REBOOTED LIFE: My Husband's True Story

Last month, I had something truly inspiring happen in my life. It's a true story about my husband. In 2018, my husband had a massive heart attack at the age of 50. 

After his heart attack, Our family doctor, Dr. DeMello, called him up and told him that John has a rebooted heart and a rebooted life. "What are you going to do, John, with that?" At that moment, my husband had a choice to make whether he was going to continue living the same way—not exercising, eating poorly, not taking care of himself, not managing his stress—or doing something about it.

Once you have a heart attack and they put a stent in, they do what is called cardiac rehab. My husband started doing cardiac rehab and continued for 6 months. After that, he got to “graduate”. He got a certificate and he was so happy. This great experience in the cardiac rehab program at our local hospital created and infused into my husband the idea that working out and going to the gym was enjoyable. And he actually really liked it. In the cardiac rehab facility, they attach you to all these machines with all kinds of cables to make sure that your heart is fine and you're not going to have another heart attack. He decided that after that cardiac rehab, he was going to do something about his health. He said to himself, “I am going to work out because it’s good for me and my health.”

No matter what you tell somebody you care about, “Go exercise, eat well, take care of yourself…” If they don't want to do it, they won't do it. I knew I had to let my husband make his own decisions about his health. I let him go and let God. My husband needed to take care of his own health and well-being. I could not do it for him. Sure enough, little by little, my husband started working out. He started with just a couple of times a week and developed into a consistent routine. That was in 2018. Right now, it's 2024. That was six years ago and, now, my husband is so passionate about his health and well-being.

Once a year, his cardiologist does what is called a stress test. A year after my husband had his heart attack in 2019, my husband had his first stress test. They put you on a treadmill, attach all kinds of electrical medical wires to your chest to monitor you while you exercise on the treadmill, increasing the incline to ensure you are okay. In 2019, his very first stress test, my husband could barely do 8 minutes. He has an amazing team of doctors, including Dr. DeMello and his cardiologist, Dr. Fuzz, who are very like-minded. Dr. Fuzz is not only a cardiologist but he also acts like a medical coach. He told my husband, "Okay, John, keep doing what you're doing. Next year, let's go for nine minutes." Inspired by this goal, my husband continued taking baby steps towards his health and physical well-being by exercising like walking, hiking, or riding a bike.

In 2020, during the pandemic, we made use of our home gym, a stationary bike, and walked a lot. By 2020, he didn't just reach nine minutes; he went for ten minutes. His goal and dream eventually get to 15 minutes. Every year, my husband has progressed. In 2021, Dr. Fuzz set the goal to 11 minutes. My husband continued, one day at a time, focusing on his health and well-being and nourishing his body while maintaining balance.

Last year in 2023, my husband did 15 minutes and 18 seconds. Dr. Fuzz told him, "Just keep it like this for 2024, 15 minutes and 18 seconds. You are fine." But my husband set a goal in his mind. He said, "To hell with that. I'm going to go 16. I'm going to go 16 minutes." My husband worked on himself for an entire year, getting up at 5:00 in the morning, going to the gym by 6:00. Before that, he has a morning routine: meditating, breathing, praying, taking deep breaths, journaling. Then off he goes, sometimes hiking in the cold winter mornings.

Since last year, nonstop, my husband has been dedicated. He even hired a personal trainer, who happened to be my amazing sister-in-love and my brother. They teamed up and supported my husband, becoming his partners in believing.

This year, since January 1st, my husband has had a goal. When he got his stress test, he aimed to do 16 minutes on the treadmill. My husband achieved that goal! It was so inspiring and amazing. He did 16 minutes and one second. He shared with me that 30 seconds before reaching the goal, he almost gave up. He thought, "Oh my gosh, I'm only at 15 minutes and 30 seconds. I'm not going to get to 16." I asked him, "What did you do, babe? What was it?" He said, "I relaxed. I focused on that one second. I started taking deep breaths and focused on that very moment, not the 16 minutes, just the moment." In that way, 15 minutes and 31 seconds turned into 16 minutes and 01.

He achieved his dream. He achieved his goal. He achieved everything he set out to do for an entire year. I am so grateful for him because he did the work. He didn't do it alone. He did it with God by his side, with his amazing cardiologist, his family doctor, me, my brother, and my sister-in-love. It was a team effort. 

You're not alone. You can achieve your DREAMS & GOALS by deciding to do it, persistent and determination, taking ACTION one day at a time. You don't have to do extreme things. He balanced his life, eating well but also enjoying a hamburger or quesadillas.

I cried when he came home and gave him a big hug. I remembered back to 2018 when his cardiologist said, "Your heart, John, is going to be forever damaged at the bottom. You had a massive heart attack. It's mind-blowing that you're still alive." I told the doctor, "With God's help and my husband doing the work—exercising, eating well—I truly believe his heart will be completely healed." The doctor looked at me, not convinced, but I had faith.

Yesterday, during the stress test, his cardiologist was amazed. "Wow. Way to go, John. What an amazing job you did. I'm very proud of you. Only a handful of my clients who have had a heart attack can do what you did. Not only that, but your strength and resilience are like that of a 20-year-old man." My husband is now 58 years old. His heart is completely healthy. The bottom of his heart has healed and regenerated. The doctor said, "Looking at your ultrasound, John, there is no sign that you had a heart attack."

I'm sharing this story not to impress, but to impress upon you. Whatever challenge you're facing, know this: you can overcome it. You can get better. By deciding to take small ACTION steps and not giving up, you can achieve anything your mind and heart desires. Whether it's love in your life, a new house, a dream vacation, financial abundance, mending a close relationship, or radically shifting your health and well-being just like my husband did.

KEEP GOING! YOU’VE GOT THIS.