A Christmas Miracle

On Christmas Eve 2023, newlyweds Lauren and Kahler Cox were headed home from an extended family vacation on Florida’s Gulf Coast when their lives changed forever. While driving, Kahler, just 29 years old, began to feel what he thought was indigestion.

“I was driving over the Skyway Bridge, and I started to feel some tightness, or what I thought was acid reflux,” recalls Kahler. “By the time I got over the bridge, I could no longer drive.”

Traveling with the couple were Kahler's parents. His father, who had undergone quadruple bypass surgery, recognized the signs of a heart emergency and urged them to go straight to the Emergency Room at Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Within minutes of arriving at the ER, Kahler went into cardiac arrest. The medical team immediately began CPR to resuscitate him. "It felt like an elephant was closing in, sitting on my chest," Kahler says. His wife Lauren remembers the terror vividly. "There's no way this could be happening. He's 29. I thought I lost him. It was horrible."

The hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory team quickly took Kahler into surgery. Under the care of Cardiologist S. Jay Mathews, MD, MS, FACC, FSCAI, four stents were placed to open his blocked arteries-restoring blood flow and saving his life.

Lauren recalls the moment Dr. Mathews emerged from surgery. "I just remember seeing him, and even from across the room, he said, 'He's okay.' I burst into tears and ran up to give him a hug."

"Despite being so young, Kahler was in a serious situation just having had a cardiac arrest requiring a shock to his heart," said Dr. Mathews.  "I was at home with the family when I got the call. We had to open up a clotted right coronary and blocked left anterior descending artery, conditions associated with an increased risk of death. Fortunately, I was able to reopen all of his arteries quickly with stents, and I had the pleasure of telling his new wife he would be home with his family. That was a Christmas present worth giving."

Amazingly, Kahler was discharged on Christmas Day-a day the Cox family will never forget. "I'm still in shock that it happened," Kahler said.

In Spring 2024, the Coxes traveled back to the hospital to officially meet the ER team. It was their opportunity to thank the group that helped to save Kahler's life. "We wanted to see them, and tell them thank you," Kahler added.  

During the reunion, many of the team who were there that evening was able to get closure. "Patients come in and then they are either admitted to the hospital or leave. Most of the time, we never know what happens," said ER Nursing Manager Jill Ruff, who was on duty that night. "It was good to see him, thank him, and know that he is doing so much better." 

"We were so pleased with his care," Lauren reiterated. "We had a really good experience."

Just months later, to everyone's surprise, Kahler experienced chest pain again and required four additional stents. But thanks to the quick action of his medical team, he made another full recovery.

It was Fall 2024 when Lauren and Kahler joyfully welcomed their baby girl, Karissa-a symbol of hope and healing after a year filled with challenges and gratitude.

"Manatee Memorial Hospital gave us more than care," Lauren says. "They gave us our future."

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