death in the family. heart disease.

My dad passed away last sunday morning at the age of 46. He was a bit overweight, not obese, but definately not healthy.  He had a silent heart attack in the middle of the night and died right there next to my mom.  She had the pleasure of waking up to next to a non-breathing, unresponsive husband, a 911 call, a failed attempt to bring his back to life w/ CPR, and an EMT team rushing my dad out of the house.  I had the pleasure of being called while I was away at school and told that my dad was no longer alive.  And I've been living this nightmare ever since.

I feel like I need to let people know what happened in order to save another family this terrible pain.  It turns out that my dad had heart disease.  He never knew and we never knew.  The doctor said the only real "cure" for it was healthy eating and exercise.  My dad refused to go to doctors, my mom had to beg him to go.  My dad refused to exercise, he thought he would have more time and start exercising next year, or the following year.  My dad refused to try new veggies, or fruit, he just starting eating oatmeal, he thought me and my mom were "health nuts".  And now my mom is beating herself up because she felt like she should've pushed him harder.

Please take this serious and go to the doctors, even once a year, just for a check up.  Go for a walk or to the gym- every little bit counts.  Eat healthy- its ok to splurge every now and then... but get back on track.  Beg and pled w/ your parents, husbands, wives, relatives, friends, everyone to do the same.  No one should lose a parent at my age (22) or my brothers (20 & 18), and my grandparents (age 75 & 80) should not out live their son.  Simple little changes in his life may have saved us all from going through this HELL.

My dad was an amazing father and one who I miss every second of the day, but he was a stubbon man and took more time for everyone else than himself.  Take care of yourself, for your family, for your friends.  There may not always be a tomorrow, so start NOW!

I am so very sorry for your loss, and it is a huge one.  Thank you for wanting to warn others.  It seems that in that respect you are just like your father.

Take very good care of yourself, and know that he loved you and would never have chosen this for you had he realized the importance of good healthy eating.  No one can force another into good health and so, it is important you choose good health for yourself, so that you can be certain you will be there for those that matter most to you.

 

After reading your story, I find myself in tears. I & my fiance both have heart disease & if we would have just gone to those doctor appointments, & changed our lifestyle, a lot of pain & suffering could have been saved. Now he has only 40% of his heart function left & is facing open heart surgery.

Please people, go get checked & eat right & exercise.

I wish you & your family many blessings in your road to recovery & thank you for sharing with us.

I think this thread should be a sticky.

Karen 

I'm so sorry about your dad. Losing a loved one is hard. Keep telling people to change their lifestyle and see a doctor for a check up.  I wish you and your family the best. 

I'm very sorry about your father.  Losing a parent is never easy, but one so young must be terrible.  Thank you for posting; I hope your story encourages others to start doing something, anything, to be healthier.

I copied your story and emailed it to my parents.  My Dad is EXACTLY like yours. 

I'm sorry.

thanks for the responses...

I really hope no one ever has to go through this.  I just can't grasp the fact that my dad was living and breathing saturday at my brothers basketball game and w/in 12 hours he was gone. 

Stay healthy!