How a Retired Police Officer Survived Three Heart Attacks – and Made a Full Recovery
John Carroll’s story is nothing short of remarkable. After surviving three heart attacks in a single night, the 64-year-old retired police officer made a complete recovery thanks to the expert teamwork of emergency physicians, interventional cardiologists, surgeons, and advanced care providers at UCSF Health.
What happened the night John’s heart failed reads like a medical miracle—one his wife, Lorraine, calls “a symphony of lifesaving care.”
⭐ A Sudden Turn for the Worse
For years, John had been living with heart failure, a chronic condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. With medication and regular checkups, his condition was stable and well-managed.
But in October 2021, everything changed.
Lorraine noticed her husband wasn’t acting like himself. An experienced registered nurse—and director at the UCSF Heart and Vascular Center—she could sense something was wrong even before the crisis unfolded.
Moments later, John collapsed into cardiac arrest.
Lorraine immediately began CPR with one hand while calling 911 with the other. Her quick actions brought John back, but he urgently needed advanced medical care. Within minutes, paramedics rushed him to the UCSF Emergency Department.
⭐ A Fight for His Life
In the cardiac catheterization lab, Dr. Krishan Soni discovered John’s right coronary artery was completely blocked. Before the doctors could even begin treatment, John’s heart stopped again.
After being resuscitated, doctors implanted a mechanical heart pump, known as Impella, to temporarily take over the heart’s pumping function. This allowed the team to open the blocked artery using angioplasty and a stent.
But during the procedure, John suffered another cardiac arrest.
“He was not in good shape,” Dr. Soni said. “But he kept fighting.”
By the time he was stabilized and transferred to the ICU, John had survived three cardiac arrests in one night.
⭐ A Critical Turning Point: ECMO Support
Overnight, doctors saw signs that John was slipping into cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition where the heart can no longer supply blood to vital organs.
To save his life, the team placed him on an ECMO machine—an advanced system that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs. Combined with the Impella device, ECMO allowed John’s heart the time it needed to rest and heal.
“This dual support system is something we specialize in at UCSF,” explained cardiologist Dr. Liviu Klein. “It’s one reason our survival rates for cardiogenic shock are significantly higher than at most U.S. hospitals.”
With both devices assisting him, John’s condition finally stabilized.
⭐ Recovery and Resilience
After 17 days in the hospital, John was discharged and began rehabilitation. His strength and determination impressed his care team.
“John is a fighter,” Dr. Soni said. “His grit and resilience played a major role in his recovery.”
Lorraine believes timing—and teamwork—saved her husband’s life.
“It was like a symphony,” she said. “Every specialist knew exactly when to step in.”
⭐ A New Outlook on Life
Just months after his heart attack, John traveled to Turks and Caicos, where he returned to doing what he loves—boating, swimming, and enjoying the ocean with his family.
The only reminder of his ordeal was a small patch of untanned skin from where the defibrillator pads had shocked his heart back into rhythm.
Today, John enjoys every moment with a renewed sense of gratitude.
“I’m happy as a clam,” he says. “I’m alive—and incredibly thankful.”
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