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The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 26, 2006 - 15 Enjoying a healthy heart and healthy life If you met 60-year-old Fred Jacques today, you would think him the picture of health and balance. Vibrant, but relaxed. Wellspoken and reflective. The kind of guy that you would like to get to know and spend some time with, and someone that you imagine would make the time for you. If you hear Fred's story, you realize quickly that what you see now is probably not what you would have seen a few short years ago. An Oakville resident for 20 years, Fred held numerous high pressure jobs as a senior executive in the insurance industry. In 1998, he retired comfortably, but was quickly lured back into the work world with contract work that started out small and turned into 12-hour days before he knew what was happening. Fred had always been fairly active, walking on most days and enjoying golf when he could. His weight was slightly more than he would have liked, but within reason he thought, given his busy life and the `wining and dining' that came with the job. In November of 2004, Fred returned from a vacation with what he thought was angina pain. The problem persisted and his energy declined and he was booked in for an angiogram in March of 2005. He had just taken a new contract as an insurance director, but 10 days before the angiogram he quit ­ not quite sure why, but something he felt he had to do, "I was going through a lot of self-evaluation and questions....and wondered if it was my heart." On March 21, 2005 Fred's angiogram revealed three major heart blockages, including one blockage of 97 per cent. He underwent an emergency triple bypass that same day and that virtually saved his life. Doctors had told him that leaving the hospital would have been extremely risky. After the surgery, Fred's first reaction was shock, and that quickly turned to fear. "I wanted to know when I could hike, when I could play golf, when I could mow the lawn...or even when I could travel again. When you are recovering from heart surgery you lose confidence in yourself and your body. You are afraid that you are never going to be able to do the things you did." Two months after his surgery, Fred received an invitation to join the cardiac rehabilitation program at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH). "I connected really quickly with the other members...we were all in this predicament and were all apprehensive." Fred's confidence grew as he worked his way through the OTMH program which included visits twice a week, exercise, education and constant evaluation and testing. "I just knew that if something didn't feel right they would check it out carefully... I felt safe. It was like I was being given a second chance to live a normal life." When the cardiac rehabilitation program ended in six months, Fred did not want to lose what he had gained. He visited the YMCA of Oakville, and made the decision to join in January of 2006 so that he could maintain his health. He saw many people with disabilities much more visible than his own condition. "I was impressed with the amount of effort that you put into helping people." Fred recognized that he had not accepted retirement, so he made a promise to himself to make his health a priority. "I had a choice to make. It was almost as if something had to happen to make me appreciate my health. Now my life is getting back to normal with the help of wonderful caregivers, friends and family." Some of Fred's friends have been amazed that he did not jump back into the work world, but he has stuck to his guns to make his health a priority. Fred held many volunteer responsibilities over the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program will relocate from a crowded room in the hospital basement next to the morgue to the state-of-the-art YMCA of Oakville facility. The Y will provide, free of charge, both cardiac rehabilitation program and instructional space. Anne Tompkins, Halton Health Services (HHS) Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator, is excited about the longterm opportunities for patients to continue to exercise beyond the six-month program. "We are proud of our cardiac rehabilitation program. With the Y's involvement, the ultimate goal is to foster a long-term commitment to physical exercise and overall lifestyle change in the patients." It's not often that we get a second chance in life. At the YMCA of Oakville, we are proud to help you make your health a top priority, and hosting the cardiac rehabilitation program is just one more way that we can give back to the community of Oakville. For more information on the Y, or on the upcoming relocation of the HHS cardiac rehabilitation program, call the Y at 905-845-3417, or go to www.ymcaofoakville.com. -- Submitted by the Oakville YMCA. course of his life and recognizes the value of giving back to the community, and will continue to do so in time. In September, 2006, the OTMH $25 gift card. How tweet it is. Only available until May 28th. Get a Canadian Tire Gift Card when you sign a 3 year contract. LG 6190 LG 535 Camera / Video / Slider phone LG 8100 Music / TV / Camera / Video phone Palm® TreoTM * $25 FastapTM Camera phone $0 * $49.99 (3 year contract) * $79.99 (3 year contract) $99.99 (3 year contract) (3 year contract) AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT THESE PARTICIPATING AUTHORIZED TELUS DEALERS IN OAKVILLE: reduce reuse recycle ALL WIRELESS 2501 - 3rd Line Unit 18 (905) 827-7080 PRIMELINE CONNECTIONS 210 North Service Rd. Unit 8 (905) 469-1155 WIRELESS WIZARDS 2335 Trafalgar Road (905) 465-2837 Offer available on new activations only, while quantities last, until May 28th, 2006. Phone availability and prices may vary. *Effective net price based on a 3 year contract after in-store discount or invoice credit on your future TELUS monthly bill. Offer available on a 3 year contract for clients who activate on a combination of voice, email and web plans with a total value of $80/month or more. Voice plan must be $40/month or higher. Fastap is a trademark of Digit Wireless LLC. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners used with permission. © 2006 TELUS.