SPECIAL REPORT: Central Coast man raising awareness about lifesaving heart test

A Central Coast man who lost his brother a year ago is now hoping to raise awareness about a simple heart test that made a life changing difference for him.

David Deyerle’s brother Tom Deyerle suffered a massive heart attack last April while he was riding in the Big Sur Marathon as a volunteer bike marshal.

“It was really hard to believe Tom had passed away,” said David Deyerle.

Deyerle’s brother Tom was just 61-years-old when he died.

Tom never knew it, but he had a ticking time bomb in his chest and David would soon discover he did too.

“He saved my life and I’m so thankful every day,” said Deyerle.

A few days after the marathon David Deyerle got his own heart checked at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

Doctors there recommended that he get a test called a calcium score scan.

“CT coronary calcium scoring is an imaging technique, It is a type of heart scan,” explained Doctor Soteria Karahalios, Medical Director for Non-Invasive Cardiology Services at Community Hospital Tyler Heart Institute.

The calcium score scan is a non-invasive test that only takes a few minutes.

“It just creates pictures that are thin slices through the heart specifically the arteries of the heart that potentially build up plaque as we age where if we have risk factors can cause heart attacks,” said Karahalios.

According to Karahalios, anyone can be tested, but it is especially recommended for people with a history of heart disease in their family.

“Unfortunately, about 65 percent of people have absolutely no warning either sudden death or heart attack,” said Karahalios.

If you have a score of zero from the scan that means you are low risk.

“Mine was 1,695 and it blew me away,” said Deyerle.

About a month after Deyerle’s test he was on the operating table having open heart surgery.

“After bypass surgery they said my heart was full, good, great pump system.”

Today, David Deyerle’s heart is strong. He is back to work and back to biking, but his brother Tom is never far from his thoughts.

“He saved my life truly. That is the hard part,” said Deyerle.

Now, with his heart surgery miles behind him, Deyerle has never appreciated every moment more.

“It shows you how precious life is. You want to appreciate every day you have and I thought I did, but more so now.”

David Deyerle is sharing his story so his brother’s death will save more lives and encourage others to get tested.

The calcium score scan is covered by some insurance, but if you aren’t covered the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula offers it for $150.