Heartosaurus.com

"...As I was running in Central Park, I felt something hit me like a ton of bricks. I became dizzy and light-headed, almost to the point of losing consciousness..." -Pat Perretta, Survivor

2012-02-24T22:24:00.000-05:00

"...I'm very much interested in finding out how I can become involved with Heartosaurus..."

About five summers ago, I underwent a complete lifestyle change that would later save my life. I joined a local triathlon program called Simply Tri to Lose Weight at Asphalt Green Sports and Fitness Center in New York City. The program incorporated a balance between triathlon fitness training with a healthy nutritional program – the end result being to lose weight and ultimately complete a triathlon. After college my metabolism slowed and I just didn’t adjust to it. As a result, I slowly and unconsciously gained weight to the point of morbid obesity. So I began my weight loss journey as a 45-year-old man at 5'11, weighing over 300 pounds. Having been a successful athlete in high school and college, I thought that training for a triathlon was the perfect way to lose weight as well as tap into my competitive juices again. All other attempts to lose weight had been unsuccessful, but I was hopeful that this would work.

That first summer I trained, kept a food journal and ate a more balanced diet of healthy proteins, fats and carbohydrates, which consisted of lots of fruits and veggies. I really took to the triathlon lifestyle. I completed three triathlons that first year – all sprints – losing about 25 pounds. This motivated me even more, so I started training all year round and as the weight continued falling, my self-esteem shot up. In the second year, I did two more sprints and stepped up my training to Olympic distances to complete the New York City Triathlon and St Anthony's Triathlon (in Florida) with team in training.

By this point I was addicted to the sport, and not only did I live the life of a triathlete, I began to look the part as well (having lost about 80 pounds). After the 2008 season was over, I looked forward to winter to kick up my training another notch by increasing my distance to a half iron man.

However, on December 27, 2008, my life changed forever. As I was running in Central Park, I felt something hit me like a ton of bricks. I became dizzy and light-headed, almost to the point of losing consciousness. The next thing I remember, I woke up in a Lenox Hill hospital bed – three days later – with my wife telling me I had a dissected ascending aorta with an aneurysm which had literally been ready to explode, as well as a valve that was about to detach. My wife and my doctors said that had I not been in the healthy shape I was, I would have died. The doctors and nurses affectionately gave me the nickname, "The Save," because people rarely survive this sort of trauma. I continue to have yearly cat scans and am monitored closely by my physician Dr Plestis at Lenox Hill Hospital .

I often wonder what would have happened if the accident had occurred during a triathlon – perhaps during the swim in Florida or the Hudson River. Luckily, it didn't happen that way. I had a lot of things go my way that day: a fellow jogger to comfort me, asking me if I was alright when I had fallen to the ground, the right officer to assist me, a quick ambulance driver, capable doctors, etc. I have had one more elective procedure since then, and I consider myself truly blessed to be here...I am blessed by the unknown factors that lead to my survival, and had it not been for my lifestyle change and my triathlon training, I believe I wouldn't be here to share my story with you.

While recovering from my surgeries, I decided to dedicate myself to a new career in fitness and health. I am now a Certified Personal Trainer as well as have certifications as spinning and cycling instructor and I’m working at Asphalt Green Fitness Center. The irony in all this my is I am now the coach for the very Weight loss Triathlon program that saved my life “Simply Tri” . I am presently down to around 190 pounds and continue to educate myself as a fitness professional and coach. I believe I can be a good example for others who need to overcome physical challenges and weight issues, and partner with them throughout their journey. I know that if I can do it, you can do it! I hope my story can inspire others.

Triathlons Saved My Life!

Pat Perretta, Fitness Professional
pperretta@asphaltgreen.org
Asphalt Green
Sports and Fitness Center
New York
www.asphaltgreen.org

Pat - Before

Before

After

Today is National Wear Red Day for Heart Disease Awareness!

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Wear Red Today for Heart Disease Awareness!

If you see someone in red on Friday February 3rd, there’s a chance they’re representing Go Red for Heart Disease. Give them a head nod, a thumbs up, or a smile; they’re linked to the broken heart club. February is our month; we bond and come together as one family with this common denominator. We find the Silver Lining in this debilitating disease, and as Heartosauruses we make a habit of it everyday.

Happy Heart Month
See you in the Red!

Email us a photo of yourself and/or your family & friends wearing red and we'll share it on Heartosaurus in a special Heart Month post on the site.

Wear Red Day for Heart Awareness Friday Feb. 3

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

On Friday, February 3, 2012, National Wear Red Day®, Americans will wear red to show their support for women's heart health. This observance promotes the Red Dress symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in The Heart Truth's life-saving awareness-to-action movement by putting on a favorite red dress, red shirt, red tie, or Red Dress Pin. Together, we will continue to urge women to protect their hearts, as heart disease is the #1 killer of women.

Wear red and encourage your family and coworkers to do the same.

Link to this post about National Wear Red Day® on your personal or professional blog or Web site.

Email us a photo of yourself and/or your family & friends wearing red and we'll share it on Heartosaurus in a special Heart Month post on the site.

Like Heartosaurus on Facebook,

Follow Heartosaurus on Twitter,

and join the discussion in our new Forum.

Tweet the bits below about Heartosaurus and National Wear Red Day in 140 characters or less:

Are you a Heartosaurus? National Wear Red Day is on Friday, February 3! Wear red to support women and heart disease awareness. #HeartTruth

Join @Heartosaurus in efforts to support women's heart health on National Wear Red Day, February 3! http://bit.ly/f6w7xL

@Heartosaurus is proud to partner with @TheHeartTruth on National Wear Red Day on February 3. Wear red for women's heart health!

