SPOKANE, WA- February marks American Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart health.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but it is often preventable.
For Lee Campbell, every step he takes at Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Center is a testament to survival. Nineteen years ago, Campbell was going through his daily routine when his life changed forever. He was biking to work when he suffered a severe heart attack, an event that pushed him to prioritize his health even more than before.
“And then we ended up to a point where my heart was just giving out. And then I passed out, ended up actually in the doctor’s office, cause I didn’t know I passed out,” Campbell said.
Campbell found himself in a familiar and fearful place—this time receiving 24-hour care from a team of 40 nurses.
When he needed it most, Campbell said those healthcare workers, along with the support of his wife, made all the difference.
“When you’re in the hospital for that long, keeping your head straight and your attitude in the right direction is a major hurdle,” Campbell said.
It was a hurdle he overcame time and time again.
His heart attack moved him up on the transplant list.
“Someone lost their life which is going to extend yours. Emotionally, that’s a tough one,” he said.
Today, after two heart attacks, a heart transplant, and four rounds of rehabilitation, Campbell says he feels lucky to be alive.
But it wasn’t luck that saved his life—it was a combination of modern medicine, skilled doctors, and his own dedication to something many take for granted: movement.
“Focus on your body, listen to your body, exercise is key. I mean, that’s what our whole thing is here,” said Madison Supanchick, a clinical exercise physiologist at St. Luke’s.
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