The Widow Maker Heart Attack

By a heart attack survivor for heart attack survivors

Posts Tagged American Heart Association

Heart Attacks can be our friend…..but probably not

Jul 30

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Heart Attack Medical Information Blog, Official Heart Attack Loved Ones Blog, Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | 1 Comment

Up until the moment I realized exactly what was going on in my life roughly 24 hours after my heart did I have any clue that I was out of shape, unhealthy, eating not so good, stressed out, and prone to a heart attack. I chronicle in my book all my observations from the moment I flat lined the first time till the first anniversary, it took like I said in the book roughly 24 hours to realize what type of trouble I was in.  In the book “The Widow Maker Heart Attack at age 48″ I convey nearly every feeling both physical but also mentally related to suffering the Widow Maker. As I sit here watching the United States Senate debate the extension of the SBA funding I think to myself just what the 10% survival rate and 90% fatality rate really mean and how lucky I was to be part of the 10%.

To have flat lined six times I realize that in fact my percentage to survive was probably more like 1% than 10%. Makes me wonder whether I should go power-walk for another mile or two. :-) Having just completed my 40 sit ups and 40 push ups and 2 mile power-walk I feel pretty tired but none the less probably a great deal better now than I would have been if I had not suffered the heart attack. While I thought at the time I was in pretty decent shape I must admit that I was not in as good a shape as I should have been at the time. I would like to think I would have started to work out even if I did not suffer the Widow Maker, I realize now that the urgency would not have been there.  Life of death motivation has a real profound motivation factor. Wow.

So I guess that is why I say that in fact Heart Attacks can be our friend, but at this very moment when my arm, stomach, and leg muscles are fatigued I question the thought. Later however whey the ache goes away…I once again will feel heart attacks can be a blessing in disguise.

For all the people who are busy reading wsj.com, aol.com, cnn.com, google.com, msnbc.com and think they are not a prime candidate to suffering a heart attack when you “think” you are healthy and active….   I ask you one thing. If you think you have an elevated level of stress… you are a damn fool to think it could never happen to you.  I know… I did … prior to March 31, 2008.

Patrick Fox

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Widow Maker Heart Attack Rule

Jul 29

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Eliminating Congenital Cardiovascular Defects Blog, Official Heart Attack Loved Ones Blog, Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | 7 Comments

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

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Walter Elias Disney the master of business without negative stress

Jun 26

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | No Comments

There has been a great deal said over time regarding the theory that excessive stress can in time edge a person toward heart disease and ultimately a heart attack. As a teacher that loves teaching I really never thought much about the stress associated with teaching. In fact there were times when I heard the theory of excessive stress, heart disease, teaching and heart attack all in one sentence and I would laugh it off as a joke.

What I found the last few years of teaching is that when you work of a school system that refuses to provide for teacher support in the area of technology and necessary minimal books required to provide creative and exciting education for student the stress can be overwhelming and dangerous over a period of time. What I found was that no matter how much I loved the profession of teaching and working with kids sometimes administrative incompetence outweighs the passion for teaching.

Since that day when I realized that if I wanted to live a full life and I had to make an immediate change and literally walked away from something I loved with a passion, I realized that I had to find something that would again peak my passion for working.  Since October 7, 2009 I have been searching long and hard looking for that special occupation that will not only challenge me on a day to day basis, but provide me with the passion for success once again.

There are some that I have spoke with that says stress of any kind is bad for the heart attack survivor or for that matter people that might be prone to suffering a heart attack. For most of my life be it the The Pride of Rockford, Late Night Basketball League, Greater Rockford Little League, The Good Times Theater, or even the idea of getting on a non broke horse I have learned to control stress levels. It’s not that I have nerves of steel or anything like that, but I love the idea of entrepreneurship and all its trappings. I love the challenge of marketing, sales, customer service, and good physical activity. There are some out there that would never understand that entrepreneurship is a passion and in my opinion not necessarily stressful, but rather a emotional release.

I would suggest that all heart attack survivors find that occupation that provides a level of passion for you to pursue. Determine what makes you happy, and realize what you feel your better at than anyone else alive. There will be those that love you with a passion and for all the best reasons might try to sway you away from your possible entrepreneurial passion, but realize they do it from their love for you as a survivor. That being said… follow your passion and pursue your entrepreneurial dream.

