SECOND CHANCE
Serving as a volunteer firefighter for nearly four decades, Mark Courville has helped save countless lives. His has already been saved once but now, he is waiting for that to happen again.
The 52-year-old Jennings man is currently on a heart transplant list at Houston Methodist. In a way, though, he is OK with waiting.
“There are people so much sicker than me who are on ventilators in the hospital, waiting for a heart,” he said. “I have bad days but I am still able to work and live a pretty normal life.”
Nearly two years ago, Mark arrived at his job feeling fine. Heartburn suddenly set in and within 15 minutes, it was obvious emergency medical attention was needed.
After somehow being disconnected from 911 twice, coworkers loaded Mark into a vehicle and sped to Jennings American Legion Hospital. A helicopter was called in to take him to Lafayette Heart Hospital.
''If what I’m going through has saved one life, then it’s all worth it.”
– Mark Courville
Lori Courville is married to Mark’s brother Coty Courville, also a veteran firefighter and Acadian Ambulance employee.
“When we were leaving the Jennings hospital Coty told me, ‘You need to be prepared. He’s not going to make it,’” Lori said. “It was that bad. You could see it on everyone’s faces.”
Because of a delay with the helicopter, Mark was taken by ambulance into Egan where air med intercepted the vehicle. He later learned that if anything from the start of his heart attack had been delayed by 15 minutes, the helicopter would not have been able to fly due to weather. However, a doctor also told him, the ambulance would not have been able to get him to Lafayette in time to save his life.
When the helicopter landed, he was immediately brought into surgery. To the amazement of the staff, Lori said, he survived.
“The doctor in Lafayette told me and my husband that with the amount of damage the heart attack caused, only 10 percent of patients make it to the first hospital,” she said. “Nobody makes it to the second hospital if they have to be transported.”
Following his surgery, Mark underwent several weeks of cardiac rehab. Ultimately he learned he needed a heart transplant.
“When I thought of a heart transplant, all I could think was that I wouldn’t survive that,” he said. “But I was set up with Houston Methodist and learned they have a 98 percent success rate when it comes to these transplants. Plus I was able to speak to someone from Jennings who had just had a heart transplant there. I’m glad I went because it changed my mind about everything.”
All required medical testing for transplant consideration has been completed, including numerous scans, tests on major organs, evaluations of brain activity and blood flow in his limbs, stress tests and evaluations with a nutritionist and psychologist. A transplant team met this week to discuss Mark’s case, meaning he should find out his status in a few weeks, he said.
Earlier this year, a defibrillator was implanted in his chest. It already saved him from cardiac arrest once. This possibly ruptured two blood vessels, which required him to undergo an ablation procedure in May. His blood pressure regularly fluctuates and he often experiences numbness in his limbs and exhaustion.
“All these years, I thought I was rather healthy,” he said. “I went to the doctor regularly and had checkups once a year. I didn’t have high blood pressure or cholesterol, didn’t smoke or do drugs and only drank socially. Then suddenly I’m experiencing heartburn and 15 minutes later, having a full-blown heart attack.”
Lori said her brother-in-law’s experience has helped save the lives of many of his friends. One continued to put off a checkup until encouraged by Mark. That man learned that his health was in such jeopardy, he needed a triple bypass.
“If what I’m going through has saved one life then it’s all worth it,” Mark said.
Any type of medical care is expensive but transplants come with a much higher price tag. Once he does undergo a transplant, he will need to live within the vicinity of Houston Methodist for approximately a year for regular testing. This is why Lori, Mark’s sister Chris Roy and his niece Megan Miller have been working with friends, businesses and the community to form an upcoming benefit to help defray medical expenses. The level of support shown so far has blown him away, Mark said.
“Never in a million years did I think the donations that we’ve received so far would have been given,” he said. “Words really can’t express the gratitude I have for everyone I know and even strangers who have done whatever they can to help me. My family has worked so hard on this, especially Lori, Chris and Megan. My family has stuck by my side this whole time. Everything that everyone has done has encouraged me to keep going.”
Lori said the support received by the Courville family has greatly impacted them.
“What Mark has gone through has definitely brought the family closer together,” she said. “And seeing how much people are willing to give, it restores your faith in humanity.”
Even Mark’s employer, R360, has gone above and beyond, he said.
“It’s unreal how much they do for me,” he said. “They never question when I have doctor appointments or have to leave on days when I am just very sick. They moved me from an outdoor position to working inside when I was able to work again after my heart attack. They’ve already assured me that after the transplant, they will hold my job for me while I go through that year-long recovery. I mean, how many company’s would do that for an employee?”
Lori said the Sept. 7 benefit in Mark’s honor would be more of a celebration than anything else.
“We want to celebrate life and show our thanks to the community for how much they have done for our family,” she said.
The benefit will kick off at 10 a.m. at the Friends Supporting Friends Event Center on U.S. 90 West in Jennings and include a raffle, silent and live auctions and 50/50 split pot, just to name a few activities. A special Kids Corner will provide games and activities for $1-$2. A variety of foods, sweets, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages will be available for sale, and Sno B’s snow cones will be available. Live music will be provided from the time doors open until 8 p.m. and include performances by Blind Ambition, Kegan Navarre and Bernie Alan. Attendees will also have the opportunity to help Mark while saving other lives by donating blood between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. When the time comes that he needs transfusions, Mark will receive credit for each blood donation given that day.
“It’s going to be a really fun day and the types of items and the number of items we have for the auctions are amazing,” Lori said. “People will be blown away by everything that was donated.”
Just a few of these items include guided hunts and fishing trips, a large basket of Louisiana-made products that includes autographed recipe books and pictures from Bruce Mitchell of “Swamp People,” a Heritage .22, a custom-made barbecue pit worth $1,000, handmade furniture, photo shoots, boots, a cast iron pot, rustic home decor, LSU and UL items and baskets that include a variety of items, gift cards, homemade goods and more.
Two-dollar raffle tickets will be sold the day of the event, with eight prizes available. The top prize is a weekend in New Orleans with all accommodations paid in addition to receiving a $300 gift card.
Meanwhile, the crowd will get to see Mark’s nephew, Brennen Courville, lose $3,000 worth of hair.
“His hair is very long right now but he agreed to shave it off if we could raise three grand just for that,” Lori, Brennen’s mom, said. “Well, his bosses at Touchet Trucking donated $2,000 and others gave the rest. Mark gets the first cut.”
Anyone who is interested in completing a concealed carry course can help Mark, too. Brandon Roy is hosting an Aug. 31 class for 35 individuals at a cost of $125 per person. Bill’s Wrecker Service, Inc., and Robbie’s Front End have donated a handgun that will be raffled as a door prize during the class. Several spaces have already been reserved but to nab an available space, Roy can be contacted at (337) 540-0053.
As for the Sept. 7 benefit, no off-site food or drinks are permitted. Parking is expected to be limited but some businesses near the event center have offered use of their parking lots.
“These people are really helping us so much by letting us park on their property, so we ask everyone to please be considerate,” Lori said. “Please do not leave trash behind. We will have trash cans set up in each lot we use if people need to throw anything.”
Because a large crowd is anticipated, those attending with children are asked to keep a close eye on the young ones.
For more information on the benefit, contact Keith Stutes at (337) 658-0449, Chris Roy at (337) 275-9385, Shirley Fruge at (337) 275-6340 or Lori Courville at (337) 368-4292.