Page 2 - The Fayetteville Press Newspaper March 27, 2026 Edition

Page 2a The Fayetteville Press March 27, 2026 Edition

Dr. Mark Stephen Thompson, D.D.S.

(Family Dentistry)

114 Campus Avenue * Raeford, NC 28376
Digial Marketing
Strategy & Brand Development
Web Design & Development
(910) 875-3625
Print & Media Services (910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
Public Relations &
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
Engagement (910) 875-3622
Kirk Deviere
Owner

Contact Information Dr. Mark Thompson
Sales@219group.com (910) 875-3622

(910) 483-4749/ 219group.com

“Just Express Tax Services

Tax Service

Superb” 5114 Yadkin Road *Ste 132

Fayetteville, NC 28303

e
K
L a st sp rin g, T i i n a M c K i i n n i i e was lo ok in g
Last spring, Tina McKinnie was looking
T
n
c
M
forward to a pretty big milestone: Her first
grandchild was due in a few months, and she was counting
Walter Bell
down the days.
*Past Due
“I just couldn’t wait,” she said. “I was dying to see my
Income Tax Returns
grandbaby and just love on him.”
Up to 10 Years
After surviving a heart attack in 2021, McKinnie was grateful
to be alive and well for this new chapter. She had recently lost
(910) 583-9547
70 pounds and was taking good care of herself.

“I was walking a mile and a half every day,” she said. “Going to “They always explained everything they were going to do, step by step,”
the gym four days a week. I was doing really, really well.” she said. “They were just superb.”

So when she began to experience a familiar chest discomfort, At home, McKinnie’s recovery hit another speed bump when she began
she initially wrote it off as no big deal. to accumulate too much fluid in her chest. She had to return to the
hospital for a weekend, but was delighted to see the same team awaiting
“I was going through a stressful time,” she said. “Sometimes it’s her.
hard to tell the difference between a little anxiety and an actual
heart problem, and I thought my heart must be fine because I “I had the best staff and nurses,” she said. “Truly, if it wasn’t for them and
was feeling so much better than I did back then.” God, I would not be here.”

McKinnie wisely went to her cardiologist just to be sure. When In the following weeks, McKinnie said, she was motivated through her
a stress test indicated a slight blockage, she was scheduled for a recovery by the excitement of soon meeting her new grandchild. And
cardiac catheterization in a few days. She was advised to go to on August 28, there he was.
the Emergency Department if the discomfort worsened in the
meantime. “He was born weighing less than five pounds,” she said. “His little head
would sit in the palm of your hand. So he had a little struggle for a while
“It did, that Sunday morning,” she said. “So I called 911, and there, but he’s doing great now.”
they took me to the hospital. I was having another heart attack.”
McKinnie said there were times when she felt discouraged during her
She was wheeled off for a heart catheterization to place some recovery, when she lacked the energy to do the things she wanted to do,
stents in the affected arteries, but the imaging there led to a but it helped to keep moving in any way she could.
new plan. She would instead need surgery: a triple-bypass
coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to create new “Even on days when you feel like you can’t get up,” she said, “you can

pathways for blood flow in three narrowed arteries. sit in that chair and move your legs, move your arms. Do anything that
moves your body and wakes it up.”
Fearful at first, McKinnie said she was soon calmed by
learning from her surgeon, Adam Celio, MD, exactly what McKinnie said the healthy habits she adopted continue to play an
would happen and how it would help. She’s also grateful to a important role in her recovery. She believes those changes helped her
memorable nursing team for keeping her calm throughout her move forward and enjoy time with her family, including meeting her
stay with helpful information—and humor. grandson.

“When I get nervous, I make jokes,” McKinnie said. “Jeanne, “Now I may be starting over,” she said. “But I’m not stopping. I live by
Abigayle and Matt were so sweet and so kind, and we kept each the words ‘You are here for a reason.’”
other laughing.”

After the surgery, she experienced some discouraging
complications related to her blood pressure. But she said the
staff kept her informed and encouraged with every setback.

capefearvalley.com

Join us for Making Rounds Live on the 2 and 4 Tuesdays every month, from 11 a.m. to Noon, on
th
nd