Kim Mulkey Reveals How a Minor ‘Tingling’ Sensation on Her Finger Led to Lifesaving Heart Surgery

Louisiana State University (LSU) women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey had a near-fatal experience that stemmed from a minor, unsuspecting issue she noticed on one of her fingers. When she consulted her doctors, they advised her to prioritize her health before it is too late.

The health scare dates all the way back to 2018. While she seemed to be doing fine initially, medical experts diagnosed her with carpal tunnel syndrome. Though it was debilitating, it could have been far worse had she not shown concern in time.

According to a report by The Mirror U.S., Mulkey shared that in 2023, when she was a “little bored,” she felt a strange sensation on one of her fingers. She said that the middle finger of her left hand had been “tingling for some time.” Despite the issue not looking that serious on the surface, she decided to get it checked by the doctors.

During early diagnosis, she was told that she was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, she was suggested to get her neck scanned as a reassurance because she had undergone a disc replacement surgery in 2018. The scan came back clear and showed no signs of concern.

However, after a couple of days, a radiologist called her to inform that a plaque had been found in her carotid arteries. Following this, she made an appointment with a cardiologist and underwent a stress test. The results weren't something that she had expected. Mulkey recalled the words of her doctor, who was quite concerned about the way her blood wasn't being pumped "faster."

The doctor said, “It looks like there's a little blockage going on. We've got to do a cath.” During the procedure, it was found that there was a 95-99 percent blockage in one of her coronary arteries — more specifically, the left anterior descending artery, which is also the largest coronary artery in the heart.

In June 2023, Mulkey had “two stents inserted to clear the blockage.” She remarked that during the whole process, she never felt any chest pain, no breathlessness or no warning signs of any kind. “I'm still kind of in shock that we accidentally found this,” Mulkey added.

Mulkey's doctor confirmed that without the complicated procedure, the LSU coach would have probably had a heart attack.

Mulkey opened up about her near-death experience and said that it has changed her perspective on life. She urges people who are aged over 50 to get a stress test done. “I've had some of my former teammates tell me, 'We're going to do it.' That's why I share these things. I'm an open book if it's something that can help people,” Mulkey added.

She called herself an open book, and stated that her experience could be a great life lesson for everyone, especially those “who think that it won't happen to us.”