Listen to Your Heart: A Woman’s Wake-Up Call

On the night of March 3rd, Chris McCullen Martin woke up feeling slightly off. Dismissing it as nothing serious, she went back to sleep. But at 2 a.m., she woke again—this time with a heavy, uncomfortable sensation in her chest. Though she wasn’t in pain, she assumed it was just indigestion and tried to ignore it. Then, the uncontrollable sweating began.

That should have been her sign to call 911, but Chris hesitated. Instead, she asked her boyfriend, Mark, to grab her a Prilosec. Along with the Prilosec, he handed her two baby aspirins—small pills that would turn out to be life-saving.

By 7 a.m., she felt slightly better, but as soon as she got up, she knew something was still wrong. That’s when she called her daughter, Denise. Upon seeing how pale her mother looked, Denise insisted they go straight to the emergency room at UNC Health Wayne. Within just 38 minutes of arriving, Chris was on her way to REX UNC for further care.

At REX, emotions flooded in. The reality of the situation set in as she saw her daughter Carrie’s face, bringing her a sense of comfort amid the fear and uncertainty. Tests confirmed she had suffered a heart attack due to a 100% blockage in her right coronary artery. She needed two stents to restore blood flow—and her life was forever changed.

Chris is now on six medications, including baby aspirin, and continues to adjust to her new normal. But beyond the physical changes, her mindset has shifted the most. She feels incredibly blessed to still be here and to share her story, hoping it serves as a warning to others.

"I’m incredibly grateful to the ED staff at UNC Health Wayne for their quick action in getting me the help I needed, and to Dr. Patel, whose skill and care ultimately saved my life. Looking back, my stubbornness could’ve cost me my life. Please, if something feels wrong, don’t wait. Get checked out right away. I learned the hard way—trust me, you don’t have to."