Zach’s Story

Eat a balanced diet. Exercise often. Stay up to date on healthcare visits. These are all common recommendations for living a heathy life, and Zach Rohr followed each of them closely.

As a retired Marine, fitness enthusiast and the husband of an ICU nurse, focusing on physical wellness seemed like second nature to Zach. Between exercising most days of the week to only indulging in sweets and treats in moderation, Zach was the picture of health at 48. So, when he began having intermittent chest pain and fatigue, he chose to be proactive and scheduled an appointment to get checked out. Zach’s precautionary tests – which included an EKG to evaluate heart rhythm and a stress test to assess cardiac function – were normal. With his fears quieted and the all-clear to continue exercising, Zach hit the ground running.

For six months, Zach continued his fitness routine without incident. While the chest pain continued to come and go, he and his wife Nicole had peace of mind that it was most likely harmless. One morning, however, the pain changed. At 5:30 a.m., Zach started his day with good intentions as he ran on the treadmill, but the pressure in his chest forced him to stop. He stepped off the machine to rest and quickly decided to wake Nicole.

“The pain I felt that morning was much more intense and continuous compared to the other times,” Zach explained. “I knew pretty quickly it was different.”

Nicole didn’t waste any time. She immediately called 911 and kept close tabs on Zach’s condition, preparing for the worst as his smart watch showed his heart rate was dropping and his complexion began to gray. She’s no stranger to high-stress medical situations, but Nicole admitted that those moments in her home were more terrifying than any she had experienced in the intensive care unit. With their home located in the middle of Lancaster, paramedics arrived within three minutes of her call. By 6 a.m., Zach was in Fairfield Medical Center’s catheterization lab, where interventional cardiologist Andrew Stiff, MD, got to work on opening two cardiac arteries that were 100% blocked.

“Zach’s case was unique in that he didn’t have any of the risk factors we typically associate with heart disease. He was physically fit, didn’t use tobacco, and followed a healthy diet,” said Dr. Stiff. “His story is a powerful reminder that heart disease doesn’t discriminate. Fortunately, his recovery also highlights the benefit of quick intervention and the importance of understanding family history.”

Despite the quick care he received, Zach remained hospitalized for several days, and Nicole didn’t leave his side. While she’s used to navigating the demands of FMC’s intensive care unit, the hours she spent as a visitor on the floor couldn’t have been more different from her daily job duties. While Zach was sick, she wasn’t Head Nurse and Unit Manager Nicole Rohr, RN, BSN. She was a concerned – and exhausted – wife, sleeping on a cot next to her husband’s bed. Nicole’s office and Zach’s hospital room were physically right next to each other, but in every other way, they were a world apart.

“It was surreal for my home life and work life to collide like that. But the Cath Lab girls were wonderful. My leaders and coworkers came together to support me; they covered my responsibilities without thinking twice. And my team – they’re amazing,” Nicole said. “My nurses are phenomenal. I trust them, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.”

As Zach recovered, a missing piece of the puzzle fell into place. While he knew that his grandfather died young, he never learned the reason. After asking questions and putting the information together, it became clear that a massive heart attack at the age of 42 was the most likely culprit. This development highlighted how strongly family history and genetics can influence cardiac risk factors – even if you do everything right.

“We don’t focus on, ‘What’s the point of living healthy if this was going to happen anyway?’,” Nicole said. “That kind of thinking isn’t helpful. If Zach wasn’t as mindful of his health or as physically fit, this could have happened 10 years earlier or with a much worse outcome.”

Once discharged, Zach began cardiac rehab at FMC to rebuild his strength and restore his confidence. Fitness was an important aspect of his life, but getting back on the treadmill came with a sense of dread after such a close call. Fortunately, the reassurance that came with attending supervised workout sessions surrounded by medical professionals helped Zach realize he was able to return to his active lifestyle safely and successfully. While his commitment to fitness remained intact, other aspects of his life changed almost completely.

Zach quit his job. He had long considered starting his own company, but the timing never felt quite right. After his heart attack, he realized there is very rarely the “perfect” time for anything – and now is better than never. Zach took the leap and became the owner of G.I. Bins Ohio, a veteran-owned small business that delivers residential and commercial trash bin, exterior cleaning, and power washing services to central Ohio. While full of its own challenges, he’s thriving as an entrepreneur and doesn’t regret leaving his high-stress career behind.

“Having this experience made me realize I can’t take my life and my health for granted,” Zach said. “I encourage everyone to manage daily stress and make changes to live a life they genuinely enjoy. It’s so important to lead a healthy lifestyle, recognize when something is wrong and take those concerns seriously.”

There are, of course, a few things that have remained constant and perhaps grown stronger. Zach is still a loving husband and father, a present friend, and an advocate for health and wellness. Beyond the ever-important cornerstones of diet and exercise, Zach encourages everyone to learn more about their family history and share the information with a trusted healthcare provider. Knowledge is power, and in this case, it can be lifesaving.