Get your Heartosaurus Gear in preparation for National Wear Red Day on February 3! http://bit.ly/xmc7Br #HeartTruth

Link to www.heartosaurus.com on your personal or professional blog or Web site so that women can learn about their risk for heart disease.

Get Off Your A?# and Read This! It’s American Heart Month!

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Wake up! – During American Heart Month let us rededicate ourselves to reducing the burden of heart disease by raising awareness, taking steps to improve our own heart health, and encouraging our colleagues, friends, and family to do the same. If it hasn’t happened already; the cold hard reality is that you or someone close to you will have to confront Heart Disease at some point in life. Heart Disease kills an estimated 630,000 Americans each year. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. More women die of heart disease than from all forms of cancer combined. Not to be pessimistic, but it’s inevitable that you or someone you know will cross this challenge at some point in life. So take one second to learn about American Heart month and don’t just chalk it up to be another cause that has nothing to do with you.

Unless you are a Heart Patient or have a personal connection to a heart challenge you’re probably starting to tune this out already. Another cause to support right? “I’m healthy", “I’ll worry about this later”,…..”I’m too young to worry about this”……….”we’re born to die anyway, what’s the point?”

“Okay, so quit smoking, exercise more, watch my weight and cholesterol, yada yada right?”

Those are the things that the American Heart Association has been suggesting for years. I’ve restated these valuable suggestions at the end of this post, but how about doing a little more than the status quo in honor of American Heart Month? How about being a Heartosaurus? Heartosauruses are all about living life to its fullest and finding ways to deal with Heart Disease without subordinating to it.

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD A BRUSH WITH HEART DISEASE, be it a heart attack, aneurysm, heart surgery, or anything else; REACH OUT TO THEM THIS MONTH! Make a simple phone call, send an email, send an ecard, or send the always convenient text. Ask them how they’re feeling and let them know it’s American Heart Month and you are thinking about them. As a survivor, I can tell you the impact of being on the receiving end of one of these simple but thoughtful gestures, is immeasurable. It really goes a long way to show the person you not only care about them, but you’ve taken an interest to identify with what they’ve gone through.

IF YOU ARE A DOCTOR OR NURSE, reach out to a few current or past patients and say hi. Let them know you are thinking about them because it’s American Heart Month and you just wanted to check in on them and see how they are doing. You can’t imagine how this will be received by the patient. A call for something other than an appointment or test? A call for unofficial business? Believe me, it’s a rare thing and your patient will not only be surprised, but will view you in a whole new way.

IF YOU ARE A HEART PATIENT, what are you doing to live healthy? Have you used your experience to readjust your perspective on life, use it as a new beginning? Are you a Heartosaurus?

ALSO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND AWARENESS BY:

Wearing Red on National Wear Red Day, Friday February 3rd in honor of American Heart Month.
Get Heartosaurus Gear here, and Red Heart Awareness Bracelets here.

Heart disease can be prevented. If you have a family history of Heart Disease be sure to get screened appropriately. My own heart condition was diagnosed after a routine physical. I was lucky to have a doctor that was progressive, and on the ball. He sent me for a stress test which is not customary for a 37 year old. I would have been dead within a year if they had not screened me and found my aortic aneurysm. Use this Heart Month as a reminder to schedule that physical you've been putting off, and encourage people in your family to be screened for heart conditions.

To keep your heart healthy:

• Watch your weight.

• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.

• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.

• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.

• Get active and eat healthy.

• Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin every day if you are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over 55.

• Manage stress.

Heart Resources:

· The John Ritter Research Program (http://www.thejohnritterresearchprogram.org)

· AorticDissection.com (http://www.aorticdissection.com)

· AorticDissection UK (http://www.aorticdissection.co.uk)

· AthleteWithStent (http://www.athletewithstent.com)

· The American Heart Association

(http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4441)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/library/toolkit/index.htm)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart Disease: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/faqs.htm)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Quit Smoking (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm)

• Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, Heart Disease 101

(http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=126)

• Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, Fact Sheet About Heart Disease (http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/heart-disease.cfm)

• Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, For Your Heart Survey (http://www.womenshealth.gov/foryourheart/)February 2011 Toolkit National Health Information Center 9

• Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, Heart Health and Stroke (http://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-stroke/)

• National Institutes of Health, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Heart and Vascular Diseases (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/index.htm)

• National Institutes of Health, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, The Heart Truth Campaign (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/)

• National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Keep the Beat: Deliciously Health Eating, Keep the Beat: Deliciously Health Eating

(http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/healthyeating/)

• National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Keep the Beat: Deliciously Health Eating, Delicious Heart-Healthy Latino Recipes

(Spanish/English) (PDF – 2.82MB)

(http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/sp_recip.pdf)

• National Institutes of Health, SeniorHealth, Heart Attack

(http://nihseniorhealth.gov/heartattack/toc.html)

• National Institutes of Health, SeniorHealth, High Blood Cholesterol

(http://nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodcholesterol/toc.html)

• National Institutes of Health, SeniorHealth, High Blood Pressure

(http://nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodpressure/toc.html)

• Read Food Labels

(http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/readthelabel.htm)

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Aspirin for Reducing Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: KNOW THE FACTS

(http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm133431.htm)

• U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Resources for Veterans and the Public—Heart Disease

(http://www.prevention.va.gov/Resources_Heart_Disease_for_Veterans_and_the_Public.asp) .

Valentine's Day Book Giveaway in Honor of Heart Month

2012-01-30T08:20:00.000-05:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Barefoot in November

by Benjamin J. Carey

Giveaway ends February 14, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

50/50 Doctors, Angels, Demons, and an Exploded Reality

2012-01-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

When was your reality exploded? Whether you were diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm, had a dissection, heart attack, or someone close to you was: Do you remember when the world metaphorically closed in on you and faded to black?

