Don Kain, a visitor from Lake Arrowhead, Calif., counted himself lucky to be able to have dinner at the Princeville Stables’ home of his friend Mark Hershon late last month. That is because, five days earlier, Kain said he could
Don Kain, a visitor from Lake Arrowhead, Calif., counted himself lucky to be able to have dinner at the Princeville Stables’ home of his friend Mark Hershon late last month.
That is because, five days earlier, Kain said he could have died from a heart attack.
As Kain and his wife, Sherry, drove by Hanalei Bay on July 23, Kain said he felt pain in his chest, and immediately thought to drive to Wilcox Memorial Hospital for help.
Hershon, who talked with Kain by cell phone, gave advice that would save the life of his nearly-lifelong friend: instead of driving an hour to get to Wilcox Memorial Hospital for help, drive to the Kaua‘i Fire Department Princeville fire station, only a 10-minute drive, if that, for help.
The Kains took the advice, and drove to the station. Within minutes of being put in the hands of firefighters and American Medical Response personnel, Kain went into cardiac arrest. Their immediate treatment saved his life, Kain believes.
“I had never gone through anything like this,” Kain said. “I was conscious through all of it. They helped my wife, they closed the door of the ambulance, and they got my heart going again.”
Kain was transported by ambulance to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where upon the recommendation of doctors he was flown via air ambulance to Straub Clinic & Hospital on O‘ahu for additional treatment.
Kain and his wife, who had been staying at the Hanalei Colony Resort in Ha‘ena during their visit, returned to Kaua‘i on July 27.
Kain, who underwent bypass surgery in 2002, believes his problems on his trip here started after he and his wife ran on the beach around 3 p.m. on July 23.
“I felt chest pains, and I never had chest pains before,” he recalled. “I had a blockage in one of the main arteries of my heart.” Kain spoke with his doctor after the heart attack, and that was his assessment.
The Kains were to go out to dinner with Hershon and Susan Phillips, his girlfriend, on the evening of July 23.
As the Kains drove eastward along Kuhio Highway by Waikokos in Hanalei Bay, Kain, a passenger, felt pain in his chest, and called Hershon.
“He calmly called me, and said he was having a heart attack,” Hershon said.
At that time, Hershon said, the unexplained occurred: the cell phone went dead.
Hershon called back, and re-emphasized to the Kains they should go only to the fire station, and to watch out for a “red truck on the street.”
Hershon said he contacted KFD Capt. Jay Harms at the fire station about the danger his friend was in, and requested a fire truck be positioned outside the station so that the Kains could see it easily.
“They accommodated. They were right on it,” Hershon said. At the same time, Hershon called the 911 emergency line “to get paramedics to the fire station.”
Hershon said Kain tried to bring levity to the situation, remarking to rescuers, “Sorry guys, I went to sleep.”
Kain’s wife accompanied him in the ambulance to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, while “my girl-friend followed and I followed in the rental car,” Hershon said.
After Kain was flown via air ambulance to Straub Clinic & Hospital, his wife returned to the Hanalei Colony Resort.
Hershon said he and his girl-friend provided Sherry Kain with as much comfort as possible, with his girlfriend praying at times as well.
They later drove Sherry Kain to Lihu‘e Airport so she could catch a flight to O‘ahu on July 25 to be with her husband.
Don Kain recovered, and he and his wife returned to Kaua‘i on July 27, to resume their vacation.
Kain said he was thankful to those who saved his life, including Hershon, firefighters, and American Medical Response professionals.
Hershon and Kain were best friends at Van Nuys Junior High School in California more than 35 years ago.
“If it weren’t for their instantaneous reaction, I would have had serious heart damage and other problems,” Kain said. “A lot of people were Hawaiian, and the aloha spirit helped.”
The medical care and attention he received at Wilcox and Straub hospitals is as good as any found at any Mainland hospital, Kain said.
“The emergency doctor at Wilcox Hospital treated me instantly, the local cardiologist in Lihu‘e, he stayed me with the entire time,” Kain said. “They told me they were going to stay with me, and that I was going to survive this.”
Kain gave thanks to Dr. John Funai as well. He was among those who helped Kain in the emergency room at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
“I owe my life to many well-trained personnel, and although I don’t recommend having a heart attack to find out how good they are, if fate puts you in these heroes hands, feel comfortable that you are getting the best care possible,” Kain said.
Kain said he isn’t going to let the heart attack affect his life.
“You are scared for a moment, but after you experience it, it lessens the fear, and (you) understand it a little bit better,” he said. “I am taking it easy, but I feel great and grateful.”
