Luther assistant softball coach is recovering from a collapse

Luther College assistant softball coach Tracy Hjelle continues to recover from a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection suffered Sunday morning as Luther's softball team prepared to load the team bus.

Tracy's heart began to fibrillate and she collapsed on the sidewalk in front of several team members.  CPR was performed by Luther Head Trainer Kris Agena and team members Kelsey Kittleson and Shari Huber for roughly seven minutes before an AED defibrillator shocked her heart back into a normal rhythm.  Paramedics stabilized and transported her to the Winneshiek Medical Center.  She was later airlifted to St. Mary's hospital in Rochester.

SCAD episodes are rare, although their symptoms make them seem like heart attacks.  Tracy Hjelle had no symptoms or risk factors for heart problems.

Tracy's life may have been saved by the fact the whole sequence of events happened in the presence of the Luther's Head Athletic Trainer and medically inclined teammates, within 20 paces of an AED defibrillator, with people who know how to operate the defibrillator and that the medical professionals from WMC were able to stabilize and transport her to a world class hospital all within one hour.

Tracy's husband, John Hjelle, says she is not yet fully recovered.  Her short term memory has been affected by the concussion that she received when her head hit the concrete sidewalk and her heart's pumping efficiency is about half of what is considered normal. The doctors in Rochester, however are giving Tracy a very good prognosis for recovery and the current recovery plan does not involve surgery, medical implants or extensive drug treatments. Tracy likely will begin feeling like her old self within a week, but her cognition and heart function won't be fully restored for another 4-6 weeks.

Says John Hjelle, "I am so thankful that so many people played a role in saving my wife's life."  He asks that instead of sending flowers to Tracy those concerned should send a donation to the Luther Development Office for the purchase of another AED defibrillator that will, one day, save another life.