03/27/2026
In March 2016, William Takes Horse was experiencing what he thought was severe heartburn. He took an antacid, but it didn’t help. He also felt pain in his left shoulder and arm, took a baby aspirin and went to bed. The next morning, his wife checked his blood pressure and brought him to Texoma Medical Center's ER/Trauma Center. His physician, TexomaCare interventional cardiologist Srinvasa Reddy, MD, FACC, says William had suffered a massive heart attack and was in cardiogenic shock. This occurs when blood pressure drops and the heart cannot pump effectively.
“Time was of the essence, so we took William to the heart catheterization lab and inserted the Impella® heart pump,” says Dr. Reddy. The device—still in use at TMC—helps the heart pump more blood, allowing doctors to perform lifesaving interventions.
Now, ten years later, William, who is part of the Crow tribe, says he feels great and remains grateful for the care he received at TMC. He marked the milestone by performing a Native American dance and offering a prayer in his Native language in TMC’s main lobby, in front of many of the same caregivers who helped save his life a decade ago.
Hear more from William and Dr. Reddy in this story shared on KXII-TV:
William Takes Horse had the biggest scare of his life exactly 10 years ago. Doctors at Texoma Medical Center inserted something called an Impella, a device that takes over the function of the heart, pumping blood throughout the body so the heart can rest.
