 6, 2022, Missouri Baptist Medical Center performed its 1,000th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

“We are proud to reach this milestone,” says Michael Mauney, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at Missouri Baptist. “MoBap was among the first medical centers in the nation to adopt this procedure following FDA approval in Fall 2011.”

TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure for replacing a stenotic (tight) aortic valve in which the aortic valve narrows, reducing blood flow from the heart to the aorta. This procedure can also replace failed artificial aortic and mitral valves. TAVR is a treatment option to be considered for those with severe aortic stenosis, including many with worn-out surgical valves.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Deborah Quesenberry volleys during paddleball.

An Unexpected Diagnosis

When Deborah Quesenberry attended the Missouri Baptist Heart Fair in February 2017, she wasn’t expecting to have a diagnosis of a serious health problem.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Dr. Mauney and team work to improve heart rhythm

Reducing Risk, Improving Rhythm: Treating Atrial Fibrillation

At Missouri Baptist Medical Center cardiac surgeons have treated atrial fibrillation surgically since 2001.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Did You Know?

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available, many people wonder whether it's right for them. BJC HealthCare wants you to have the information you need to make the right decision for yourself and your loved ones.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Starting Your Heart Health Journey

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for "men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States." However, heart disease can be present with no symptoms until a significant event happens, like a stroke or heart attack.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

An Unexpected Journey of the Heart

When it came time for LaTisha (Tish) Smith of Belleville, Ill., to tell her family that she was having surgery, the hardest conversation was with her 9-year-old son, Lee.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Her Heart Health

A woman's heart is different. Many women may not experience chest pain. Their warning signs are non-specific and often easily overlooked. 

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart Health Tips

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.  There are several risk factors that contribute to heart disease.  Some risk factors, including gender, age and family history are uncontrollable, while other risk factors can be modified with lifestyle changes.  Learn how you can make changes to improve your heart health.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right
Melissa and Chris post on the sofa with family photos all around.

Early Intervention Makes the Difference

Melissa Ham’s voice is still a little shaky when she recalls being told that her husband, Chris, had about a 1-in-3 chance of surviving the heart attack that occurred at their home on July 13, 2016.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Arrhythmia Center

At the Arrhythmia Center at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, we want to help you understand everything there is to know about arrhythmia, especially finding the right treatment just for you. Our goal is to keep you and your heart healthy.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Heart LifeLine Alliance

As a leader in heart care, Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s cardiac specialists partner with rural hospitals and medical helicopter and ambulance services to offer the region’s leading heart attack network, saving heart muscle and lives.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Living (Well) With Congestive Heart Failure

Follow these tips to live a healthier life with congestive heart failure.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Treating Coronary Artery Chronic Total Occlusion

The treatment options at the Missouri Baptist Heart Center continue to advance, and our patients have access to the latest technologies and treatment options. 

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Understanding Arrhythmia

We want to help you understand everything there is to know about arrhythmia, why they occur, how they are diagnosed and treated, and what options may be right for you.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

The transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure allows a team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to insert a new valve inside a diseased valve without open heart surgery. The new valve is put in place through a catheter that is inserted through the groin or between the ribs. 

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

New Technology for Treating Cardiac Arrhythmias

The new technology at MoBap — robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) — introduces the benefits of robotic precision and safety to cardiac ablation, a common, minimally invasive procedure used to treat arrhythmias

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right

Early Heart Attack Care

Did you know that heart attacks have beginnings and these beginning signs occur in more than half of all heart attack patients? Learn the important early signs and symptoms.

Learn More keyboard_arrow_right