Over the last 25 years I have almost continually read books about Walter Elias Disney, Walt Disney World, Roy Disney, Michael Eisner about the master knowledge of Walter E. Disney and how to create and operate a successful business. As I work on the process of purchasing The Broken Wheel Ranch of Southern Illinois I can only hope that business is successful enough to afford the week long education that takes place at Walt Disney World.

Patrick Fox

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Roy Rogers Lives in Southern Illinois…announcing SeeShare vs Timeshare

Jun 19

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | No Comments

Nearly every Baby Boomer  alive today remembers fondly Roy Rogers as he rode into the sunset singing “Happy Trails to you….”.  I have to admit all these years later that I became very attached to that melody and perhaps that quintessential thought of happy trails to all until we meet again in my day to day life.

I accept that this thought of life is a little corny in the year 2010, but with all the bad, horrible, catastrophic things happening today, perhaps corny should be the”in feeling” versus the odd feeling.

Having conveyed my opinion it is time to announce the earth shattering new idea of SeeShare in order to save as much of the Roy Rogers museum as possible. Recently, it was announced that the Roy Rogers museum was closing and all his artifacts were to be auctioned. The sad thing is that many of his artifacts will never be viewed by the public again if that happens.

Nearly every person alive today has heard about the idea of purchasing the dream vacation via a relatively new concept of Timeshares. I am proud to announce that I have created what I call the SeeShare. I am in the process of purchasing a ranch in southern Illinois that could house a large part of the Roy Rogers Museum for people to visit and utilize their “SeeShare” rights to relive fond memories during their viewing of Roy Rogers memorabilia. I need your help from all over the world to make this happen.

When I flat lined 6 times on March 31, 2008 many people thought I was out of the “entrepreneurial game”, but on the contrary brushing death not only provides motivation to get back in the game, but I think it adds divine guidance.

I hate the idea of the legend of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans will be scattered worldwide in private collections. It is time for action lets make this happen. Please send me an email at patrickfox@widowmakerheartattack.com so that I can provide a public museum of something that will be forever be something special to all baby boomer’s.

I look forward to the 1,000s of emails. Please tell your friends and any media contacts about my plan.

Thank you

Remember…Happy Trails to you…until we meet again…..

Patrick J. Fox

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John Goodman is smarter than the average bear….

Jun 17

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | No Comments

Superstar Actor John Goodman for all his talents and laughs he provides us has now provided something much greater than laughs. John Goodman was a big as a bear, but now is changed his life dramatically to provide hope for others facing similar life challenges. There are many big people out there that each and every day the clock ticks closer to the day when they have that massive heart attack. John Goodman at times weighed as much as 400 lbs, but now looks to have lost perhaps 150 lbs.

Far to many actors have died an early death due to overweight and other problems. Heart attacks kill more people than all other reasons combined. Nice effort John Goodman don’t ever underestimate the fact that loss of  lbs are more important than laughs.

john goodman weight loss stops heart attack clock

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Suffering a heart attack can be a real bitch

May 3

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | No Comments

Perhaps I should have been more delicate with my title .language. However, I am not sure taming it down would have merely described the suffering of a heart attack and its long term impact. I would consider myself to be a fighter or perhaps a competitive person, but what thing I find is that the mental motor is sometimes a little more sluggish than I would like. I don’t mean to imply that I am not still sharp, because I feel that I am indeed as sharp or in some instances sharper than I was prior to my heart attack. What I am finding of late is it seems that in morning I struggle to mentally start my motivational engines. The feeling is very frustrating to say the least. For almost my entire life I have always been pretty motivated be it morning or evening. What I have found since I went on disability the lack of direction makes me feel like I were a sail boat that perhaps somehow lost my keel. While I do move forward… the lack of keel does not keep me moving forward, but rather sideways and sometimes just simply a direction that I did not intend.