How was the doctor who diagnosed you, and the ones that you dealt with during those dark days that followed? Were you treated with kindness? Respect? Tolerance? Or were they blunt, condescending, and detached? Have you ever seen the movie 50/50? It's about a cancer patient diagnosed with a malignant tumor. The scene where the man is diagnosed is a perfect example of an apathetic doctor, and throughout the movie most of his interactions with medical personnel are poor. In spite of this it ended up being a great movie, and it brought me back to my own moment of "exploded reality".....back to that moment when I was told I had an aortic aneurysm..........when voices went muffled.......when the world stopped and shrunk to only what was going on in my head. The days that followed were dark and tumultuous. There were Angels and Demons.

In the movie 50/50 one of the man's Demons is his live in girlfriend who cheats on him and ditches him right in the middle of his chemo treatments. She leaves him heartbroken and alone. His Angel ends up being his buddy who distracts him, forces him to get out, makes him laugh, and sticks by his side.

I was fortunate to have doctors that were not only leaders in their field, but who exuded genuine compassion and concern. They turned out to be incredible individuals, one of whom became a close friend. During my journey there were a few Demons; a best friend who wasn't there for me, financial stress, and a complication in recovery, but my Angel(my wife Nicole) helped me heal and gain strength. She gave me a hard time when I needed it, managed my medical care, made me laugh, kept me busy, nursed me during recovery; and most importantly she tried to keep things as normal as possible around me when I felt like I was crumbling inside.

"...life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you..." -Charles R. Swindoll

2012-01-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” -Charles R. Swindoll

------

I was having breakfast with my 8 year old Sunday and a moment of gratitude hit me. It was one of those moments as a parent that you see the fruits of your investment in your children. Her birthday falls right at the cusp of the school year, hence she is the youngest in her class. A few years ago we had the option of starting her in kindergarten when she was eligible, or waiting a year. My wife and I decided wholeheartedly to start her right away instead of waiting. We felt she was bright enough and mature enough. Fast forward a few years and now she just turned 8 and is in third grade. She is in the gifted and talented program for the district, and plays travel soccer for an elite academy team.

Milan and I at the Father/Daughter dance.

In spite of all the achievements I started asking myself lately; what would it be like if we had waited? Besides her being so bright and us being giddy about starting her earlier rather than later, why did we do it?.........she's doing well, but what if we had waited a year? wouldn't she have had an advantage academically being the oldest rather than the youngest? had we done a disservice by starting her when we did? had we made it harder for her? wouldn't she have had an easier time in soccer being a little bigger if we had waited a year? -- I asked my wife her thoughts and she immediately reassured me that we had made the right decision starting her the first year she was eligible for kindergarten. I appreciated her reassurance, but my questions were not put to rest until this random breakfast encounter happened with my daughter.

I was eating breakfast at the kitchen table with my two boys (1 and 4), when my daughter Milan came waltzing in, sleepy eyed and in her pajamas.

"Good morning Angel"
She walked over and put her arms around me and leaned her head on me.
"What do you want for breakfast", I asked.
"Waffles"
I pulled out the waffles and popped them into the toaster. By now my two boys had finished eating and had left the table. They were wrestling on the floor in the living room.
"Milan, you're in third grade right?"
She looked at me the way she does when I sometimes confuse her age.
"Uh, yeah Dad."
"What if you were in second?"
"What do you mean?", she asked.
"Well, what I mean is what if you were in second grade? Mommy and I started you in school as soon as we could. What if we had waited a year and you were in second grade now? Wouldn't it be better?"
"No Dad, what do you mean? There wouldn't be any competition."

I looked at her and just stared, and then the corners of my mouth turned up. I don't think I'll ever question that decision again. As a parent, it was one of the most rewarding feelings I've had. I guess whatever we're doing in how we handle life's stresses, challenges, and obstacles; our children are absorbing the right message. Whether it's the 4 hour commute I do everyday to my office, my wife's dedication at home, or how I handled my open heart surgery. Attitude is everything, and the quote at the top of this page says it perfectly. If you're going through something challenging keep a positive attitude. You will feel better, and it will be contagious to the people around you, especially children.

"...I learned that you never truly know how deeply you love someone until you are faced with the reality of possibly losing them..." -Erika Velez

2012-01-23T22:07:00.000-05:00

"I came across your blog doing research before my dad's surgery. Not only was it informative, it was inspiring....I shared your story with my Dad before his surgery and I know he found it inspiring. I know because one of the very first days he felt barely "human" again, he said, and I quote..."I may be ready to run the NYC marathon." :) He uses that line here and there when speaking to people and doctors and while he is so very far from it, every time he says it, it makes my heart smile because I know something I shared with him inspired him and gave him hope. Thanks to you. Thank you Benjamin. May God bless you always."

On Monday evening November 21st 2011 I learned that my Father had something called an Aortic Aneurism most likely caused by a murmur. A murmur is a leaky valve that caused his heart to pump almost twice the volume of blood it was supposed to. This caused the Aorta, the heart’s main artery, to dilate or stretch out to the point where it was in danger of tearing. Had this happened, my Father would have died. I learned that this is what the late John Ritter died of. As did my dear friend Tony, may he rest in peace. I learned that this condition is usually without symptom and by the time symptoms present themselves, it is too late. I learned that we were Very Lucky to find this, had we not, my Dad would have been gone within the next 1-2 years.

