June 19, 2025
Volume 55 - No. 25
ARE YOU READY
FOR THE “BIG ONE”? R.L. “Pete” Peterson Statistics say it’s not if, but when you’ll have a heart attack. Are you ready? Larry Snider was cleaning the garage. “I’d just put my garden tools away when a sharp pain in my chest knocked me to the concrete floor. I was unconscious for maybe ten seconds. The pain vanished quickly. I felt silly. Why was I doing down here? I tried to get up, but my legs were too weak. I texted my wife. She helped me to a chair, and insisted
we call 911. At the hospital the doctors ran all sorts of tests – I’d had a heart attack. A week later they put two stents in my heart.
freeway and stop his car before he passed out. An emergency vehicle noticed his car was still running and honked.
I feel great now, but rolling around on the floor scared the bejesus out of me.”
When Don didn’t respond, the ambulance driver approached his car, saw immediately Don was in distress, and began resuscitation efforts. Don survived the heart attack. Two weeks later he underwent bypass surgery.
Don Carroll’s Story Don Carroll was on the 71 Freeway when a “Pain worse than anything I’d ever experienced hit my chest and back. I couldn’t breathe.” Don managed to pull to the side of the
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Don’s advice? “Pay attention to your body. My
fingertips often tingled. After climbing a flight of stairs I’d be short of breathe. At times, I’d feel bloated. I ignored these warning signs – attributing the bloating to indigestion, tingling fingertips to poor circulation, the shortness of breath to being out of shape. Today, I know my body was trying to warn me. Seeing a doctor earlier would have made my plight a lot easier.” Pete’s Story My Bride of Sweet Summers, Nancy Anne, and I were on the Pasa-
Ready
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