I am not sure if it is the PTSD or perhaps depression or maybe just simply lack of emotional direction but I realize that I must find that keel again. I am waiting patiently for word from the SBA and the back regarding the results of my presentation from last week to purchase The Broken Wheel Ranch in southern Illinois. I find that if I am able to focus on that dream and the multitude of activities and challenges that would go into making the ranch a success I am incredibly focused and happy. I realize that it will be hard work, and I am very ok with that fact. In fact I find myself hugely excited about the chance of having my own business again. I do in fact love to teach, but I think that love may be behind me unless I were able to find a perfect position that needs a business teacher.

Hopefully, by the end of this week I will have heard something regarding my dream of operating a small business in the form of owing The Broken Wheel Ranch.  I think it would be great to market my ranch and the wine tour of southern Illinois to all the heart attack survivors worldwide.  After all they say a good bottle of red wine is good for the heart…… :-)

God Willing this will be mine very shortly

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Chicago Cubs….. Helloooooooooooooooooooo

Apr 29

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | No Comments

Attention Chicago Cubs:

I need your help to accomplish a life goal. I have written a book “The Widow Maker Heart Attack at age 48″ and in it I write a great deal about the Chicago Cubs and what they have meant to me.  I have been coaching for 19 years so I don’t think I will throw a wild pitch and I have been singing quite a bit over the years so I won’t completely blow “take me out to the ball game”. 

If anyone out there knows anyone with the Chicago Cubs, please I could really use some help making this happen.

Thank you

Patrick Fox

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Dreams do come true for heart attack survivors

Apr 29

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | No Comments

A couple days ago I had the incredible opportunity to present a business plan that I have been working on for the last 5 months. For the last 5 months I have been almost non stop focused on creating a business plan for a horse campground in southern Illinois. The current owner lost his wife to cancer in the last 6 months and no longer wanted to own and run a ranch.  I have been working with horses for 12 years now and I love working with people and chatting so I thought it would be a great opportunity.

A couple days ago I had the opportunity to make a presentation to a bank and the SBA and I felt great. I was so focused and pumped for the moment that life was as perfect as it could be. Regardless of the outcome… I have loved every moment of planning and ultimately the presentation. What a great feeling.

Patrick

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Heart Attack Recovery is mental and physical….big time

Apr 24

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | 4 Comments

The survival of a massive heart attack is just a small part of the challenge I have found. When I say small…I really mean small. The emotional side of recovery is something that day to day levels of challenge can change much like the difference of ever wave in the ocean. There will be days when all is calm and life is nearly like winning the powerball mentally. Other days I have found is similar to that Kevin Costner movie “The Perfect Storm” when the boat is vertical versus the customary horizontal in the water.

Since Oct. 7 I have found myself on teaching disability and in many ways the waves have subsided for the most part. I have found however that even small waves can be tricky. What I have found in the last several months is the importance of finding something to plan for or get excited about to keep the mind active and hitting on all cylinders. For me I have found pleasure in planning the ins and outs of a new business idea. I have been working on web sites and business plans for three months and they are nearly complete. I have an appointment in Marion, Il. this Tuesday to present my business plan.  Nervous all ready…but in a very positive way.

The physical side of things is difficult to say the least. Changing eating lifestyle from very good to incredible is a real bit_ _. My wife is fantastic in that area and I am trying to be nice with the adjustments, but that does not always happen when I have a erotic desire for a pepperoni pizza or something equally outside the rule box.

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The Outlaw Trail Ride..

Oct 22

Posted by Patrick J. Fox in Heart Attack Medical Information Blog, Official Heart Attack Survivor Blog | 1 Comment

This morning I searched out one of my “Living List” objectives. I was very pleased to discover that The Outlaw Trail Ride had updated their website. I have to tell you that my heart started beating just a little bit faster as I found myself getting excited about next summer already. Granted not every heart attack survivor has a life goal of completing the 110 mile Outlaw Trail Ride, but I for one have it ranked in my top 5.

The Outlaw Trail Ride http://www.rideoutlawtrail.com/ promises to be a fantastic experience. The more I contemplate my “Living List” the more excited I get about life. I would suggest that all heart attack survivors find their “Living List”. Please share  your “Living List” with us as perhaps we could join you if that opportunity exists.

If any of you folks would like to join me on my trip next summer please let me know. I would love to have a heart attack survivor Outlaw Trail Ride.

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