A heart for education

Wade Sick has been a dedicated math and physics professor at Southwestern Community College since 1995. His love for his job and students became apparent earlier this year after suffering a heart attack.

“It’s almost a typical story,” Sick said. “I was out doing work in the cold, scooping snow of all things and felt a burning sensation in the middle of my chest.”

Sick went inside, hoping the pain would subside. However, when the pain was still present at 3 a.m. the next morning, he went with his wife Brandy to the Winterset hospital.

“I was diagnosed,” Sick said. “I was then taken to Mercy by ambulance later on in the afternoon. Long story short, they did the cardiogram at Mercy and ... they found out that 100% in one artery [was blocked], 100% in another and about 70% in the third.”

Sick was sent home with medication and surgery scheduled for a few days from then on Jan. 5.

“I was scheduled for surgery right away and had a triple bypass done,” Sick said.

Sick went home just a few days later. With classes scheduled to start just eight days later, many people would be looking to take a bit of time off. Sick was different.

“For me, the energy that I feel when I teach here at SWCC is medicine in and of itself,” Sick said. “I didn’t want the students to miss out. It’s important to me to be here, and at the same time I draw from them as well.”

Sick returned to teaching classes on Jan. 23, less than three weeks after enduring open-heart surgery. He explained SWCC was supportive in him taking more time off, time he didn’t want.

“They were apprehensive here to have me return so quick,” Sick said. “I did go back and get my followup checkup. Surprisingly, I said yeah, I need a note for work. Oh, ok, you probably need it so you don’t have to- No, I need it so that I can go back to work. That seemed unheard of for them. Most people wanted to get out of whatever job they’re working, but me, I wanted to get back.”

Sick touted a big part of his recovery to the support he got from the community.

“I had so much support. If there’s one place that Facebook is a wonderful tool, that’s one of them,” Sick said. “Social media was great to read the comments made from former students and just friends and family from throughout the years. Just in general folks and their outpouring of support. And I can’t leave out the college. They did such a huge job to let me know that, Wade, no hurry, you don’t have to get back, but I certainly wanted to.”

After his experience, Sick wants to encourage others to take their symptoms seriously.

“Don’t take anything for granted, not only life of course but any symptoms, man or woman,” Sick said. “If you feel anything… This was my second heart attack and the first one was the typical textbook: numb left arm, nausea, blah, blah, blah. This one was only the chest pain. I’ve had other friends who talked to me and said they had even a third set of symptoms, so if something doesn’t feel right, don’t worry about your pride, go get it checked out.”

The CDC shares that major symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort; feeling weak, light-headed or faint; pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back; pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders and shortness of breath. Women are more likely to experience unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting.

Having these symptoms is an emergency. The CDC explains, “If you notice the symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or someone else, call 9-1-1 immediately. The chances of surviving a heart attack are better the sooner emergency treatment begins.”