On November 26, 2025, 62-year-old Tommy Bell, a patient transport supervisor at AdventHealth DeLand who had worked at the hospital for over 10 years, felt persistent pressure in the center of his chest while driving home. He turned back to the hospital’s ER. After tests and imaging, he was scheduled for a cardiac procedure two days later.
During recovery after that procedure on November 28, Bell had a heart attack and received a stent to restore blood flow. He was stabilized, moved to intensive care, and discharged two days later. While recovering at home he still felt unwell; his wife, Joi, took him back to the ER, and on December 2 he experienced a second and third heart attack.
Bell said being treated by the colleagues he knew made the experience less frightening. “Knowing that I was being cared for by the people that I see and make laugh on a daily basis made me feel at home,” he said. He knew every caregiver by name and felt reassured by their support. After about two weeks off to recover and regain strength, Bell returned to work and described ongoing support from both his hospital “work family” and his home family.
Bell is sharing his story to raise awareness about heart attack symptoms and the importance of paying attention to your body. “If I can help save a life by reminding people to listen to their bodies, I have done what God has called me to do,” he said.
Janak Bhavsar, MD, an interventional cardiologist at AdventHealth who treated Bell, noted that recurrent cardiac events can occur, especially when multiple risk factors are present. He emphasized controlling risk factors through lifestyle changes such as exercise, diet, sleep quality, and weight loss. Bhavsar credited Bell’s prompt return to the ER when symptoms recurred as critical to recognizing and treating his condition.
Heart attack symptoms are not always the classic chest pain depicted on TV. Pain can occur in the neck, jaw, arms, back, or stomach, and other warning signs include nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and sweating. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 20% to 50% of heart attacks are “silent” or go unrecognized, often mistaken for indigestion, muscle strain, or fatigue.
After stent placement, Bhavsar said continued use of prescribed medications—particularly blood thinners to prevent clotting in the stent—is important. Patients should monitor for symptoms and seek immediate help if they occur, and they should follow up with cardiology and primary care. Cardiac rehabilitation programs can also aid recovery and reduce future risk.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death across most demographic groups, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. To improve heart health, Bhavsar recommended controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes; quitting smoking; staying physically active, especially with aerobic exercise; maintaining a healthy weight; following a heart-healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet; and getting adequate sleep.
For Bhavsar, treating patients like Bell and seeing them make full recoveries and adopt healthier lifestyles is rewarding. “I was able to interact with [Tommy] in several settings — ER, procedure room, ICU, medical unit, outpatient follow-up — and coming full circle seeing him in the hallways when he returned to work,” he said, noting the value of whole-person care across those settings.
