This is the last of a two-part series about deer hunting 2011.

I had been plagued with a sensation of pressure in my neck for about two weeks, visited the doctor, passed a treadmill stress test and began taking blood pressure pills. Thus I felt ready for deer hunting season.

On the opening day of the season, Oct. 15, I hunted Saturday afternoon with first-time hunter, 14-year-old Ted Mead. We walked casually about the hunt area, stopping often, when the slightest amount of pressure began in my neck. In my mind, the pressure was from being a bit out of shape at the beginning of the season.

In the evening we experienced a wonderful visit and supper with our fellow hunting partners, Lani Schorzman and Dr. Thomas Steffens, visiting well into the night.

The following morning we split into three groups, as is our normal hunt procedure, with Ted and me hunting the Northeast portion of the property. We spotted a deer in thick sagebrush. It was a doe, but figured there may be more deer and a possible buck nearby.

Ted and I executed a by-the-book maneuver to get within range of the animal, by heading east first, then south and finally west to close within 25 yards. We found only a single doe, but the experience was good for Ted. During this hike, the pressure sensation appeared often, causing me to stop for a minute or two every 100 yards or so.

Back at deer camp, Lani fixed a late breakfast of hash browns and scrambled eggs. We continued to visit after finishing the meal. Casually I began to tell them about the neck pressure and what had happened to me during the past couple of weeks. Thomas perked up and began to question me.

"Did you feel the pressure today?" Thomas asked.

"Yes."

"More than once?"

"Yes, often."

"You are still having problems."

He continued to ask questions and said he was sensing the typical macho outdoorsman resistance on my part. He said I wasn't to hunt any longer and I needed a cardiac catheterization, as my symptoms were those of angina though without classic chest pain.

He stepped outside and sent a message to colleague, Family Nurse Practitioner Rhonda Ramm of Quincy, stating "64 y/o male w/shortness of breath on exertion. Mother w/CAD & stent. Height 5 9. Wt 217. Had EKG then stress test w/HR to 133 & no ST chge. Placed on antihypertensive. Still having sob. Next step?"

Her reply was succinct and crystal clear, "ER/nitrates."

"We are taking you to the Sacred Heart Emergency Room," Thomas said.

Within a few minutes Lani, Thomas and I were on our way, arriving at the ER an hour later.

"I'm Dr. Thomas Steffens from Moses Lake," he said at the counter. "My friend is having cardiac issues."

I was on a hospital gurney within a minute and having an EKG administered within two. No occurring heart attack was apparent.

After a blood test, consultation with the ER doctor and a cardiac doctor, I was admitted and told a heart catheterization would be performed the next day. Dr. Goldberg told me Dr. Alexander would perform the procedure.

"She is an excellent balloonist," he said.

The next morning Dr. Alexander visited saying she would get to me as soon as possible, but expected my time to be around noon or just after. Within 15 hours of walking into the ER, the procedure was underway. It lasted about 30 minutes.

Back in my room, my wife, Garnet, handed me two photos: a before and after sequence. The first showed a 99 percent blockage in the Right Coronary Artery. The second shows the artery opened, with a stent in place.

"If you would have had a heart attack, it would have been a bad one," Dr. Alexander said during a visit the next day.

Garnet and I headed for home on Tuesday afternoon, about 40 hours after entering the ER. Thomas sent me an e-mail during the trip recapping his view of the events. It ended with, "He was stented and the impending heart attack averted. He will live to hunt another day!"

I wrote back,

"Great job, Thomas,

Just past Sprague on way home. Feeling good. Will use some of your thoughts in the column. Trust it will help others.

Best,

Dennis.

P.S. Thanks for saving my life."

Epilogue: It had been a whirlwind of events. Beginning of October, neck pressure; Oct. 6, 7, 10, medical tests; Saturday, Oct. 15, hunting, Sunday, Oct. 16, more neck pressure while hunting; Sunday evening, emergency room; Monday noon, heart catheterization; Tuesday evening, Oct. 18, home.

Friday afternoon I was alone in the Dodge Ram overlooking a good portion of our hunt area. This was a time for reflection, a normal reaction after a life-threatening incident. Luck/fate/destiny/predestination, all of these words describe my feelings about what happened; finding and fixing the problem. The speed of correcting the situation is truly amazing and a testament to modern medicine.

Saturday Garnet spent the day with me in the hunt area. We stayed in the truck the entire time and, again, we saw no legal deer.

Sunday my friend, Bill Witt, traveled with me to look for an animal. This time we discussed a short walk, as I was wary after what happened the week before. We ended up walking between two and three miles. No neck pressure was experienced. Getting the heart rate a bit above normal provided a good feeling.ÊÊÊ

I have not notched my deer tag for this year, yet. There are a few more opportunities to come, plus we have the upcoming late fall turkey season and there are ducks, quail, grouse, geese and perhaps an elk to find in the crosshairs.

I am thankful, appreciative, grateful and beholden to all involved in the medical processes of the past three weeks in Moses Lake and during the heart cath in Spokane. Life is good.