My father was forty-seven when he experienced his first heart attack. At eighteen years old, I hadn’t realized how young my father actually was. At that time the doctors told him there were several blockages to his heart, and he was in need of  bypass surgery.  In those days, (1979) bypass surgery took around fourteen hours, and the risk was high for not surviving. Fortunately, for my father he recovered, and returned to work for a while longer.  

My father’s doctors advised him to lose weight, stop smoking and reduce his stress. You would think a  heart attack scare and surgery  would  make you change your habits or behavior, Right? 

For my father this was not the case.  He was able to get the diet under control losing twenty-five pounds. He added lot’s of exercise to his daily activities, which included lot’s of yard work.  Unfortunately the cigarette addiction had a strong hold. Most would have called him a chain smoker!  The more the doctors talked about him quitting cigarettes, the  more he smoked.

 Ultimately my father found himself  back in the hospital within three years, facing more blockages and the need for yet another bypass surgery.  

This time it had a true effect on my outlook on life. This is where I was  scared  straight….making an instant change to  my lifestyle.  I was twenty-two years old,  already facing weight problems and I too was a smoker.  I needed to lose 25-30 pounds after the birth of my son, so like many other women, this is why we smoked. Sure it could make you lose some weight, however in the long run, you will gain the weight and now you are just another overweight person who smokes. Not an image I was striving for.

My first step was to quit smoking, which  I replaced  with running. Visiting the local high school track everyday after work, I started walking and ultimately turned to running. To keep my focus, I set my sights on a local 10-K event that year. Little did I know this would become a big part of my life. I placed second in that race in my age category. (OK, so there were only 2 people in my age category, a win-is-a-win! I earned my bragging rights!) I was  so inspired, I knew exercise was going to be a lifelong choice. 

My love for exercise turned to the local fitness center, which quickly turned into  a part-time career teaching  group exercise.  My father ultimately stayed fit and as healthy  as he could while continuing to battle his addiction to cigarettes. He faced multiple bypass  surgeries and other procedures to keep his veins flowing until he was 78 years old, which is when he passed away from Carotid Artery disease. He always felt he was on borrowed time. He spent his day’s fishing, and working in his yard, to reduce his stress and enjoy his life.

 

My father spent thirty years working in senior management at Monsanto. In 1980 studies were launched suggesting the employees were all facing the same health issues. These studies implied the employees where subject to toxins that could be causing issues like Cancer, Carotid Artery Disease, Kidney Disease etc… Nothing ever came of those allegations and studies while he was alive.  Now 30 years later  we all know the dangers of   Monsanto...