The American Heart Association has a statistic that states only 10% of those suffering a widow maker heart attack survive the heart attack. I guess with that statistic in mind I have come to the realization that fighting for something important is now a obligation rather than an option. I can’t help but feel that all widow maker heart attack survivors should find their passion and do everything in their power to make the vision happen.
In recent weeks and months we have lost some very special people to the widow maker heart attack that held influential position in the USA. I am saddened every time I hear the words widow maker heart attack when it is disclosed the cause of death. I for one have a great deal to accomplish in life and I would implore all widow maker heart attack survivors to make their lasting impact.
Patrick Fox
#1 by Ben Tipton on August 10th, 2010
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I had a heart attack July 19th and it was found to be the widow maker with 100% blockage.
Everyone seemed very surprised that i survived and i didn’t understand what they were surprised about until i started researching it.
Everything was perfect the ambulance crew knew what was happening and forwarded the info to the hospital so they were ready when i got there so that i was in the cath lab within one hour of my first pain.
While i was being prepped for the cath i had to be shocked back to rhythm and then the cadiologist went straight to the widow maker because they were sure it was the culprit and sure enough it was 100% and he inserted the stint and immediately i felt the flow of blood return and the pain subside.
I returned to work and my normal activities in two weeks and am apperantly the luciest guy on the planet.
I obviously have some purpose in front of me that hopefully i will understand and do what is expected.
Physically I am back to normal.
Mentally i am dealing with how close to death I came and how should i change my life in appreciation of this second chance.
#2 by Patrick J. Fox on August 10th, 2010
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Ben:
You are indeed a very lucky man. It is very rare to have an event like what you experienced. I think anyone that becomes part of the Widow Maker group that represents 10% survival versus 90% fatality has a great deal to contemplate. Perhaps convincing all of the other employees at your business to have a heart check is your destiny.
Good luck finding the reason you were part of the 10%. Enjoy the feeling of being so lucky…it is a very good feeling.
Patrick
#3 by Stephanie on August 12th, 2010
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My dad passed away in 1988, on Easter Sunday, very unexpectedly of a widowmaker heart attack. My brother is now 59 and he had a CABG in June after they discovered widowmaker blockage. He too is extremely lucky, thankfully he acted on his symptoms right away and knew something was wrong. Time for me and my other siblings to get checked out thoroughly!
#4 by Stephanie on August 12th, 2010
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oh, and my dad was only 61 when he died, and my brother almost met the same fate. Too scary!
#5 by scott on August 19th, 2010
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I too am a “widowmaker”heat attack survivor,thought I had Acid-reflux,drove to work(1 hour drive).after an other hour at work went to the hospital thinking my ulcer was going to burst,I also drove myself to the hospital!!…funny the cramping feeling I had ,I had felt dozens of times before that day and it went away,just took my reflux meds. and Rolaids…ha….turns out its a miracle I’m here.
Now I just need to find out what my special “calling” is?
#6 by Donna on August 19th, 2010
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My 59 year old husband is also in the 10% statistic. He suffered the widowmaker in May, 2009. He had already had (2) previous heart attacks, one in 1995 and one in 2006. The pain from this one was much worse than I had witnessed from the prior ones. Thinking he would be fine, our 18 yr old daughter and myself left the house before the ambulance. It wasn’t until they arrived(much later) at the hospital that we were informed that his heart had actually stopped in route and that they had to pull over and revive him. He had his third stent placed that night, his forth a month later. If took him much longer to get over this one than the prior ones. He is still not sure that he has fully recovered because he still suffers from angina though his nuclear stress test looks good(for someone that has had previous heart attacks) says his cardiologist. I’m not sure that my husband realizes just how lucky he is but I do intend on seeing to it that he reads your site so that he can realize it. Thanks
#7 by Steve on August 23rd, 2010
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I just joined the Widow Maker group this past Tuesday, August 17. It was totally unexpected; I had no idea I had any heart issues. I am a 60 yrs old male and otherwise in good health. There were no other symptoms other than crushing pain in the center of my upper chest (between the nipples). No shorthness of breath, no arm pain. I told my wife we needed to do something right then, so she called 911, and within about 3 hrs I had a stent in my heart to open up the 100% blockage. It appears that there was minimal damage to the heart muscle (or at least compared to the normal amount in cases like this). I have yet to go for my first followup, which will be this Wednesday, but so far my prognosis looks very favorable, maybe even miraculous.