WakeMed cardiologist Chelsea Ngongang, MD, FACC, walked into a car dealership in December 2019. She was greeted by Roy Roth, who sold her the vehicle of her dreams, and their lifesaving friendship began.

Roy says, “I was fortunate enough to have been the one to greet her that day. She pulled out her cell phone and showed me the vehicle she wanted. It was in stock and available, so she took it home. Turns out, she was Dr. Chelsea Ngongang, a local cardiologist in the Raleigh/Durham area. From that day forward, I became her concierge; we’d regularly communicate with each other.”

A Chance Meeting

In December 2022, Dr. Ngongang and Roy had a chance meeting while she was at the dealership getting her vehicle serviced. Roy had lost weight and was looking healthier. Impressed, Dr. Ngongang chatted with Roy about what he was doing differently.

She says, “Upon my initial meeting with Roy three years ago, I noticed cholesterol xanthomas (pouches) on his eyes. I’d just met him and knew it was inappropriate to ask about his medical history. When I went in for my three-year maintenance, I asked him how he was doing because he looked really good. He told me he was working out. That concerned me. While I wanted him to work out, I knew he needed a checkup. I noticed his cholesterol pouches had regressed from his lifestyle changes, so I explained to him what they were. I felt led to urge him to undergo a non-invasive test not covered by insurance. He readily agreed. He told me he had diabetes and that his dad had died at 59 from heart disease. I told him that some people with heart issues will have neuropathy (especially if they have diabetes), so they will not have the same pain fibers to their heart. I scheduled him for the test, formerly called a coronary calcium score, and told him I’d see him in clinic.”

Roy was excited about the test. He had signed up for a weight loss program, joined a local fitness center and hired a personal trainer. He felt the knowledge he would gain through testing could help him target his fitness and dietary habits more effectively.

“My goal was to get my blood sugars under control and lose 22 pounds by March 1, 2023,” explains Roy. “I went at it like a madman, spending two hours daily at the gym — even changing my work hours to accommodate this. My goal was to add five years to my life, whatever that would be. At the time that Dr. Ngongang recommended the non-invasive test. I’d lost 15 pounds. People at work and clients were noticing. I was feeling great with no negative symptoms.”

Surprise Results from a Non-invasive Cardiac CT Scan

In January 2023, Roy went for his test. He paid the $99 fee and was sent back for imaging. He received a cardiac CT scan for coronary calcium, a ten-minute test, meant to determine the presence, location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries — responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to the heart muscles.

To Roy’s surprise, when he checked his WakeMed MyChart account test results, he learned that his calcium score was dangerously high.

Dr. Ngongang says, “So, we got the coronary calcium score, which was alarming. Yet, he had no symptoms. I decided to schedule him for a stress test. The stress test was also terrible. He went nine minutes and performed so well, but the images and EKG results looked very concerning. I decided that we definitely needed to get him into the cath lab. I reached out to Roy, told him to stop working out immediately and confirmed that because of diabetes, he did not have normal sensations of pain. I told him he might have more than one blockage and would likely need surgery.”

A Catheterization That Didn’t Happen

On February 2, 2023, Roy underwent catheterization at the WakeMed Heart Center with general and interventional cardiologist John Kelley, MD, FACC, and team. It was supposed to be a 45-minute procedure.

He shares, “I was in what appeared to be an operating room. It was pretty cool because they asked me what music I wanted to hear. I was all about Bruce Springsteen at the moment, so the Dr. Kelley said, ‘Alexa, play Bruce Springsteen.’ I received sedation that calmed me but kept me awake. They placed a tube through my wrist, but it wasn’t painful. I felt like a car with a NASCAR race team running around doing everything that needed to be done to help me.”

Within five minutes of starting the test, the team abruptly stopped. Dr. Kelley informed Roy that they needed to end the procedure and that they would speak with him shortly. Roy was taken into the waiting area. Before long, he was greeted by cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Robert Ferguson, DO. Dr. Ferguson explained that the team completed the catheterization but, upon adding contrast, they saw that they could not add stents since Roy had four blocked arteries. He required coronary bypass surgery.

