Local Heart Attack Victim Thanks First Responders
Prior Lake, Minn. – Prior Lake resident Mike Hardesty believes he was in the right place at the right time when he had a heart attack in January, and today he had the opportunity to thank the first responders from Mdewakanton Public Safety who helped save his life.
“As a Marine, I did medevac work for 22 months, so I know how important speed and teamwork are in life-or-death situations,” Hardesty said. “The team who took care of me on January 11 was second to none.”
Hardesty was at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel when the heart attack occurred. Within moments of dialing 911, first responders were at the door and treating him. They immediately transported him to St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee to be stabilized, and then to Abbott Northwestern Hospital for an angioplasty and three-day hospital stay.
With a positive prognosis for recovery, Hardesty had the opportunity today to meet and thank his response team, including Captain Robert Jacobs and officers Jacqueline Ross and Adam Harklerode. They work for Mdewakanton Public Safety, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s full-time, professional fire and ambulance department.
“Getting to personally thank them for helping me that day means a great deal to me,” Hardesty said.
About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. With a focus on being a good neighbor, good steward of the earth, and good employer, the SMSC is committed to community partnerships, charitable donations, a healthy environment, and a strong economy. The SMSC and the SMSC Gaming Enterprise (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino) are the largest employer in Scott County. Out of a Dakota tradition to help others, the SMSC has also donated nearly $272 million to organizations and causes and paid more than $7.6 million for shared local road projects since 1992, in addition to funding its own infrastructure and contributing generously to regional governments and infrastructure.