Lucky to Be Alive, Thanks to Advanced Cardiac Technology
It was the middle of the night when retired Army Colonel Bill Steinkirchner woke up feeling dizzy and had pain in his arm. “My wife was out of town, and it was about 2:30 a.m. My arm was hurting to the point where it felt like someone was twisting it, and I was wondering if I had fallen,” he says. “I felt weak, lightheaded, and a little short of breath. I was up for about 20 minutes, then went back to bed.”
At 5:30 a.m., Bill woke up again and was very weak. He went to make a pot of coffee and could not believe how exhausted he was. He then recalled that the day before, he had an appointment to get his tire fixed and was very weak at that time. He decided to call his youngest son to take him to urgent care. He told his son to leave, thinking he would be there for several hours. But he was only there for about 15 minutes.
More urgent than urgent care
“When I told them I was having chest pains, they hooked me up to an EKG and told me they think I have a blockage,” says Bill. “They were going to call an ambulance, but I told them not to, and called my son to come back and take me to the ER at Corona Regional.”
Bill explains that when they got the blood test results back in the ER, they told him he was having a heart attack and that they were bringing him to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. “I remember laying on the table, looking at the ceiling and calling my wife, Melanie. I told her I was in the ER having a small procedure done. I did not tell her I was having a heart attack,” he says.
“I could breathe again!”
Interventional Cardiologist William Suh, MD, used a vein on the top of Bill’s hand to insert the catheter to locate the blockage. Once found, they placed the stent. “As soon as they did that, I felt an immediate difference, I could not believe it. I felt like I could breathe again! It was instant pain relief,” he says. “Dr. Suh explained to me what they had done and showed me on the monitor. He told me had I waited another couple of hours, I would not be here to tell my story.”
Bill stayed overnight for monitoring and said he received excellent care from the nurses and medical team. “Dr. Suh is fantastic and has the best bedside manner I have ever experienced. The recovery nurse, Cindy, was incredible. She took the time to call my wife and fill her in,” he says.
A thankful wife
Melanie was so grateful, she spread the word on social media about Corona Regional’s new cath labs and the care Bill received. “Did you know Corona Regional has a brand new cath lab? For those unfamiliar, it’s a special hospital room where doctors handle heart issues like blocked arteries. Fast and minimally invasive. Well, we found out the hard way when my husband had a heart attack yesterday … He ended up in the ER and they got him into the cath lab right away, found a full blockage, and placed a stent. I was out of town, but nurse Cindy personally called to update me, which meant everything. He’s already home and feeling great. We are beyond grateful for the amazing care and quick action. Thank you, Corona Regional, you truly made all the difference!”
Bill says he was cleared to go to a previously planned conference the day after he was discharged and he got around fine. “My wife got some compression stockings for our flights, and I noticed a big difference in my comfort level,” he says. “Within 10 days of the procedure, I was back in the gym doing light workouts, and I am staying active with hiking, snorkeling and running.”
He says his experience at Corona Regional was great, and he would definitely recommend the hospital to anyone. “Especially now with the new cath labs. If they did not have that equipment there, I am not sure I would have made it,” he says. “Their medical teams go above and beyond, and they go the extra mile for their patients.”
About Bill Steinkirchner
Bill Steinkirchner is the founder and co-owner of Stone Church Brewing, located in both Corona and Old Town Temecula, CA. Bill’s passion for veterans and community service led him to establish Amber Waves of Grain Craft Beer Festival for Veterans where he has raised and distributed $450,000 to more than 40 veteran non-profit organizations. This year’s event will be held on November 1, 2025 at The Shops at Dos Lagos.
Bill is a retired Army Colonel, who had the distinction of serving on the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, as Deputy Chief of Staff for I Corps, as well as a combat tour in Iraq 2004-2005. He is a graduate of the Army War College where he earned a Master's in National Strategic Studies and also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration.