On the morning of November 25, 2025, Conrad resident, Erin Fenger, age 37, woke with what she assumed was heartburn. Those symptoms soon escalated, turning into a frightening, life‑altering medical emergency.
“The heartburn never went away and the pain spread to my arms and I felt hot and clammy,” explained Fenger. “I was then having shortness of breath and knew it was probably best to go to the ER.”
When Erin arrived at the Emergency Department at Logan Health – Conrad, the clinical team immediately performed an electrocardiogram (EKG), confirming she was having a heart attack. Emergency medicine provider Patrick Alduenda, PA-C, quickly ordered a clot‑busting medication, which nurses administered while closely monitoring her worsening condition.
Logan Health – Conrad’s Emergency Department team
During the ER visit, Erin went into sudden cardiac arrest twice and received five defibrillator shocks before she was finally stabilized. She was flown to Great Falls for initial examination and, on Thanksgiving Day, transferred to Billings Clinic, where cardiologists successfully placed a stent to increase blood flow to her heart.
Despite maintaining an active lifestyle, Erin had a known history of high cholesterol, something she now hopes others, especially young women, will take more seriously.
“High cholesterol runs in my family, and I’ve had family members have heart attacks,” said Fenger. “I wish I had paid more attention to the genetics of my family and went on medication to help with my cholesterol before my life was changed forever.”
She hopes her experience encourages others not to delay preventive care.
“Heart disease is no joke, and at 37, I never thought I would have a heart attack. I would encourage others to get blood work done, pay attention to your LDL cholesterol number and your blood pressure, eat nutritious foods, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise.”
After returning home, Erin described feeling scared and uncertain about how to resume normal activities. That changed when she enrolled in Logan Health – Conrad’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program, which provides medically supervised exercise, education and support for patients recovering from heart events.
“Being able to start cardiac rehab at Logan Health – Conrad was the peace of mind that I really needed,” she said. “I highly suggest doing cardiac rehab to gain confidence back about knowing how hard you can push your body and get back to normal everyday activities.”
Logan Health – Conrad’s Cardiac Rehab program is a three‑month, 36‑visit program certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
Stephanie Nelson, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator, says Erin’s recovery reflects the strength and resilience she sees in many of her patients.
“We have amazing people who come into our program who are unsure of what lies ahead for their health, but when they graduate, they feel better than ever,” said Nelson. “Patients like Erin continue to inspire me. Their determination, strength and results remind us why this work matters so much.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States and can affect women at any age. High blood pressure and high LDL cholesterol are major risk factors, especially for women. Common heart attack symptoms include chest discomfort, pain radiating to the arms, back, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweat, or clamminess.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency care immediately.
If you have experienced a heart event, talk to your primary care provider about cardiac rehab or for more information about services at Logan Health – Conrad, visit logan.org/conrad.