East Central Reporter

After suffering a heart attack last November, Villa Grove resident Joe (Chuck) Gillins credits the staff at Sarah Bush Lincoln for helping him recover and return to his hobby of restoring tractors.

Gillins, 74, has long enjoyed working on old tractors, despite never being a farmer. "I have always been fascinated with tractors," he said. "I never was a farmer. I just love the way tractors look and sound. Restoring old tractors is a longtime hobby for me."

His health concerns began while he was working in his yard and started to feel unwell. Initially, he did not inform his wife about the incident because the feeling subsided. However, as his symptoms worsened, his wife Judy urged him to contact his primary doctor, who advised an immediate visit to the emergency room.

Judy drove Gillins to Sarah Bush Lincoln, where Cardiologist Michael LaMonto informed him that he was experiencing a heart attack. "The heart can be a bad communicator. I did not experience any of the typical symptoms of a heart attack, so I was shocked," Gillins said.

Interventional Cardiologist Dean Katsamakis performed a procedure to place a stent in Gillins' left anterior descending artery—a blockage often referred to as the "widow maker" due to its severity and potential fatality if untreated. After spending a night in intensive care and recovering at home, Gillins joined the hospital’s Monitored Exercise Testing Services (METS) cardiac rehabilitation program.

He described the required 30 days of rest before starting rehabilitation as difficult. "It was awful," Gillins said. "I don’t like sitting and doing nothing, but I had to, so I could recover. I was happy to start the program and get back on my feet."

During January and February, Gillins participated in METS sessions that provided guidance on exercise routines and dietary choices tailored for heart health. "They helped me understand what type of exercise I needed to do regularly and what sort of diet I needed," he said.

Reflecting on his experience, Gillins expressed gratitude for surviving an episode without classic warning signs such as arm or chest pain. "I never felt the typical pain in my arm or chest," he said. "I never felt like I was dying, but I am blessed to still be here."

Now back at home with two full-size tractors and five gardening tractors—each restored by himself—Gillins says his prized 1955 John Deere motivates him to maintain his health so he can continue pursuing his passion.