How Sunday Night Football almost turned deadly…
A few months ago, Auld & White Constructors Superintendent Dan Clark began noticing shortness of breath and chest pains after exercising and working around the house. Initially, Dan thought it was just part of getting older, but as his symptoms worsened, he noticed that his blood pressure was high, and he constantly felt fatigued. With a family history of heart disease, including two uncles who had undergone heart surgeries, he knew genetics could be a factor. Despite these warning signs, Dan kept pushing through until one Sunday evening, while watching football at home, he suddenly experienced severe chest pain. His wife, Brenda, insisted they go to the ER, where doctors discovered that three of Dan’s arteries were 80% blocked. A fourth would need a stent later. They told him that if he hadn’t come in when he did, the result could have been fatal.
On August 2nd, Dan underwent triple bypass surgery at Baptist Medical Center North. During the procedure, his heart and lungs were temporarily stopped while machines took over their function. The surgery was a success, and recovery began within 24 hours. Doctors had Dan up and walking almost immediately. After that, Dan spent several days in the hospital and was discharged on August 8th.
Dan’s recovery plan requires him to build up to walking three miles a day over 12 weeks. Currently, he is already up to 2.5 to 3 miles a day and is focused on rebuilding the muscle he lost during surgery. He’s planning to set up a gym in his garage to continue his progress. At the time of his surgery, Dan dropped to 170 pounds. He’s now 180 pounds and aims to reach 190 or 200 through muscle gain.
Along with regular exercise, Dan is carefully managing his diet. Years ago, he took proactive steps to improve his health by adopting a low-carb, keto-like diet, which helped him stop taking cholesterol medication and lose nearly 40 pounds. Moving forward, Dan will continue to watch his diet, avoiding alcohol and fast food while staying committed to his long-term health and recovery.
Dan will be able to return to work on October 7th, but he’ll have a stent procedure on Friday, October 18th, to fix the last blocked artery. It’s a simple walk-in procedure where they will go through his groin to reach his heart. Amazingly, he’ll be able to return to work the following Monday.
Team AWC is incredibly proud of Dan’s resilience and determination and is excited to welcome him back once he completes his recovery.
Dan’s journey reminds us that heart disease can impact anyone and why supporting the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk on Saturday, October 5th, is so important. By contributing or participating, we help fund vital research and programs that prevent and treat heart conditions, offering hope and second chances to people like Dan. Your support can make a real difference, saving lives and improving outcomes for countless families.
Thank you again for your dedication to this cause. Let’s support Dan and others like him by raising funds that will make a lasting impact!
Donate Here >>https://bit.ly/2024-aha-heart-walk <<