An ominous anniversary

After a day hike that felt off, a major cardiac event to start possibly the worst day of my life.

The date was Sunday, January 3, 2010. The day started like most. I got up, read the news, ate my usual breakfast (coffee, a bowl of Grape Nuts) and I then got myself to the gym to do an hour on the elliptical trainer.

It was an off day, I just couldn’t get in a groove, and I struggled to get my heart rate above 100. I was sucking wind, to say the least.

Alas, I bailed out during the 5 minute cooldown after the hour - felt like shit, and headed home. I got back home about 8:30 AM, and then stepped into the shower.

KABAM

It hit me like a ton of bricks. Shooting pain down the arms, and it felt like Dom Delouise was standing on my chest.

I stepped out of the shower, and hobbled my way down to my wife’s office and I told her I needed to go to the emergency room.

Fortunately, she freaked out, and called 911¹.

I daubed off most of the water and slipped on some sweats, while waiting for the EMT’s to show up. They checked me out, and they thought I had just overexerted myself at the gym. Fortunately (again) my wife insisted that they take me to the hospital.

I got to the hospital, and they hooked me up to an ECG and I was having a heart attack.

Let me tell you, that gets the staff moving. I was put on a gurney, wheeled to the Catheter lab, to get a stent put in. I had 100% blockage in the descending node of the right coronary artery.

I got a three night stay in the hospital, and 16 weeks of cardiac rehab.

The really weird thing is that I was arguably in the best shape of my life. I was running 5-7 miles 5 or 6 days a week. I was doing aggressive hikes on the weekend (if you have spent time in Tucson AZ, you know that the hiking there is epic).

But I still had a heart attack. If I hadn’t gotten to the hospital, I would have died.

This morning is the 14th anniversary of that fateful day. I still view each day as a blessing and a gift.

Celebrate life. Spend time with those you love, and take nothing for granted.

1. Turns out that if you even suspect a serious cardiac event, call 911. That is the best decision you can make.

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