By | 6 Mar 2016

Larry Calhoun

Several years ago, I completed a 75 mile charity bike ride--a proud achievement and testimony to my level of fitness to complete the ride. About a week later, I went to bed early not feeling well.

I awoke at 3:00 a.m. with a pain in my chest that felt like someone tightening a strap around it and had a VERY rapid heartbeat. I drove myself to the local ER and called Karen, my fiancée, on the way. The ER Doctor determined that I had “atrial fibrillation” (or a-fib). Thus began my journey from a fit man in his 50s to a heart patient overnight. Karen began this journey with me, but also resumed a journey she had previously traveled. Her father had a-fib and had died in 1991 from a stroke caused by this heart disease.

After six months of not being able to control my a-fib, I was referred to a specialist at the Medical University of SC in Charleston to have an ablation preformed. I intently studied the ablation process, and with my background in computers and engineering, understood the high tech nature of this procedure. My ablation was performed in Charleston in February, 2007. This eight hour procedure cured me of my a-fib. I have returned to a normal, healthy lifestyle riding my bike and easily walking 18 holes of golf. My life is back!!

I know that my procedure would not have been possible without intense research into atrial fibrillation, and the work of organizations involved in heart health. We are especially concerned that future generations do not have to suffer with heart disease, especially atrial fibrillation.

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Advocate Stories Advocate Issue - Heart Disease and Stroke Research Advocate State - NC

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