Surviving A Heart Attack – One Year Later
July 7th, 2009 at 10:21 pm by Larry Figurski under Entertainment, News, Sports
It was one year ago tonight, that I nearly lost my life.
On July 7, 2008…. three weeks before my 44th birthday… I suffered a massive heart attack… a 99.9% closure of the anterior descending artery… what is known in the medical field as a “widow maker”, for all the obvious reasons. Thanks to the care and effort of a wonderful wife and the great staffs at Metro Health and West Michigan Heart, I survived what most people, unfortunately, do not.
While I am much more conscious about what I eat and how much I exercise, I must admit I have slipped a bit from the strict diet and regular exercise program set up for me during my rehab at Spectrum Health. What I’m most disappointed in however… perhaps even ashamed of…. is that at times I have lost that “new perspective on life” that seemed so suddenly clear to me a year ago tonight and in the days and weeks that followed. The kind of perspective you unfortunately only seem to get when you know your life may soon be coming to an end. It’s amazing how quickly you realize what REALLY matters and what really doesn’t.
I’m disappointed that at times I have let little things bother me, that I swore I would never let bother me again. I’m disappointed that at times I have let things that happened away from home, occupy my mind or time, while at home.
Although I consider myself a very good dad, I’m most disappointed in the times that I haven’t been able to FIND TIME to do something with my daughters because of other responsibilities or projects that had to be taken care of first.
Do me, and yourself, a favor. Take a little time today, tomorrow, or sometime soon, just to think about what really matters. I’m sure for the most part, we’ll all come up with relatively the same answer. The unfortunate fact is, that in the year ahead, some of us, or at least someone some of us know, will face a life threatening situation or disease. Don’t wait until then to realize what, really, you already know.
For those of you with children… take a little time to play with, read to or simply talk with your kids. I PROMISE you, if you ever end up in the same situation I was in, THAT will be the FIRST thing you’ll think of. And should, unfortunately, anything ever happen to any of us, it will be one of the first things they think of, as well.
Be healthy.
Tags: family, Figurski, health, Heart Attack, Metro Health, perspective, Spectrum Health, West Michigan Heart
Thanks for sharing this with me and the world. I have not suffered any life threatening situation, thank God, but I have a number of conditions that may lead me to that. I have slacked off my diet and exercise, and I haven’t made enough time to spend with my wife and boys. Your story is a good prompter for me to get serious with those things that are most important. Again, thank you for the wakeup call.
Thanks for your insight, Larry. Back in October my husband rushed me to Metro Hospital with what we thought were heart attack symptoms. After a night and part of the next day at Metro it thankfully was not a heart problem. Some fairly heavy duty digestive problems were found which were the source of my pain. This excitement also made me do some thinking about what you have brought out. Like the commenter above I have several conditions which could lead to problems so I try to work hard with my doctors to keep things on an even keel.
Larry,
Thanks so much for sharing this perpective on life! Most of the time, many of us will not do the important things (get right with God,spend additional time with loved ones, enjoy life) until something serious happens!
Thanks for your thoughts and prompts here on what is really important!!!
Lets face it folks, its far too easy to get caught up on getting ahead, working more hours, arguing with somebody at work, eating on the run, not putting the time in for exercise and nutrition, not taking the time out to just LAUGH and taking the time to LIVE! Who will really care if you were the first one to the office? I’m just saying, we (ME INCLUDED) need to take the time out and just live a little not explosively but in a fun and funny way!
Dan
Larry,
Awesome report and commentary. Enjoy you 2nd year and keep up the great work/life experience!
John
Larry,
All of our lives are enriched because you are still around to share your experiences. You’re one of those people who makes the rest of us want to try just a little bit harder. Lucky daughters and wife; lucky us.
Joy
Hi Thanks for sharing your story. My husband suffered a massive heart attack (no breathing no pulse) on Feb 14,2008. He is here today and doing extremely well due to the imediate care he received from the Scarborough,Maine rescue team. Then from the Doctors and nursed at Maine Medical Center, Portland,Maine.where they found he had 4 blocked arteries and a severely damaged heart muscle. He had surgery then he was able to come home directly from Maine Medical Center did not have to go to rehab. He is doing so well you would never know that he had a massive heart attack.