What I learned next was the following-

I learned that six hours can feel like six hundred years
I learned what it feels like to have Nothing else to hold onto other than faith, prayer, more prayers, and everybody else’s prayers
I learned that the heart and the lungs can be stopped and a body kept alive
I learned that the human body’s temperature can be brought down to 90 degrees
I learned that the entire body’s blood content can be put on bypass and filtered through a man-made machine
I learned what very critical condition is
I learned that Life is so very fragile
I learned that a machine could beat your heart and breathe for you
I learned what that actually looks like, unfortunately
I learned that I do have the ability to not pass out when I convince myself to accept a reality - and that I do not have the ability not to pass out when the reality is too much for me to bare
I learned what a CSICU looks like
I learned what a person looks like with tubes coming out of everywhere
I learned what it is to truly Love someone
I learned that I am not the reason my mother lives and breathes, her husband is
I learned that my father can not exist without my mother and vice a versa
I learned that love is not romance. Love is cleaning, wiping, bathing, flossing, brushing and feeding someone when they can not do it for themselves
I learned that being able to do all of the above is a blessing and not something to be taken for granted
I learned that it is a privilege and an honor to watch the two people who gave me life, love each other in this way
I learned that God works through people – Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses, Scientists, medical Engineers
I learned that a stroke is a risk of open heart surgery
I learned that my daughters are Special little people not just because they are mine
I learned that Isabella is an incredibly brave and compassionate little girl and that she loves her Abuelo endlessly
I learned that Ariana is more patient than I ever thought possible spending entire days in a hospital lounge
I learned despair
I learned what if feels like to cry so hard that it brings you to your knees
I learned what a woman looks like moments after losing her husband of 42 years
I learned what it is to feel destroyed on the inside and blessed at the same time because my mother did not lose her husband
I learned that you never truly know how deeply you love someone until you are faced with the reality of possibly losing them
I learned how blessed I am for that fact that whenever my Father’s or my time is up on this Earth I will have already said all the things I ever wanted to say to him – many of us never have that opportunity
I learned that people’s imperfections do not make them imperfect
I learned that I am capable of forgiveness
I learned how terrifying and depleting it is to travel to Hell and back
I learned what it feels like to have a nightmare while you are Not sleeping
I learned that people mean as they Do, and not as they say
I learned that if you really want to help, you just do it, you don’t ask if or how you should
I learned what an integral part of my husband and I, my parents are
I learned what it feels like for us to be lonely
I learned what it’s like to not have a Christmas or New Year’s
I learned how heart breaking it feels for my children not to have a merry Christmas or a happy New Year’s at a time when in fact, they deserved it the Most
I learned what it’s like to have a birthday and not a Happy Birthday
I learned that the ICU, hospital, and rehabilitation center are no place to be on any of the above occasions
I learned what it is to meet a real life Angel in the form of an ICU Nurse
I learned that nine days in the ICU is an eternity
I learned that there are so many people in this world that love and care about my dad and they crawled out of the woodwork to show it
I learned that some bonds between people are forever no matter how much life gets in the way
I learned that the grandest expression of thoughtfulness can come in the form of “buñelos and natilla” in a paper bag, on Christmas Eve, in a hospital room
I learned that another person’s prayer for someone you love is a Gift
I learned that the man I married loves my father like his own
I learned this same man loves me more than I thought possible
I learned what circulatory arrest is
I learned what a gas embolism is
I learned what my father looks like when he can’t see, or move, or talk
I learned how difficult and exhausting it is to learn to move, and start to see and talk again
I learned what post operative psychosis is
I learned what my dad looks like when he is scared and lost
I learned that taking care of your body and getting regular check ups is important

I learned so many valuable things, and so many things that I never wanted to learn

But the most important thing of all, that I learned - is that you never know how truly strong you are until it is absolutely the Only choice you have.
I learned that I’m pretty f'ing Strong and that because of this, I am forever changed.

As you can imagine, my scars from this experience are still very raw and in the early stages of healing. Writing this, was therapeutic and for that I am grateful. A lot of the “things I learned” are incredibly intimate and personal. But sharing these thoughts is important to me because I believe there are many important lessons to be learned from this experience. I feel comforted by that fact that if just one lesson is learned, what my family has gone through is not in vain.

Erika M. Velez
My dad is 68yrs Old
Dr. Jock Nash McCullough saved him

Visit Erika's Blog
http://www.mydadsmendedheart.blogspot.com

Calling all Heartosauruses!

2012-01-18T23:29:00.000-05:00

We've officially added a new "Forum" which I hope you'll take advantage of to share your experiences, lean on for support, gain new insight, and meet new Heart Friends. Everyone who registers and makes a post before Valentine's day will be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of Barefoot in November.

"...my wife was crying, I still did not understand, I was like a deer in the head lights, stunned..." -Doug Mackenzie, Ironman

2011-12-29T23:51:00.000-05:00

"Great Web Site! I wish I would have known about this site prior to my experience."

