Two Blocked Arteries, One Big Comeback: Scott’s Double-Bypass Story
Heart Symptoms That Came Out of the Blue
Scott has always been a guy in motion: school business administrator by day and high school and college football official by night. But three years ago, while relaxing with his family on a beach in Sea Isle City, he felt fatigue like he’d never felt before.
“I just wasn’t feeling good,” Scott remembers his subtle heart symptoms. “I was lethargic, blah, and just off.” His wife urged him to schedule an appointment with his primary care physician as soon as possible.
A Primary Care Visit Changed Everything
That following week, Scott went straight to his Inspira primary care physician, Jason Litkowski, DO, who ordered a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) test. The results came back “off the charts,” indicating some calcified plaque buildup in the heart arteries and triggering a referral to a cardiologist. “That’s when everything started,” Scott recalls.
Scott began seeing Enakshi Bajpai, DO in Mullica Hill, NJ, who ordered a nuclear stress test. “They did discover some blockages, about 30%, and two around 50,” Scott remembered. At this time, the blockages weren’t severe enough to warrant immediate stenting, so Dr. Bajpai advised close monitoring and management.
Scott also knew he carried serious risk factors. “I’m type 2 diabetic, and I’ve had high cholesterol all my life,” he says. Both conditions put extra stress on the arteries and can cause blockages to progress more quickly.
Then this past February, three years after his initial visit, everything shifted. Just ten minutes into his annual nuclear stress test, the nurse stopped him early.
“I said, ‘I can do 12!’ She said, ‘We have what we need.’ I didn’t realize then how serious that was,” Scott recalls.
“Your Heart Isn’t Getting Blood Flow”
Dr. Bajpai had unsettling news: the entire left side of Scott’s heart wasn’t receiving enough blood flow. He was sent for a catheterization with Kurt Kaulback, MD, at Inspira, and that’s when the full picture came into focus.
Scott learned that two of his main arteries — his left main artery and the “widowmaker” — were over 80% blocked, a notable increase from three years earlier. He was quickly referred to Kenji Minakata, MD, PhD, cardiothoracic surgeon at Cooper University Hospital.
After reviewing his imaging, Dr. Minakata recommended open-heart double bypass surgery right away.
Inspira’s Cardiac Care Meets Cooper’s Surgical Excellence
In late March, the 57-year-old was wheeled into the operating room at Cooper. The initial surgery went well, and with the support of Cooper’s ICU team, he received round-the-clock monitoring. His recovery nurses guided him through those early days.
“Scott arrived just in the nick of time. We were able to intervene before any serious event occurred. With timely detection and Cooper and Inspira’s coordinated care, we were able to give him the best possible outcome,” said Dr. Minakata.
Recovery, Rehab, and Returning to the Field
Once he was cleared, Scott began cardiac rehab at Inspira — completing all 36 sessions. Little by little, he rebuilt his strength. He began daily walks with his neighbor and overhauled his diet with the help of his Inspira nutritionist. “Pizza is like Thanksgiving turkey – I pretty much only get it once a year,” he jokes. Now he’s proud to swap old favorites with new heart-healthy recipes.
In August, just five months after his double bypass, Scott officiated his first football game of the season. It was a milestone he wasn’t sure he’d ever reach. “Being back on that field meant everything to me,” he says.
Heart Surgery Success: Back to What He Lives For
Today, Scott is staying active as a husband, father of three, and grandfather to two, with his oldest daughter getting married this June. “That’s what hit me like a hammer,” he says. “The thought of not being there for her.”
Now he carries a seven-inch “battle scar” down his chest and a renewed appreciation for life.
“I tell everybody all the time, ‘Don’t waste time waiting. Get checked and catch it.’ I did — and Cooper and Inspira gave me the best care I could ever imagine.”
“I’m the luckiest guy.”
“I’ve been blessed with all the doctors I’ve encountered here.” – Scott
