Heroic Heart
Not long after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Marines in 2011, Ernie Rivas II, of Elkhart, began feeling a pain in his chest. The veteran of three tours of duty, Staff Sergeant Rivas visited various doctors in the years to follow, but no one ever believed it was anything more than anxiety or discomfort caused by PTSD.
But in the spring of 2014, while experiencing chest pain, he went instead to the Elkhart General Hospital ER. It was there that Beacon Medical Group cardiologist Troy Weirick, MD, ordered an angiogram for Ernie, an X-ray that uses a special dye and camera to take pictures of the blood flow in an artery or vein. The test revealed he had an anomalous right coronary artery caused by a congenital heart defect in which the artery grows in a location around the heart where it shouldn’t. A week later, Beacon Medical Group cardiothoracic surgeon Walter Halloran, MD, corrected the long-time problem by conducting bypass surgery.
Ernie was relieved that a heart issue with him for 35 years of his life was finally fixed.
“Elkhart General has a good medical team and they work together,” he says.
Had Ernie not gone to Elkhart General, the heart defect could have eventually caused myocardial ischemia – a lack of blood to heart muscle – and sudden cardiac death. Ernie is very grateful he went where and when he did for medical help.
“They were awesome. They did a great job.”
Ernie was especially appreciative of how the medical and support staff treated him throughout his stay.
“I earned the rank of staff sergeant and to have them call me by my rank made me feel special.”
It was common for staff when speaking to him to say “Staff Sergeant” or “Sergeant.” In some cases they would say, “That’s our Marine.”
“They treated me like a hero, when in reality the staff are the real heroes.”
But Ernie is, in fact, a hero. Growing up in California, he joined the U.S. Marines at age 17. He served his required four years of active duty and was nearly ready to leave the military when everything changed with the 9-11 attacks. He immediately re-enlisted in the U.S. Marines and served his country for nine more years. He was involved in four combat tours, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After gaining combat experience, Ernie served as an advisor to the Iraqi army.
By re-enlisting in the military, Ernie’s goal of earning a college degree was put on hold. He had a much bigger goal in mind: to serve his country until the U.S. captured or killed Osama bin Laden. U.S. Navy SEALs killed bin Laden in 2011, after which time Ernie made good on his promise to not re-enlist again.
Instead, Ernie reached his goal of earning a college degree by completing a bachelor degree in workforce education development at Southern Illinois University.
He went on to serve his country in an entirely new capacity. The former platoon sergeant is employed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair, helping Michiana veterans find employment.
“I used to fight the war in Iraq, and now I fight the war on poverty. I respect the men and women who served our country and that’s why I continue to serve. I see the impact I’m having on peoples’ lives and being part of the solution.”
Married with a 7-year-old daughter, Ernie, now 37, is grateful to be alive and to continue to give back to the nation that he has given his life to.
“I have lots of memories of my time in the service. Some good, some bad. I’ll remember all those marines who didn’t make it back home. I’ll also remember the camaraderie and being part of something (U.S. Marines) that helped us become better men.”
We thank Ernie for his selfless dedication to protecting and serving the United States, and to all veterans, particularly at Beacon Health System, who have supported and defended our country.
