Heart Trouble
She Couldn't Ignore
Knowing the Signs Made All the Difference for This Wellington Employee
Lorraine Renz, 54, (right) of West Palm Beach, Fla., started feeling unwell on Christmas Day 2024. Within a week, she was at Wellington Regional Medical Center receiving lifesaving care.
“I couldn't really fall asleep, and while in the bathroom, my arms went weak and I had severe chest pain, jaw and back pain and I started sweating.”
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She was taken to Wellington Regional where a dedicated response team worked quickly to determine she had a heart attack. Renz was taken to the cardiac catheterization lab where she had a stent placed to open the artery that was affected. She then spent one night in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) and was able to go home the next day.
“We are thankful that Lorraine recognized her symptoms and called 911 immediately,” says Lawrence Lovitz, MD, (right) Medical Director for the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at Wellington Regional. “We have a skilled team available 24/7 to treat heart attack patients and we are grateful for the EMS teams that care for the patients before they even come through our doors.”
“I just did not want to die. I was scared, but the team took care of me. The nurses who cared for me in the MICU were amazing.”
Dr. Lovitz adds that with heart attack patients, time is of the essence. “From the time she entered the ED, to the time she received treatment, was approximately 30 minutes.”
Tammy Levasseur, RN, (right) Cardiovascular Coordinator, explains that Wellington Regional strives to provide fast and effective treatment by following evidenced-based chest pain protocols. “We use a collaborative approach involving EMS, emergency physicians, cardiologists, hospitalists and other specialists. We also take pride in our specialized nursing care, which begins in our ED and continues in our cath lab, ICU and dedicated cardiology unit.”
For Renz, she is feeling a bit stronger every day. “I’m back to work, adding more to my activities and slowly getting back to normal.”
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Renz, a surgery scheduler at Wellington Regional, thought her chest discomfort was gastritis, as she suffers with this condition often. But, in the early hours of January 2, 2025, she started experiencing additional symptoms.
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10101 Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington, FL 33414
561-798-8500
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10101 Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington, FL 33414
561-798-8500
Information in Health News comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Welington Regional Medical Center. Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Wellington Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. ©2025. All rights reserved.
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10101 Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington, FL 33414
561-798-8500
Information in Health News comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Welington Regional Medical Center. Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Wellington Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. ©2025. All rights reserved.
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Letter from the CEO
Heart Trouble She Couldn't Ignore
Information in Health News comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wellington Regional Medical Center. Physicians mentioned in this publication are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Wellington Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. ©2025. All rights reserved.
Pam Tahan
Chief Executive Officer Wellington Regional Medical Center
Pam Tahan
Chief Executive Officer Wellington Regional Medical Center
Learn More
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HEALTH NEWS
Ask the Doctor
Letter from the CEO
Heart Trouble She Couldn't Ignore