In 2005 my wife and I were in Las Vegas for a business conference, a couple of weeks prior to leaving I had booked a CT scan for both of us in Las Vegas at a radiology clinic, just as a preventative check. We are both in the mid to upper 40’s and I thought it is a good time to get checked out. We live in Canada and getting a CT scan is not a choice, it has to be booked through a physician.
We had asked the radiologist if he would go through our scans with us, my wife is a nurse and has a good understanding of the medical terminology. The radiologist went through my scan on his computer and we were discussing the pro’s and con’s of getting these scan as a preventative measure, he moved up through my core area to my chest and zoomed in on the heart for a closer look. I noticed a concerned look on his face and some medical terms come out, I did not understand, my wife did she also looked concerned. As he took actual measurements across my ascending aorta his concern got greater and my wife was crying, I still did not understand, I was like a deer in the head lights, stunned that something was wrong especially in the heart area, a 5.2cm ascending aortic aneurysm.
"The reason I was stunned is my life style, I have been involved in sport my whole life, hockey, football, 12 years of rugby and for the last 20 years doing marathons and triathlons. I had completed over 20 marathons and at that time 11 Ironman triathlons, how could something be wrong with my heart!" This rocked my world, I thought that was it, no more sport, but it is so much a part of who I am, how will I change.
For me this was another challenge, I was not going to let this change me, it may slow me down for a while, I had a new hurdle in front of me and that is ok, these things define you.
We flew home and started getting educated, of course the Internet is the first place you go, lots of information, some good some bad, it is reality. We were referred to a local cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. J. Tsang, we had copies of my Las Vegas scan and he also requested another scan to confirm. He did confirm the aneurysm and the size, now the discussions start as to how to deal with this. We were very fortunate that Dr. Tsang is a great communicator and my wife understood the terminology, it was very important to have a second person at those meeting, being the patient you miss a lot. He felt that due to the size being just under recommended surgical size (5.5cm) and we had no history to know how rapid the aneurysm would evolve we would wait and monitor every 6 months to see if there was change and he put me on a beta blocker to govern my blood pressure, it was not high, just a precaution, I was in perfect health other then the aneurysm.
I was ok with that, my question was how much activity can I do, I was booked into a half Ironman in 3 months and a full Ironman in 6 months? He was very hesitant to give me an answer, he knew how important it was to me, he did say I could do activity that would not build up my blood pressure. To me I heard I can do Ironman slowly, my wife did not hear that and off we went. We both knew I had a very serious weakness of tissue in my aortic wall and I have to be careful. I continued to train, very easily, no weights, no hills, swim, bike and run easy.
We had discussed the surgery option and that my valve which was also dilated would have to be replaced, my valve was a tricuspid so that was good, he said it would still require replacing. I did not like that answer so I started researching and found that there was a AAA repair and a valve sparing technique called the “David Method”. I was determined to not have that valve replaced unless totally required. I contacted Dr. T.E. David, the surgeon that this technique was named, he is a Canadian and works out of the Toronto General Hospital. I did get a reply that he would look at my case, he review my file and confirmed the diagnosis, he also stated that I was a good candidate for the valve sparing technique. He was ok with my wait and watch approach, I would continue to be monitored at home and when we decided to proceed with surgery to contact his office.
I continued to train easily, I did complete the half Ironman and also the full Ironman that year, continued to get my CT scans, no change. I completed 2 more Ironman’s and many other events over the next 2 years, but there was always this burden of worry. In 2006 a close friend passed away from a heart issue at the age of 40, my wife and I both decided enough was enough get this repaired. It is a hard decision to volunteer for open heart surgery, the alternative is not an option. We book the surgery for October 2007 with Dr. T.E. David, I had just completed 2007 Ironman Canada in August and now open heart surgery on Oct.
The whole surgery experience was better than I had hoped, surgery went well and recovery went well I got to keep my valve. I could not exercise for 3 month, just go for walks, so I would head out for 2 or 3 hour walks. Exactly 3 months to the day I was on the treadmill trying to run, I had to start from scratch but I was determined. I completed a 35km cross country ski race 45 days post 3 months and in August 2008 I completed Ironman Canada again for the 15th time and I am off all medications. I did not miss a year, it may seem ridiculous to some but for me I wanted to get myself back to who I was again. I continue to make sport a big part of my life, I appreciate it a lot more and I am still cautious. I have completed a total of 18 Ironman triathlons now my best time when I was 40 years old was 10:55 and I have finished in 11:26 at age 53 post aneurysm repair. I now get an Echocardiogram every year and meet with a cardiologist to review, so far so good.
I am a strong believer in getting scanned, we had no family history, my dad will be 90 this year, my mom is 81 and both active, I am 5’10” tall, no Marfan Syndrome or any other reason I would have this tissue disorder and "I had no symptoms, just got lucky on a CT scan."
Saved my life! I hope this story helps inspire someone that there is light at the end of the long journey, this is a repairable disorder and life will continue, you will appreciate it a lot more now.

Thank-you,

Doug Mackenzie
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
doug.mackenzie@mackenzieplumbing.com

"I'm lucky to be alive. I'm lucky they found it. I'm lucky that I stuck to my gut and kept asking for testing." -Meg Greenlee, Actress

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Meg Greenlee
Actress

"I appreciate your website so much. It has made me much more informed and I only hope to spread awareness myself."

Hello,

I just came across your website while I was on the John Ritter Foundation website and I'd like to share my story with you. I am only 24 and I was diagnosed with a 4.6 cm aneurysm 2 months ago. When I was doing research about the condition online and I found the John Ritter Foundation I was completely astonished to learn that is what sadly killed him. I remember hearing about his death but it never "hit home" that anything like that would ever affect myself. Even though at the time of his death my aneurysm could have already been growing without my knowing.

About 9 months ago I started to feel "not right." The symptoms I can now describe as hypertension were confusing to me at the time. After about a month of wondering what was going on with my body and just thinking I'd feel better, I went to my primary care physician. They ran blood tests and took an EKG... both came back with no red flags. Without further testing, my doctor diagnosed me with an anxiety disorder. Although my blood pressure was reading high they said it was probably due to the anxiety.

Seeing as I had always been an outgoing, bubbly, and fun loving person, that answer did not satisfy me. Anxiety disorder? No way! I told him I did not want medicine for it and that it had to be something else. I left the office in tears... not because I found out something was horribly wrong, but because I knew something was horribly wrong and had no answers. Four months went by. The "anxiety" did not go away and I also began to develop a strange shortness of breath. Back to the doctor I go. He tells me that sometimes shortness of breath can come from anxiety and insists on giving me a prescription for a low dose Zoloft. I told him that I would take it but I wanted to do further testing.

