Sparta Man Saved By Coordinated Efforts Of First Responders

SPARTA, NJ — Time was of the essence for Lee Madsen recently, when he experienced some symptoms that he initially thought were just “agita.”

Since he was diagnosed and recovered from COVID in earlier 2021, Madsen, 64, told Patch he’s been taking an over-the-counter medication that his doctor told him to take for indigestion that’s occurred from time-to-time, following his recovery from the coronavirus.

Something still didn’t feel right though as he celebrated his daughter’s birthday on July 30 along with his wife and granddaughter, he said, with his symptoms not clearing up. He called a retired physician friend for further guidance, who told him to call 911, suggesting it might be a heart attack.

Following his friend’s advice, Madsen said responding officers from the Sparta Police Department arrived first, followed by volunteers from the Sparta Ambulance Squad.

Madsen described their effort as “all hands on deck,” from the first responders in Sparta, which continued when he arrived to the Emergency Department of Newton Medical Center.

The STEMI team at the medical center that helps those battling heart attacks was able to spring into action, said Louise Gonzalez, a spokesperson for Atlantic Health Systems’ Community Hospitals, thanks to Sparta’s EMS team, who notified the hospital in advance of their arrival.

Gonzalez said the cardiology team was in place to help Madsen right there at the medical center, earning them all special recognition, with Madsen the patient honoree, during the recent Heart and Soul Community Celebration at Perona Farms, where the “Scott Danielson - Heart of Saving Lives Award,” as well as the “Visions Federal Credit Union Team Award,” were each given out.

The celebration, which normally takes place in February, was deferred in 2021 until Oct. 13, because of the pandemic, honoring the efforts of first responders and raising awareness about the medical center’s AED program.

Megan Sandow, Chief Development Officer of the Newton Medical Center Foundation, described the program that helps to provide discounted automated external defibrillators or “AEDs,” with no-cost training, as something that “continues to grow,” each year.

In addition to first responders including police officers, AEDs are now often in schools, businesses, within organizations and with sports teams, among their locations.

Since the inception of the program in 2002, Sandow said there are about 850 AEDs within Sussex County, with 5,000 people trained on them and 63 saves since the start of the medical center’s program.

Madsen said he was glad to share his story as an honoree and said he was confident in the care of both the first responders, as well as the team at Newton Medical Center.

He shared that he has 34 years of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction under his belt as well; and has learned to “live one day at a time,” something he attributed to the calm he felt during his medical emergency.

“I wasn’t worried or anxious,” he told Patch, as he arrived to the hands of the cardiac cath lab team that was honored at the Heart and Soul event, who performed his STEMI at Newton Medical Center’s Charles L. Tice Heart Center.

Madsen described his current health status since his recovery from his heart attack as “doing great,” with Frederic J Scoopo, MD his lung doctor and Austin S Ferrier, DO his heart doctor, both doctors part of Atlantic Medical Group and on-staff at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers, working with the team to help get him back to health.

Retired since 2013 and a veteran who served in the Navy, Madsen said he was also grateful about the coordinated care he received, which encompassed his doctors in the VA working with the medical center as well.

“Everything fell into place as best as it could,” said Madsen about his care, remarking that it takes, “special people to be in that field,” of the people who cared for him.

“I don’t think God’s through with me yet,” he remarked about overcoming his heart attack.

He also stressed that he feels many men don’t like to go to the doctor if they’re not feeling well and offered the advice, “If you’re not feeling right, swallow your pride and go.”

To learn more about Newton Medical Center’s AED Program, either to donate to the program or to learn how to acquire a discounted AED, click here to visit the AED Program page on Newton Medical Center’s website.

Save the date for the next Heart and Soul Community Celebration planned for Feb. 23, 2022.

Click here for the Newton Medical Center Foundation Page.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.