When Scott Siolka suffered a “widow-maker” heart attack in February 2025, he showed few signs or risk factors. Just 49 years old at the time and relatively healthy, he didn’t necessary “look” like someone at risk for heart disease.
The decisive actions of Scott and his colleagues likely saved his life that winter day when he suffered a heart attack at work. If Scott had stayed quiet, if his colleague had hesitated, if emergency medical services hadn’t arrived so quickly, the day could have taken a tragic turn.
Thanks to swift intervention, Scott gets to enjoy more precious days with those he loves. That joy will culminate in September, when Scott will marry his fiancé, Justine Krause.
Before that, though, Scott will step up to the mound at Neuroscience Group Field Aug. 26 and throw out a first pitch as an honorary survivor for CPR Night at the Ballpark. The annual event — presented by ThedaCare, Gold Cross Ambulance, Ascension and the American Heart Association — raises awareness about a lifesaving skill that anyone can learn.
“I’m incredibly thankful,” Scott says of being selected. “It’s a real honor.”
No Ordinary Day
What started out as a typical workday for Scott, a shop floor designer with Pierce Manufacturing, quickly turned sideways. That morning, as he was preparing to leave for the day, he felt a little lightheaded, nauseous and weak in his legs.
“I didn’t think anything of it because it went away right away,” says Scott, who lives between Cecil and Shawano.
As Scott settled into his routine, the symptoms returned, only a little stronger. Sitting at his desk, he began to sweat profusely while at the same time feeling ice-cold. Chest pain soon followed.
Becoming more concerned, Scott conferred with a colleague, who’s also a firefighter. As Scott described his symptoms, his coworker recognized the emergency immediately.
“He turned around and looked at me and said, ‘Don’t move,’” Scott recalls.
Scott’s colleague paged Pierce’s emergency team and called 911. Grand Chute paramedics arrived in less than five minutes.
Lifesaving Intervention
En route to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Scott took a turn for the worse. The team administered a clot-busting drug that likely saved Scott’s life.
Once at the hospital, Scott’s memory ends with the team opening the doors of the ambulance. Shortly thereafter, he coded. It took teams 25 minutes to revive him, and he subsequently coded two more times.
Doctors discovered a 95% blockage of Scott’s left anterior descending artery, also often called the widow-maker artery. It could have been 100% blocked had the EMS team not administered the clot buster.
“They said I was literally within five minutes of not making it,” he says. “The clot buster broke up 5% of my blockage, and that was enough to keep me alive.”
Scott underwent emergency surgery to clear the clot. He then had a stent placed to keep the artery open. Following his procedures, Scott spent time on life support in the intensive care unit to allow his heart and other organs to heal.
New Reality
The gravity of the situation set in first with Scott’s loved ones and then with him as he came to following his trauma.
“When I arrived at the hospital, I was met by a chaplain,” Justine says. “That’s when I knew this was serious. I stayed by his side day and night, sleeping in chairs, just hoping he’d pull through.”
Scott and Justine each have two adult children: Austin, Carter, Jack and Gabi. They all gathered to hold vigil for Scott at the hospital as well.
“Amazingly, just two and a half days later, Scott was breathing on his own,” Justine says. “Nurses and doctors — even some from the ER — came to visit him because they couldn’t believe the progress he was making.”
Though Scott’s team initially thought he’d need to remain in the hospital for months, he was well enough to be released after about two and a half weeks.
“Scott’s positive outcome underscores the importance of taking decisive action if you suspect something is off with your heart, even if the symptoms are subtle,” says Dr. Richard Santa Cruz, an Interventional Cardiologist with ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care, who placed Scott’s stent. “Acting quickly can save lives.”
Rapid Recovery
Over a relatively short time period, Scott had made many gains, but he also faced some challenges. After going home, he needed to undergo dialysis due to damage his kidneys had suffered when his blood supply got cut off each time he coded.
Fluid buildup led to a short hospital readmission for Scott. Soon after, though, his kidneys began to function normally.
From there, Scott began to improve rapidly. He started with walking short stints outside. He couldn’t make it far at first, but he continued to build each day.
“Every day, I just kept feeling better,” Scott says. “Other than having to go back to the hospital, I had no setbacks.”
Dr. Santa Cruz says he celebrates positive stories like Scott’s. “It’s incredibly gratifying to work with patients like Scott and see them return to living a happy, healthier life.”
Care and Support
To help him build back to normal activity under the care and supervision of a trained team, Scott took part in the ThedaCare Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. He made quick progress and even tested out and “graduated” a few weeks early. Scott says program offered reassurance as he began to resume a more active lifestyle.
“It helped to be on the EKG monitor,” he says. “When you’re pushing yourself, you know nothing is going to go wrong because they’re monitoring you the whole time.”
Justine reflects on Scott’s remarkable recovery.
“By April, he graduated from dialysis,” she says. “In May, he swung a golf club again, and we celebrated his 50th birthday with a trip to Myrtle Beach. He’s now back to work, stronger than ever.”
Joy and Gratitude
As Scott absorbed all that had happened last winter, many on his care team asked him if he felt depressed. People often do suffer depression following a heart attack or new diagnosis of heart disease. Scott, however, felt the opposite.
“One of the days in the hospital, after I’d had the tube pulled out, I remember sitting there, and I had tears in my eyes,” Scott says. “They said, ‘What’s the matter?’ I said, ‘I’m just so happy.’”
Happier days continue to lie ahead, as Scott prepares to celebrate his recognition at the ballpark and then his wedding. He expresses gratitude to everyone who’s supported him: his loved ones, colleagues, the EMS team, and the doctors, nurses and countless others who cared for him in the hospital.
Scott also shares a message for others: Pay attention to your symptoms, even if they’re subtle.
“Don’t take anything for granted,” he says. “If you don’t feel right, tell somebody.”
Justine echoes Scott’s sentiments.
“To the EMTs, nurses, doctors and the entire ThedaCare team, thank you. You saved the love of my life,” she says. “Because of all of you — and a lot of faith — Scott is here today. And for that, I thank God every single day.”