A week after my appointment I had blood drawn (again) and had an echo cardiogram and chest x-ray scheduled. The very next day after blood work I went for the echo. During the entire test, the tech who was conducting it kept telling me how great my heart looked, until... the statement I'll never forget : "Almost finished, I just want to check your aorta then we'll be done," she said in a rather cheerful voice. Then her demeanor began to change... she had a quizzical look on her face and her voice became shaky. "You know, I'm just a tech," she says, "but there is something on here that I'd like you to see the doctor about before you leave today." Part of me already knew that my fears were about to be confirmed. I asked how long it would take because I had to be at work in about an hour. Her answer was "you should probably call off." Everything in me went numb. After looking at my scans, the doctor on duty immediately had me transferred to a nearby hospital by ambulance. I was poked and prodded for more blood and scheduled for a CT scan.

According to my echo cardiogram it appeared as if I had a dissection, which was ruled out by the CT; however, the aneurysm was confirmed as well as a bicuspid heart valve that I never knew I was born with. Also, at the time, they told me my aneurysm was 3.6 cm. I had to stay in the hospital over night for monitoring (so much for the baseball game I was supposed to go to) and I was started on atenolol to lower my blood pressure. The next day I was released having no idea what any of the information I was just given even meant. I was in utter shock. I was also under the impression that I would be needing surgery within the next 5-10 years... until I met with a cardiologist a month later. He told me that the aneurysm was actually 4.6 cm and that because I was "smallish" in size that the he recommended I meet with a surgeon immediately. A week later I did so. I am scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram this Thursday to get better imaging and surgery to replace the aorta will be scheduled for the beginning of the year.

Before I found out all of this information I ran every day, lifted 3 times a week, ate a healthy diet, and played rugby. I've played sports my entire life and have always been conscious of my health. It's upsetting that regardless of how much I took care of my body something like this could still happen. Not to mention, I am not allowed to even so much as go for a run until surgery. I teach acting, voice, and dance at a performing arts school as well. I am directing a play that is due to open at the end of January. My students don't know yet, but I might have to schedule surgery before that....... I'm devastated. Each and every day I struggle with breathing problems and occasional chest pain. It is driving me nuts that I cannot work out or go out on the town with friends in fear of something happening. Yes, I am lucky they caught this before it dissected, but walking on egg shells each day is extremely hard. If any good can come out of this it is that my 4 brothers and sisters can get checked out as well. My father was adopted so we are unsure of half of our medical history. Now we know.
On top of teaching acting I work as an actress myself so I cannot say that I'm thrilled for the scars of surgery... but hopefully someone will find that characteristic likeable. I'm lucky to be alive. I'm lucky they found it. I'm lucky that I stuck to my gut and kept asking for testing even when I had no idea what to expect. I know that God had his hand on me and I have full faith that my surgeon will do a great job...

I appreciate your website so much. It has made me much more informed and I only hope to spread awareness myself. In each of the photos below I had the aneurysm without knowing... it's unbelievable some of the activities I was doing and survived.

Sincerely,

Meg Greenlee
meg.greenlee@yahoo.com

"...it was as if a prize fighter had hit me in the gut. It is a very helpless feeling..." -Robin Inman

2011-12-22T01:23:00.001-05:00

Hello,

I'd like to share my story of heart health with you. I am an EMT, American Heart BLS & CPR Instructor, Lifeguard Instructor and I work at the University of Alaska Anchorage as a Recreation Supervisor. I have always known the importance of Heart Health and have always taken it very seriously in my teachings. I have some family history, a Grandmother with Heart Disease (she's still going strong at 96) and a Father with an enlarged heart. About a year and a half ago after having a seizure at 45, I myself underwent extensive medical testing in everything imaginable. This included heart testing at the Alaska Heart Institute, where it was determined that I had two minor problems, a leaky aorta valve and a slight heart murmur. Still not too bad and nothing to worry about at this point (although still don't know why I started having seizures). So I went about my normal business of teaching everyone else on staff about Health and Safety and more recently awaiting the impending arrival of our second Grandchild, a little girl due 11-11-11. That's when the bottom fell out:

When my daughter and son-in-law came back from a visit with the OBGYN they came back with the news they needed to see a Pediatric Heart Specialist. After visiting Dr. David Brauner and they determined little Andrea Joy had VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect) and that it will require medication and most probably surgery as the hole is too big to close on it's own. Now we wait as the impending C-Section date comes up on us and what challenges will be in store for little Andrea Joy. One would think with my background that I could take this in stride yet it was as if a prize fighter had hit me in the gut. It is a very helpless feeling and I know at this point all I can do is make sure my entire family is trained in Pediatric CPR and get ready for babysitting my Grandson Noah (Andrea's big brother). I'm not sure what the future holds for little Andrea but I'm thankful for all the trained heart specialists that will be on hand to see that little Andrea Joy gets a better chance at a normal life. The strides that have been made in our heart care medical field is very inspiring and I for one even have a greater appreciation for it.

Thanks for listening to my story and have a great day. :-)

Robin Inman

robin@uaa.alaska.edu

Saratoga Today: Heart Patient Writes About Survival, Fate, and Beating Odds

2011-11-11T20:51:00.000-05:00

Larry Davidson Interviews Benjamin J. Carey, Author of Barefoot in November

2011-11-10T18:15:00.000-05:00

Larry Davidson, the host of Davidson & Co. interviews Benjamin about his memoir. The author credits his family, John Ritter, heart surgeon Dr. Alan Stewart, and New York-Presbyterian hospital for saving his life. He ran the NYC Marathon a year after surgery and is currently organizing a 2012 NYC Marathon team to benefit the John Ritter Research Program.

Past guests on the show have included author Jeanette Walls, Nelson DeMille, and actor Chris Elliot.

Runners of All Abilities Wanted for Team Heartosaurus NYC Marathon 2012 Charity Team Registration

2011-11-04T00:15:00.000-04:00

Outside of running an elite qualifying time, or being selected by lottery, it's nearly impossible these days to gain entry into the NYC Marathon. Join Team Heartosaurus and help raise money for The John Ritter Research Program. It's a great cause, and you'll get guaranteed entry into the 2012 NYC Marathon.

