Despite facing severe coronary artery disease requiring double bypass surgery, patients at Texas Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Center have discovered new health, formed lasting bonds with therapists, launched a running group and urged them to complete the race together.
Over 20 million Americans live with coronary artery disease. This leads to more than 600,000 deaths each year.
These numbers from the National Institutes of Health are plain, but there is no need to hand out a death sentence.
“It starts with one step, one training session, one week’s worth of training, one month’s worth of training,” Eric Prisbel said.
Pris Bell’s journey to a new lease in life began when he realized he could not breathe beyond a few steps.
“I tried to jog around the block, but my heart rate quickly surges to 195,” Prisbel said.
He knew something was wrong.
“After visiting a doctor, it turns out that one artery is 100% blocked and the other artery is 75% blocked,” Prisbell says.
Find hope for heart rehabilitation
After double bypass surgery, Prisbell visited the Texas Health Cardiac Rehabilitation Center. There he met Sierra Proctor and Jaclyn Lyback.
“He’s amazing,” said Raibeck, a registered nurse at Allen at Texas Health Elders Hospital.
“We just connected to him,” said Proctor, an exercise physiologist at Allen at Texas Health Elders Hospital.
Prisbell’s goal was to run 5K a few months after the double bypass. This caused the gear to turn around at Proctor and Raibeck’s heads.
“Our bunch here talked about why we don’t start running together,” Ryback said.
Beyond the finish line
“Now we’ve created a small group and continue our bond with Eric outside of his graduation from cardiac rehabilitation,” Proctor said.
Three run four 5ks and one 10k together. But their relationship is far beyond running.
“He was our patient and now he is our friend,” Leeback said.
They are healthier and for Prisbell, the father of three, that is his number one priority.
“For my children, I was there, especially when my daughter was older. Walking her down the aisle, I knew I had a second chance and made the most of it,” he said.
