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Karen Werkmeister helps heal her heart with cardiopulmonary rehab

Karen Werkmeister never imagined she would face a heart scare. She had never experienced any heart issues or significant health concerns. She felt good, had no symptoms of trouble, and lived her days without any warning signs—until January 23, 2024.That morning, at around 11:00am, Karen noticed a peculiar sensation. It felt like indigestion, a discomfort in her chest as though she needed to burp. Assuming it was something minor, she carried on with her day. However, the feeling lingered. Hours passed, and the discomfort never quite went away. It wasn’t until 7:30pm that a sharp pain shot through her back. Conditions were less than ideal for travel to the emergency room, yet something inside her told her she needed to get checked out.
Karen made it to the emergency room, where initial tests revealed elevated enzyme levels—an indication of heart distress. Karen was transferred by ambulance to North Platte for further evaluation. The results were alarming. The doctors found that her widow-maker artery was significantly blocked—60% in one place and 80% in another. The next step was clear: Karen needed stents to restore proper blood flow.
After undergoing the procedure, Karen spent three days in the hospital. She was offered the option of participating in cardiopulmonary rehab a program that helps individuals recover from heart events or disease. At first, Karen was unsure she wanted to participate in the program. It wasn’t until a few weeks after the procedure, when she found herself struggling to catch her breath, that she decided to give it a try. She enrolled in the program at Tri Valley Health System, a decision that would change her life for the better.
Under the care of cardiopulmonary rehab therapists Julie Sayer, Jordan Arterburn, and Jessica Paisley, Karen found support, guidance, and motivation. "The girls took good care of me and were just so excellent," she recalled. She attended rehab three times a week, dedicating herself to a regimen that included 20 minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the Nu Step, and 20 minutes lifting weights. Throughout each session, her therapists monitored her closely, checking her blood pressure and ensuring she was progressing safely. Alongside the physical workouts, Karen received valuable educational materials on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Karen said, “the program was so good for me and in fact my A1C dropped from 5.7 to 5.2 after completing the program.”
Karen grew stronger with each session, and when she finally completed the program, it was a moment of celebration. To mark the occasion, Julie Sayer baked angel food cake with fruit, a sweet reward for Karen’s hard work and perseverance.
Today, Karen continues to stay active. She loves participating in the Fitness Reaching Older Generation (FROG) exercise group, which meets twice a week at the Congregational Church. She also hopes to increase her walking and remain as active as possible. Looking ahead, Karen knows she still has a lot of living to do, and thanks to cardiopulmonary rehab, she has the strength and ability to do just that.
Karen made it to the emergency room, where initial tests revealed elevated enzyme levels—an indication of heart distress. Karen was transferred by ambulance to North Platte for further evaluation. The results were alarming. The doctors found that her widow-maker artery was significantly blocked—60% in one place and 80% in another. The next step was clear: Karen needed stents to restore proper blood flow.
After undergoing the procedure, Karen spent three days in the hospital. She was offered the option of participating in cardiopulmonary rehab a program that helps individuals recover from heart events or disease. At first, Karen was unsure she wanted to participate in the program. It wasn’t until a few weeks after the procedure, when she found herself struggling to catch her breath, that she decided to give it a try. She enrolled in the program at Tri Valley Health System, a decision that would change her life for the better.
Under the care of cardiopulmonary rehab therapists Julie Sayer, Jordan Arterburn, and Jessica Paisley, Karen found support, guidance, and motivation. "The girls took good care of me and were just so excellent," she recalled. She attended rehab three times a week, dedicating herself to a regimen that included 20 minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the Nu Step, and 20 minutes lifting weights. Throughout each session, her therapists monitored her closely, checking her blood pressure and ensuring she was progressing safely. Alongside the physical workouts, Karen received valuable educational materials on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Karen said, “the program was so good for me and in fact my A1C dropped from 5.7 to 5.2 after completing the program.”
Karen grew stronger with each session, and when she finally completed the program, it was a moment of celebration. To mark the occasion, Julie Sayer baked angel food cake with fruit, a sweet reward for Karen’s hard work and perseverance.
Today, Karen continues to stay active. She loves participating in the Fitness Reaching Older Generation (FROG) exercise group, which meets twice a week at the Congregational Church. She also hopes to increase her walking and remain as active as possible. Looking ahead, Karen knows she still has a lot of living to do, and thanks to cardiopulmonary rehab, she has the strength and ability to do just that.
Join Tri Valley Health System's CHNA Town Hall February 20

To gauge the overall community health needs of residents, Tri Valley Health System, in conjunction with other area providers, invites the public to participate in a Community Health Needs Assessment Town Hall roundtable on Thursday, February 20th for dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. located at the Cambridge Community Building.
This event is being held to identify and prioritize the community health needs. Findings from this community discussion will also serve to fulfill both federal and state mandates.
To adequately prepare for this event, is vital everyone planning to attend this event RSVPs. Please visit our hospital website and social media sites to obtain the link to complete your RSVP OR please utilize the QR code.
This event is being held to identify and prioritize the community health needs. Findings from this community discussion will also serve to fulfill both federal and state mandates.
To adequately prepare for this event, is vital everyone planning to attend this event RSVPs. Please visit our hospital website and social media sites to obtain the link to complete your RSVP OR please utilize the QR code.
Dr. Andrea Rice joins staff in 2025
Tri Valley Health System is excited to announce that Dr. Andrea Rice will be joining the Tri Valley Health System team of providers in the Fall of 2025. Dr. Rice is originally from the Illinois area. Dr. Rice is passionate about family medicine and obstetrics. Tri Valley Health System will begin scheduling patients in the Fall of 2025.
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