Support Needed for Heart Patient's Recovery

I’d like to start off by saying thank you for taking the time to read my story. In the last four months, I have had two heart attacks which has cost me my job and has made it difficult to do a lot of things. I’ve also lost my health insurance, which is making it very hard for me to afford all the different medications they want me to be on as well as specialist to follow up with.

I have spent the last 30 years in the hospitality industry, serving other people and going above and beyond their expectations. I truly love what I do, but it’s difficult for me to meet the requirements of the job at this time. I’m also a father to the most amazing 10-year-old little girl and have a fiancé that hope to marry soon . Grace (my daughter) is my world and I want to be here for her as long as I can. It scares me with my recent health issues that I may not ever get to see her graduate high school or college. I may not get the opportunity to walk her down the aisle and watch her get married and have children one day.

It will be several months before I can even think about trying to find another job and go back to work. Bills are stacking up and I’m terrified of getting behind on everything. I desperately need help with paying medical bills, getting the medicine that I need, and seeing specialist that will help me with having a better quality of life. If you can find it in your heart to help or share my story with others, I would be eternally grateful. Thank you in advance for your help and God bless.

In 2014, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I started taking meds, but didn’t take my diet seriously. By 2016 I was at 315 pounds. The biggest I’ve ever been. I had chronic joint pain and my high blood sugar would cause mood swings constantly. I would be enraged at times over trivial things, depressed, and felt like I had no quality of life most of the time. I worked 60 - 70 hours a week and when I did have time off, was too tired to even do anything fun with friends and family.

In 2018, I had a heart attack. I’ll never forget that day. I remember saying to myself, “ I’m only 40!! How can this be happening to me.” I started being more mindful of what I was eating over the next year and dropped my weight down to 245 pounds and was feeling pretty good. I continued to battle with depression and would eat like crap to make myself feel better. It’s a vicious cycle and is hard to break.

This year, I had my 2nd heart attack in February. 100% blockage in my LAD a.k.a “The Widow Maker.” Once again, it was due to poor diet and not managing my stress in a healthy way. During the recovery process, I lost my job. All of this just after buying a house with my beautiful fiancée, Jennifer. The recovery took a lot longer than the first time. It was hard for me to do anything. After a few months, I started feeling like my normal self again. Thanks to Jennifer helping with my diet and making sure I was eating right, I was in pretty good shape.

June 11th 2024, I had my 3rd heart attack. This time, 100% blockage in my Right Circumflex Artery. I was in the Heart Cath Lab at Northside Cherokee for nearly 4 hours. Meanwhile, my mother and fiancée are freaking out because of how long the procedure was taking. The blood clot had calcified which was making it difficult for the cardiologist to break through and clean it up. The cardiologist was about to give up and have me life flighted to a hospital in Gwinnett that had more advanced equipment for dealing with this kind of blockage. Just as he was about to make the call, he broke through and the procedure was a success.

I’m glad to be home now with my fiancée and my daughter. I have vowed to take better care of myself and do whatever it takes to be here for my family for a long time. Take care of yourself mentally and physically. There are so many people who care about you and need you. Thanks for reading!!