Joseph’s heart detour
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Monday, May 19, 2025
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On Jan. 15, 2024, Joseph Leckrone was driving his 18-wheeler to North Carolina for a delivery. Joseph is a truck driver, so this is his daily routine. The drive was like any other until Joseph suddenly passed out while operating his truck. Luckily, no one was hurt in the accident. “I remember that day, it was snowing, and I was driving I-74 and next thing I knew, I passed out,” said Joseph. “I came to with my truck sitting upright and off the road. My company sent a rescue driver, and I returned home with no other episodes. My family was insistent that I see my Primary Care Physician that week.” Two days later, Joseph passed out again while having dinner with his family. At that point, his family strongly encouraged him to go to the Genesis Perry County Medical Center Emergency Department.
Roadblock in his heart
Joseph arrived at the Genesis Perry County Medical Center Emergency Department, where the nurses immediately acted. “Better did begin here at Genesis Perry County Emergency Department,” said Lisa Leckrone, Joesph’s wife. “All of the nurses and hospital employees were kind and patient. The great care continued when we transferred to Genesis Hospital in Zanesville.” To help solve Joseph’s heart problem, the doctors at Genesis Hospital did more tests and advised Joseph to stay there over the weekend for further observation.
“By the end of the weekend, I was ready to go home and get ready for work the next day,” said Joseph. “I didn’t want to stay, but I am thankful I did. I would’ve gone home with five heart blockages.”
On Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, Abdulhay Albirini, M.D., a Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Director of Cardiac Cath Lab at the Genesis Heart & Vascular Institute, discovered that Joseph had five blockages, each 80% obstructed.
“Heart blockages pose significant risks,” said Dr. Albirini. “If not treated properly, they can lead to heart attacks or other complications. While there are various treatment options, open-heart surgery was the best solution in this case.”
The decision for open heart surgery was not easy, but Joseph wanted to prevent any possibility of this happening again. Trevor Ellison, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Medical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Genesis Heart & Vascular Institute performed Joseph’s surgery.
Back on the road
“The operation bypassed the major blockages in Joseph’s heart,” said Dr. Ellison. “We expect for him to make a full recovery and return to his normal activities.”
“Since the surgery, I feel fantastic,” said Joseph. “I feel like I am in my 20s again. After getting my heart treated, I started eating better and exercising. It has helped. At a recent diabetes check-up, I was told to stop taking my sugar pills.”
Before resuming his job on the road, Joseph completed rehabilitation at the Genesis Cardiac Rehab Gym. He started out walking and gradually built up his strength. His rehab routine included 12 sessions, three days a week. Now, Joseph stays active due to his job’s demands. As of June 2024, Joseph is back on the road operating his commercial truck.