From Feeling Good to Feeling on Edge

Roy was shocked and immediately texted Dr. Ngongang to share the news. He went home in the care of his wife and decided it was best to get his affairs in order because, deep down, he wondered if he would make it. He wondered if his life would be cut short at 66 years old similar to what his dad had experienced at 59. Concerned especially for his wife, Roy gave his son access to his financial details and documented his end-of-life information to ensure that, should anything happen to him, his wife and two adult sons would have what they needed, and his wife would have a nest egg to secure her financial future.

On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 5:30 am, Roy and his wife checked in at the WakeMed Heart Center. He tried to behave casually for his wife’s sake, but deep down, he was concerned.

He recalls, “I was thinking, ‘I sure hope I wake up.'”

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Dr. Ferguson and team prepared Roy for coronary bypass surgery, also called coronary artery bypass graft. It involves bypassing narrowing in heart arteries, using arteries harvested from other parts of the body to restore blood supply to the heart. For Roy, it was a seven-hour procedure.

“I came out of surgery about 3:00 pm and went to Cardiovascular Intensive Care where I remained for five days in the care of an excellent team,” expresses Roy. “It was awful but wonderful. I was alive.”

Eventually, Roy was well enough to move to a cardiac intermediate care room, where he remained for six days. Roy was discharged in mid-February and urged to take it easy with only light exercise and no lifting.

Roy says, “I got home and immediately took a shower. It felt so good. Since discharge from the hospital, I have been home recuperating and likely will be home for a couple of months. My weight is down 21 pounds, and I’m feeling better day-by-day.

“Without having sold Dr. Ngongang a vehicle three years ago and our chance meetup this past December, I would likely be dead after having a massive heart attack. My arteries were all 90-100% blocked. My gym workouts would likely have killed me. I don’t have adequate words to thank Dr. Ngongang and Dr. Ferguson for saving my life.”

Post-discharge, Roy was also referred to WakeMed’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program where he is now building his strength and exercise intensity as well as learning about heart-healthy nutrition.

Two Caring Providers and Better Days Ahead for a Grateful Patient

Dr. Ngongang has benefited from referrals from Roy.

She says, “Multiple of his colleagues now see me, and those referrals have been great. Roy told me he wanted just a few more years to see a longer lifespan than his parents. I’m glad everything went well, increasing his chances for longevity. He sends me messages constantly telling me I saved his life. I feel that it was meant for me to meet him.”

Dr. Ferguson has continued as Roy’s provider, carefully monitoring his progress as he works through Cardiac Rehab.

He shares, “The most enjoyable part of my job is meeting so many people from different walks of life. No matter what, patients seeking medical care share a common goal and that is to prolong their lives. Sometimes that means undergoing open heart surgery.

“At WakeMed, we take pride in having some of the best surgical outcomes — not only in the state, but also in the nation. We could never achieve these outcomes without wonderful, highly motivated patients like Roy. We are so thankful he chose WakeMed and wish him the best for years to come.”

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About WakeMed Heart & Vascular Cardiovascular Surgery

At WakeMed, we offer innovative minimally invasive procedures that treat a wide range of cardiac conditions. Our board-certified and specialty trained cardiovascular surgeons and dedicated staff at WakeMed are experts in diagnosing and treating cardiac conditions.

WakeMed Heart & Vascular is committed to providing not only the highest quality surgical care with the best outcomes, but also with support for our patients in the weeks following their procedures. Our Tele Heart Care program allows us to extend the exceptional care we provide in the hospital to support our patients and their families as they navigate heart surgery recovery in the weeks following their return home. Our patients ultimately experience a safer, healthier recovery – avoiding complications and reducing the likelihood that they’ll have to be readmitted back to the hospital.

About WakeMed Cardiac Rehab

WakeMed Cardiac Rehab offers a safe, monitored environment where you can gain the strength, confidence, camaraderie and nutritional know-how you need to live a heart-healthy life.

The WakeMed Cardiac Rehab specialists welcome patients who have or had:

• A recent heart attack
• Cardiac bypass surgery
• Angioplasty or stent placement
• Valve repair or replacement surgery
• A heart transplant
• Stable angina
• Heart failure