Just a few short weeks ago on Aug. 29, my wife and I joined my youngest daughter at orientation days to help her get settled in her new college residence. 

All three of us drove our own vehicles which were all packed to the brim with decorations, supplies, bedding and everything else that you could possibly imagine. 

A couple days later on Aug. 31, my daughter’s room was completely set up, and if I may say myself, it looked fantastic. It was time for my wife and I to leave, but before we did, we took our girl out for what would likely be our last family dinner until Thanksgiving. Hugs all around and a few tears later we left as proud as two parents could possibly be. 

My wife and I drove off in tandem to spend the balance of the weekend a couple hours up the road. As we drove away, I began to have pain in the center of my chest. The best way to describe the pain would be if you could imagine knuckles directly on your solar plexus being pushed in extremely hard and slowly grinding up and down.  

I felt that maybe the pain was my heart breaking from leaving my daughter at college. I wrestled with that thought for about 30-40 minutes, then thought maybe the pain was heart burn, but I hadn’t eaten anything out of the ordinary. Then I started to think about everything I ever heard about heart attacks, although I had zero pain in my left arm, zero pain up my neck, and I didn’t feel sweaty, chilled or nauseous, or any existential feelings of doom. The pain was extremely localized in the center of my chest. 

I have always carried a decent kit in my vehicle which includes a blanket, warm clothing, an extensive first aid kit, Narcan kit and some baby aspirin. As I was motoring down the highway, I reached around to find the aspirin bottle. I popped the lid on the aspirin, took three of them and the pain persisted. 

I voice texted my wife who was driving just in front of me and asked her to pull over at the Tim Hortons just up the road. As soon as we pulled in and I told her that my chest was hurting, she had me sit in her car for a few minutes and suggested we pop down to the hospital to have me checked out. 

Once I arrived at the hospital, I explained that I had chest pain. The nurses quickly whisked me into the ER and immediately hooked me up to an EKG (Electrocardiograph). Our worst fears became a reality and within a few hours I discovered that I had a heart attack. 

I was in a rural hospital for three nights and four days awaiting triage for a medivac flight to the closest cardiac center in Kelowna. I have to say the care I received at the little rural hospital was spectacular. They kept me alive on a litany of drugs and blood thinners to ensure I was good to go when the flight arrived. 

Upon arrival to the hospital in Kelowna, I knew again that it was an absolute first-class facility. Every single solitary staff person that I encountered, whether it was a doctor, surgeon, nurse, porter, EKG administrator, echo cardiogram tech, security guard, food delivery person or janitor –they were all professional, empathetic and motivated to do their part in delivering care to all the patients in the hospital. 

I had an angiogram on Sept. 4. During this process the surgeon discovered that I had a 90 per cent blockage in what we would all call the “Widow Maker”. The blockage was taken care of, and I now have a stent holding that artery open. The very next day I was discharged from the hospital and I’m thrilled to report that I feel great.

Interestingly, in 2022 I completed a full day of cardiac testing when I was increasing my personal insurance coverage. All my levels were within acceptable or normal ranges. I was shocked to learn that my levels to this day are still within acceptable ranges. What has been discovered is that I have a genetic predisposition for heart disease. 

I am a very lucky man. I understand  that I must make some improvements to my lifestyle to help mitigate future risk and I have already started down that path now. 

I feel a call to share this experience to help others in our industry. There are two things that the doctors told me saved my life:

1. I chewed up some aspirin when I was trying to figure out what was causing the pain that I was experiencing. I find it fascinating that such a simple over the counter medication can save a life; and

2. The doctors stated that listening to my intuition and going to the hospital unequivocally saved my life. Several doctors told me that if I continued driving, I likely would not be here today. 

If there is anything that I hope to help pass along to my fellow members, it would be to throw a $7 bottle of low dose aspirin in your vehicle and please listen to your intuition and loved ones if you ever feel something that isn’t quite right. Trust your gut!!!
 
I am incredibly grateful for the second chance that I have been given. When I told the board of directors about my experience at the Sept. 11 meeting, they unanimously supported my drive to share my story. 

CREB^® cares and there will be more to come on how we are delivering on this commitment as CREB^® continues to deliver support to all of our members.