Running the NYC Marathon is a life changing experience, and anyone can do it. It's not only a physical feat, but is something that touches your soul in ways you never imagined. It's impossible to comprehend until you're at the starting line among thousands of people with helicopters flying overhead, Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" playing in the background, and the towering Verrazano bridge ahead. Bands and crowds along the route get your adrenaline pumping so strong that the miles fly by and before you know it you wish you could do it all over again. You hear faint thunder in the distance as you cross over the 59th street bridge. It rumbles louder and it explodes upon you as you enter 1st avenue and see people 20 deep shouting, and screaming at you to press on. It's a thrill you will never forget, and will change the meaning of November in your family. Only .1 of 1% of all the people in the world run a marathon.
[source: http://www.arrs.net/MaraList.htm]

Running for a cause that is dear to you and something you believe in makes the experience even more personal. If you are a heart patient, or a friend or family member of one, or a doctor or nurse; join Team Heartosaurus. You will be required to raise money to benefit The John Ritter Research Program, but you'll get gauranteed entry, training advice and you'll share in the bond and comraderie of the group!

Heartosaurus: noun [heart-o-sau-rus] 1. An inspiring online reference for open heart surgery patients. 2. A heart patient with an inextinguishable desire not merely to survive, but to live life to its fullest. 3. A doctor, caregiver, or anyone who makes a profound difference to the cause.

Are you a Heartosaurus?

Heart patients; come run with us!

Friends and relatives of patients; come run with us and show support for a heart patient you care about by running in their name and for their cause!

Doctors and Nurses; run for your patients and show them you are not the average; you're a Heartosaurus!

A limited number of spaces will be available. If you are interested in joining the 2012 Team Heartosaurus NYC Marathon team, email us your information ASAP and we will contact you:

Name
Address
Phone #
Email
What prompts you to want to run with Team Heartosaurus

Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Cutting Edge Procedures with Proven Success

2011-11-03T00:27:00.000-04:00

One of the sharpest presentations ever presented on the rapidly advancing technology of fixing aortic aneurysms. It is no secret I am a fan of this hospital, and Dr. Allan Stewart. I researched my condition ruthlessly and still believe the "valve-sparing" procedure made the most sense out of all options. I talk in detail about this in my book Barefoot in November.

Aortic Aneurysm Patient Survey: Medication After Surgery

2011-11-02T16:00:00.000-04:00

Aortic Aneurysm Patients with NO high blood pressure: A year or more after heart surgery do you still take Toperol or another blood pressure medication?

My mommy was really sad and scared. But the doctor said we still have hope. We can place you on a waiting list for a new heart.

2011-10-19T17:00:00.000-04:00

[Story told by her Auntie, Gina Plantz]

Hello, My name is Savana Sky. I am 29 months old. I was born with a congentical heart defect called ALCAPA which stands for Anomalous Left Coronanry Artery arising from the Pulmonary Artery syndrome. Also known as Bland-White-Garland syndrome.

I was born with this. I was very lucky to survive long enough for the doctor's to correctly diagnose me. When I was little, I was always more sick than my twin sister Trinity. That's right I am a twin. My mom kept taking me to the doctor cause she said that I wasn't healthy. Thankfully someone listened to my mommy's instinct and found out why I was always so sick.

On August 18th 2010 I had my first open heart surgery. I was 18 months old. That surgery was really scary for my mommy and my sisters. I was able to pull through and get a little better than I was before I had the surgery. But I had to keep visiting all these doctors and at my 6 month post open heart surgery check up, the doctor gave us the bad news: My heart was too damaged. It was broken. My mommy was really sad and scared. But the doctor said we still have hope. We can place you on a waiting list for a new heart. So we waited........

On October 11th 2011 we got the call.

This call forever changed my life. Somewhere there is an amazing family that chose the gift of life. Because of this random act of unselfishness I have an angel that walks among me now. I am eternally grateful as well as my family.

Savana is currently recovering and listening to the beat of her heart at the Arkansas Children's Hospital.

[Visit Savana's Facebook Page here]

[Read more about this amazing little girl here]

Dear Heartosaurus, I recently had surgery for an 8cm aortic aneurysm that was fully dissecting from the root and ascending through the descending.

2011-10-18T22:19:00.001-04:00

Dear Heartosaurus,

I recently had surgery for an 8cm aortic aneurysm that was fully dissecting from the root and ascending through the descending . My aortic valve was also repaired. I had virtually no symptoms and had no idea until an echo-cardiogram, to investigate a "slight" murmur, discovered this. I was in surgery the next day and was lucky that the surgeon was also trained in the valve sparing technique. Recovery is going very well so far - at almost five weeks post op, no complications yet. I just read the "Barefoot in November" book. My experience was quite different as I had no time to contemplate or investigate the procedure - it was essentially emergency surgery.

My whole story is detailed on my blog at www.jaminjones.com

The story starts at http://jaminjones.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-dont-need-easy-i-just-need-possible.html.

My own personal goal is to resume windsurfing and surfing in 6-8 months.

-Ben Jones

My Favorite Training Information Site: Joe Friel’s Blog

2011-10-11T16:38:00.000-04:00

My Favorite Training Information Site: Joe Friel’s Blog

"I told my cardiologist about your book and how it helped me."

2011-09-23T18:10:00.000-04:00

Ben,

4 months out and all is good. Couple of a-fibs but they were expected. Ran a 5k at rehab and 2 on my own. I think the fact that you ran the marathon a year later is one of the reasons I enjoyed your book so much. I have always been a runner not fast but a runner. Watched my wife and a bunch of friends do the Spring Lake NJ 5 mile in May (30 days out). I look forward to being in it next year.

I told my cardiologist about your book and how it helped me. He said he would recommend it to his patients.

