“A doctor came over and informed me that I was in the event of a heart attack. I screamed, ‘I'm 28-years-old and that's not possible.’ …it was really up to me whether I wanted to live or die.”
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It is amazing that almost six years ago on August 12, I woke up at 12:20am thinking I had the flu. I took two aspirin then went back to bed. Unable to sleep, my symptoms worsened. Pain radiated from my jaw and elbows and I began to shake uncontrollably. I was sweating and freezing, and the shaking grew worse. I woke up my wife to call 9-1-1 because my body just didn't feel right. I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and I had no idea what was happening.
I arrived at the hospital and was admitted to the emergency surgical area. A doctor came over and informed me that I was in the event of a heart attack. I screamed, "I'm 28-years-old and that's not possible." At that point, another doctor who introduced himself as the head of the cardiology department told me that he could help, but it was really up to me whether I wanted to live or die. The doctor then informed me of the procedure that would happen next. I headed into surgery where I was catheterized, and a stint was placed inside my heart.
Waking up in the intensive cardiac care unit, the first thing I did was look around. Everyone seemed to be two to three times my age. It was then I knew I didn't belong there. I was released from the hospital five days later thinking I would never have to go back. However, I spent the next several weeks in and out of the hospital due to symptoms that were caused by medication and anxiety.
Once I returned home from the hospital I began to make changes immediately. I threw out all the junk foods in my kitchen so nothing remained. I spent the next several hours at the grocery store learning to read nutrition labels and researching what healthy foods really were. I lost 112 pounds in just over a year by eating healthy and a daily exercise regimen. In my quest to become a healthy person, I found I truly loved exercise. Over the next few years I continued trying different forms of exercise and altering my diet. I’ve now lost a total of 130 pounds and became a tri-athlete.
During this quest to change my life I didn’t use personal trainers or dieticians. Everything was done through self exploration, and trial and error. What’s important to me now is using my experiences to help others achieve healthy weight loss through diet and exercise, and discover their potential. My feeling is-- diet and exercise isn’t just a way of life, it is your life. Today I'm in the best shape of my life running, swimming, and biking several hours a day, even participating in triathlons. I just recently completed the Lake Placid Ironman, Boston Marathon, Mooseman 70.3, Swim Across America, and the B2B.
Ironically, as I continued to get healthier, my wife Kara began feeling the opposite. Kara’s energy levels dropped and she just assumed it was from working long hours, commuting, and training for races. At my urging, Kara went to the doctor in December 2008 and was referred the next day to an endocrinologist because her blood work raised major questions. In January 2009, Kara was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Following major surgery in February 2009 to remove her entire thyroid and 66 cancerous lymph nodes, Kara’s doctors continued with treatments to kill the cancer in the rest of her body-- the cancer had spread to her lungs and continues to be monitored. In the meantime, Kara had to cut back on exercising and training for events, but she has never stopped. She is still trying to get back into the shape she once was.
My wife and I consider ourselves lucky to have a second chance when most don't. I thank God every day I get to see the sun shine. I hope my story will help others. My journey has been a long but rewarding one, and I learned so much in the process by being diligent and some trial and error.
LIVESTRONG.COM helped me to know anything is possible and can help others letting them know anything is possible.
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