Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand ForksNew Outlook on Life

New Outlook on Life

A Grand Forks man is looking at life in a new way after surviving a heart attack that nearly killed him. He and his doctors credit some luck, good timing, and even a miracle.

"I'm Exhibit A to say, "Hey, get your priorities to where it's a lasting legacy," says Phil Harmeson.

Off the treadmill, you might recognize Harmeson as Valley News Live's Political Analyst. But from the 58-year-old's vitals, you may never know how close the UND professor was to losing his life, a year and a half ago.

"There was too many instances that occurred, there was clearly someone directing this," he says. I never felt that elephant on the chest but it just kept getting tighter and tighter and tighter."

Phil was working on his lake cabin near Park Rapids when he felt a tingling in his fingers. He and his wife, Bonnie, and a friend drove nine miles to meet an ambulance in town. But once in the ER, Phil's heart stopped. He was shocked with a defibrillator eight times.

"It hit me hard enough to wake me up for one," Harmeson says.

With little hope left, Phil was taken by Lifeflight to Sanford Health in Fargo.

"They asked my wife and said, "Hey. We can't guarantee that he's going to make this. So would you like to say goodbye to him?" he recalls.

Doctors successfully put stets into Phil's heart but it had stopped so long, they feared he was brain dead.

"Somebody that has as much down time as he did generally don't recover," says Dr. Thomas Haldis, Phil's cardiologist at Sanford. "Everything worked out perfectly. And you just happen to have a guy who had a little miracle factor."

Phil struggled for three more days as doctors tried to cool him, them warm him to prevent brain damage. For the next three months, Phil worked hard to regain strength through cardiac rehab -- a strict program that monitors a patient's exercise and diet.

"My friends euphemistically refer me to the 'Miracle Man'" Harmeson laughs. "I now realize how close i came."

Those close calls have now changed Phil's priorities as he looks back on the moments he almost missed.

"They act like they want me around," Phil chuckles. "If you know what I mean."

Doctors say Phil has recovered so well, he can even ride on roller coasters now (that was a concern for the grandpa).Phil and his wife, Bonnie, held a luncheon recently for all the people who was a part of saving his life.