Frankfort Elvis Impersonator Recovering After Heart Surgery

FRANKFORT, IL — A popular Elvis impersonator, Dave Thomas of Frankfort, was shocked to find out he had an abnormality on his EKG last year, according to a release from Silver Cross Hospital.

Since the 63-year-old also drives a school bus and has other odd jobs, he works out regularly to keep in shape.

That also includes regular check-ups with his primary care physician, Dr. William Will. On one visit late last year, his EKG showed an abnormality.

“I had just finished running five miles!” Thomas said in a release. “My doctor didn’t think it was anything, but he scheduled me for tests.”

One was an echocardiogram. And after the nurse performing it left the room, Dr. Abdul Sankari, an interventional cardiologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, popped in to tell Thomas he needed to be seen in his office the next day.

The nurse and Dr. Sankari spotted a bulge – an aneurysm – on Thomas’ aorta. If left untreated, the bulge could rupture, leading to further complications; even death, according to a news release from the hospital.

Although such aneurysms can present with throbbing pain, hoarseness and other symptoms, Thomas said he had none.

“It could be genetic,” Thomas said in a release. “My father had several heart surgeries.”

Dr. Sankari referred Thomas to Dr. Pat Pappas, a cardiothoracic surgeon and medical director of Silver Cross Hospital’s heart surgery program.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘You really do look like Elvis!’ Then he said I needed an aortic valve replacement.”

Following a successful surgery, Thomas was soon visited by therapists from the hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Department.

“We go over what the patient needs to do and not do; then we have them walk in the hallway as soon as possible,” said Kim Mason, Clinical Supervisor for Cardiac Rehabilitation at Silver Cross. “That helps patients recover better and faster. He also was exercising before surgery. That helps recovery as well.”

And how was the experience of working with “Elvis?”

“Oh, my gosh. He was a pleasure to work with,” Mason said in a release. “You could definitely tell he is a performer. For his final outpatient session, he showed up dressed as Elvis!”

“I was so lucky. They were the best rehab people you could find," Thomas said.

He was doing so well after being released – even after he continued with outpatient therapy –
Thomas performed as Elvis eight days after getting home. He credits a close relationship with his grandson, Drake, 18, a drummer, with helping him through that performance, according to the hospital.

As he got stronger, Thomas realized he may have been more affected by the aneurysm than he initially thought.

"Sometimes, I would be so tired at the end of the day. I thought it was just getting old, and that I work two jobs in addition to performing. Now, I feel like a million dollars. I can’t thank my doctor and the people at Silver Cross enough. They saved my life. Silver Cross is a wonderful hospital," Thomas said in a release.

The experts at the Midwest Institute for Heart at Silver Cross Hospital offers a $49 Heart Scan that can help determine your risk for heart disease.