About Me (In My Own Words)
In 1978 a Doc found Barry had a benign mitral valve prolapse. Early 2001 he was diagnosed with hypertension, told to lose weight and exercise. With a low carb diet and low cardio range exercise, mostly easy swimming, over time he lost 65 lbs to a goal weight (for one day) of 161. Early 2005 he took up running, did his first 10 K ever on his birthday (62nd), April 14th, did his first Half Marathon on Memorial Day, and completed (not pretty) a Marathon the first of September without the knowledge of his running group coach. Almost a week later was diagnosed by his running group coach with SRS (Stupid Runners Syndrome) when he ran 18 miles with his running group and got an overuse muscle injury that sidelined him through about mid Dec. January he began training for an Olympic Tri and completed (not pretty) the Capital of Tx Tri in Austin. Then he trained for his first Century bike ride completed in Nov 2006. He had very slight left chest sensations climbing Spooner Pass at a Lake Tahoe Century early June 2008 and then again on a hill near his home in the mountains east of Albuquerque, told cardiology about it, and had angioplasties and a stent in a branch coronary artery. He went through heart rehabilitation and continued training for the Nations Tri in DC in Sept ’08. He has continued with the endurance events and has helped others to do them. August 28th 2010 he lacked about 50 or so yards from completing the swim at his 70.3 goal Tri with a breath issue. He had labored breathing for two or three hours after the kayak towed him to where he could walk from the Lake. Mid October 2010 at a Half Marathon he did fine for the first 9 miles when breathing seemed to become an issue. November 22, 2010 he had a routine cardiology follow-up that included an echocardiogram. Serious mitral valve regurgitation was found. An angiogram was done on Dec 5th showing no further problems with coronary arteries. A TEE on Dec 7th revealed flail mitral valve posterior leaflet. Barry researched and discovered minimally invasive repair procedures, to include robotic, are available and is, as of today, 1-4-11, has an appointment with a robot, as he calls it, at the Cleveland Clinic for Feb 11th, 2011 with Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic. (Note: Rescheduled to Mar 11th because of fever a week before the Feb 11th date) While looking for information about rehabilitation, Barry found the Ironheart Racing Team Web Site. An amazing coincidence was also discovered. Barry got the idea to make his rehab goal to complete a Marathon, and then thought it would be great if his four daughters would train for a Marathon and do it with him. They are all on board. (Note: Run with the girls revised for them to do a Half Marathon with me, and open to possibility of them trying a Marathon at a later date. I still have a Marathon, registered for it to be done Oct 30th...worse thing that could happen is I DNF, but have every confidence I can do it.) The coincidence is Dave Watkin’s goal in establishing the IronHeart Racing Team is much the same as Barry's, “to teach my children that no matter the circumstances, no matter what others may say, ‘if you believe in yourself, work hard and stay focused, you can accomplish amazing things’.”, so closely this happens to be my goal. Tentatively, my four daughters and I will cross the finish line together, no matter how long it takes, at the Marine Corps Marathon on October 30th, 2011. (Update Notes: The run with the daughters changed to the Chips and Salso Half Marathon, in Albuquerque, on Sept 18th..will ne neat with to have them at home with all the son-in-laws and grandkids. The surgery date changed to March 11th because I had a fever a week before the first scheduled date.)
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Albuquerque, NM
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My surgery date is:
March 11, 2011
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Repair
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Tomislav (Dr Tom) Mihaljevic
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My hospital is:
Cleveland Clinic