Hope you and your family are doing well.

-leon

"Living a Story"; The Great Cow Harbor 10k Race

2011-09-23T00:25:00.000-04:00

Your whole life changes when you choose to live it like a "Story".

What makes for a memorable life are the stories, and the scenes that make it up. In the end what will be remembered is how well you made each day stand out from the next.

The Great Cow Harbor Race has become an annual affair for my family. It's part of our "story". There is a nationally ranked 10k race, surrounded by a weekend of family events, parties, craft fairs, and parades. All of this takes place in our quaint harborside town, Northport, NY. We tackle the race as a family every year (my children have been running since the age of 3), and then enjoy each other's company as the first leaves begin to fall from the trees. Last year my wife and I ran together less than a year after I had open-heart-surgery. We finished in about 53 minutes. This year she tore her ACL playing soccer a couple weeks before the race, so I had to run without my best friend. Our children ran the fun run with our friends, and Nicole spent her time promoting my book at the finish line with my family. I shaved 7 minutes off my time this year, finishing in 46 minutes. It's still hard to believe after open heart surgery.

Alison & my daughter Milan

Sal, my son Preston, daughter Milan, & Ali

Milan & Preston

Mom, my son Sully, & my brother Justin

My stepdad Ed

From Donald Miller's "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years":

"We get robbed of the glory of life because we aren't capable of remembering how we got here. When you are born, you wake slowly to everything. Your brain doesn't stop growing until you turn twenty-six, so from birth to twenty-six, God is slowly turning the lights on, and you're groggy and pointing at things saying circle and blue and car and then sex and job and health care. The experience is so slow you could easily come to believe life isn't that big of a deal, that life isn't staggering. What I'm saying is I think life is staggering and we're just used to it. We all are like spoiled children no longer impressed with the gifts we're given -- it's just another sunset, just another rainstorm moving in over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral."

"A good movie has memorable scenes, and so does a good life."

"I really enjoyed this book. Not only the education about aortic aneurysm but the honest account of the whole ordeal. A strong 4.5 stars." -Amazon Review of Barefoot in November

2011-09-08T02:01:00.000-04:00

I really enjoyed this book. Not only the education about aortic aneurysm but the honest account of the whole ordeal. A strong 4.5 stars.
When the author discovers he is a ticking time bomb due to his aortic aneurysm he decides to deny, ignore and rationalize his condition to suit his life. One can only think, thank God for Nicole. His wife took the reins heckling and cajoling until he decides to do the follow up cat scan to determine the level of severity. What follows is the surgery and recovery which has been described with such candor you really appreciate what he survived.
After such a massive surgery and his wife's surgery they commit to running a marathon, and finish. With a great time. Something most of us without that history cannot do.
I like that Benjamin not only survived but showed such an appreciation of his blessings by the end of the book. He struck me of someone who had his eye on the prize and missed most everything not related to that prize. I'm glad he is bringing awareness to aortic aneurysm. I think it gets swept up in the heart attack category too much, and is obviously something that shouldn't be ignored! Look forward to reading more from this author.

-Amazon.com Review of Barefoot in November
[see more]

Actress Amy Yasbeck, founder of the John Ritter Research Program endorses "Barefoot in November"

2011-08-23T18:10:00.006-04:00

"...I recommend this touching and inspiring book to everyone."

-Amy Yasbeck

Running a marathon is much more than just a metaphor in Benjamin Carey’s powerful memoir Barefoot in November. His inspiring story, beautifully told, encourages us to take charge of our own fate. This book captures his emotional, physical and spiritual journey to the finish line and beyond.

Benjamin Carey’s world is understandably rocked when he discovers that he is living with an aortic aneurysm. He credits his family, doctors and surgeons, as well as post John Ritter awareness, for his survival. In the wake of John’s loss the demand for information about aortic dissection and its genetic predisposition was heightened. This wave of awareness has brought about a significant rise in correct diagnosis and in proactive treatment for this dangerous ticking time bomb. Ben’s wife Nicole and his mother keep him on track by reminding him to consider John's fate when assessing his own.

I especially appreciate the simplicity and specificity with which he lays out the medical and personal events leading to his life saving surgery. His writing strikes the perfect tone while honestly recounting what it took to survive his ordeal. The tenderness, toughness and humor required will be recognizable to anyone who has gone through this kind of crash course in aortic disease or any life changing event.

I recommend this touching and inspiring book to everyone.

-Amy Yasbeck, Actress & Founder of

The John Ritter Foundation and

John Ritter Research Program

Runners and Walkers wanted for Team Heartosaurus in the 2011 Great Cow Harbor 10k Race in Northport, NY

2011-08-21T16:16:00.000-04:00

Are you a doctor, heart patient, family or friend of someone affected by heart disease?

Join Team Heartosaurus at the 2011 Great Cow Harbor Event.

Participate with us in this nationally ranked 10k race, or the 2k fun run/walk. All you need to do is register on active.com and then purchase your Team Heartosaurus Jersey(see stores below - a portion of proceeds will go to charity). On race day we'll meet at the starting line a half hour before the gun goes off and begin together! It's a great opportunity to help increase awareness of heart disease as well as show support for friends or family members that have gone through a heart related ordeal and encourage everyone involved to think positive.

The 2011 Great Cow Harbor Event will be held on Saturday September 17 in Northport, NY. It is open to all ages and abilities. There is a 10k race and 2k fun run/walk(strollers are allowed). It is by far the best family race in the area, and funds raised go to charity. The beautiful course winds through the quaint and historic village, and finishes near the waterfront. The event is covered nationally by Runner's World and ESPN, and is highlighted by a weekend of festivities including a legendary after race party, parade, and craft fair. To participate in more events like this see our Team Heartosaurus page and Events Calendar.