Advocate Heart patient enjoys VIP experience at Bulls game Feb. 2

February is American Heart Month. And on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 2, Advocate Health Care and the Chicago Bulls welcomed heart patient and cardiac arrest survivor, Robert Sims, and his family to the United Center for a special pregame experience before the Bulls took on the Sacramento Kings.

Sims, 69, who is a patient at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, participated in the “Fan Tunnel” experience where he and his family high-fived the Bulls players back by their locker room on their way out to the court. They also watched pregame warm-ups up close, took photos at center court and received lower-level tickets to enjoy the game.

Sims, who owns his own real estate title insurance company in Country Club Hills, was experiencing a shortness of breath while out shopping with this wife just before Thanksgiving on Nov. 19, 2022. Having experienced mild symptoms before, he thought it would pass. But this time proved to be more severe. After having to stop every few steps to rest and catch his breath, he knew something was wrong and his wife immediately called the paramedics.

By the time Sims arrived at the ED at South Suburban, Sims had lost consciousness and had no pulse. After 45 minutes of CPR and other measures, Sims was revived and admitted to ICU. Miraculously, he was discharged without any signs of brain damage from the lack of oxygen, and a normal heart function. It was later determined that a blood clot that had been developing in his right leg traveled up into the area of his heart, ultimately causing the cardiac arrest.

Sims is very grateful for his care at South Suburban and considered a miracle by his cardiologist, Dr. Al Rifai, and his team to be alive after experiencing 45 minutes of cardiac arrest.

“I thought that I had died,” Sims said. “I am eternally grateful to Dr. Rifai and the entire staff at South Suburban. They were so great and I owe them my life.”

Almost a year and a half later, Sims continues to follow up with Dr. Rifai and does not have any cardiac dysfunction or heart injury and is enjoying life with his wife and two adult children.