Kenny Walburn said he knew people who had heart attacks, but he was convinced he would never have one. After all, he had devoted his life to being healthy.
Walburn, 61, the founder of Walburn’s Athletic Club in Emporia and Madison Athletic Club in Madison, has exercised daily and has eaten right for more than 30 years. His dedication to fitness has won him numerous national fitness competitions. His most recent win was just three months ago.
But on the evening of Feb. 20, Walburn was working at the McPherson Athletic Club, owned by the Walburn family, when he felt chest pains. He went to the hospital, where he collapsed on the emergency room floor suffering from a heart attack.
He looked fine on the outside, but doctors discovered his heart was barely beating because three arteries were blocked between 75 and 100 percent.
We share Walburn’s story of survival in hopes that it may encourage readers to get their hearts checked.
Q How were you feeling on the day of your heart attack?
A I was doing my morning workout and I was feeling a little bit sluggish. But I just thought it was my age and that I am getting older. But I completed my exercise went home and rested. I went back to the gym at 8:15 p.m. that night. I didn’t have any numbness or any tingling in my fingers, but I just had a few little needle points in the middle of my chest. I thought it was indigestion.
I was going to train a lady that night and she offered to take me to the emergency room but I told her no and that I was OK. And then about 8 minutes later it hit me again and I thought it was muscle spasms. So I laid down and then it hit me like a hundred needles in the middle of my chest. It got harder for me to breath and then my friend insisted that I get in the car and go to the hospital.
As soon as I got to emergency room, I collapsed on the floor. In 14 minutes they had me ready for transport to Hutchinson for immediate surgery.
Q What where you thinking on your way to the hospital?
A I actually gave myself my last rites. I was hurting that bad. I always thought I would be afraid to die but I am good with my Lord and I just started praying for my family.
Q What did the doctors find?
A They found I had a 100 percent blockage in the back part of the heart. They went in and opened that up and put a stent in and they ballooned another one. I waited seven more days and then they put in two more stents.
Q You exercise, eat right, and receive yearly doctors’ checks. What do you attribute this heart condition to?
A Cholesterol runs in my family, but I always thought if I eat right and exercise I would be fine. My mother died when I was young and my sisters raised me so I never really thought much about my health history. I think I just overlooked that.
I just felt since I was healthy and a non-smoker that it wouldn’t happen to me. But it did happen to me. My cardiologist told my kids that if I hadn’t had such a healthy heart from working out and being a non-smoker, then I wouldn’t have survived.
Q Did you feel discouraged about having a heart attack after you having dedicated yourself to a healthy lifestyle?
A My niece, who is a nurse, called and asked if I had depression: because lots of people have that after a heart attack. I have too many kids and grandkids and I just want to live longer.
Q How quickly did you recover from the surgery?
A After the surgery I was at my son’s house and I could only sit there for so long. So three days after the surgery I was back at the gym. I couldn’t drive so I just had a friend pick me up and take me to the gym.
Right now I have been doing cardiac rehab slowly and I am doing light weights again. I am walking 30 minutes a day.
Q Are there medical tests that could have alerted you to your heart condition?
A I found out later that there are tests you can pay for to make sure that all your arteries are clear — one is a stress test. I think looks may have been deceiving because while I looked in good shape for my age, they didn’t give me a stress test even though my cholesterol was up.
Q How has this experience changed your perspective on life?
A I am just happy to be alive. It gives you a new perspective for your loved ones, you pray more and you appreciate life more. You realize you are here for a limited time. I have tried to let go of little things that would normally bother me.
Q What advice do you have for people?
A I am a survivor because of my healthy lifestyle. I didn’t smoke and exercised regularly and have a strong heart.
Also, when you have a heart attack you have 90 minutes to get into surgery. I wasted about 30 minutes from the time I first felt problems. If you have chest pains don’t waste time. Luckily, I was under the 90 minutes.
yrapos (anonymous) says...
kenny forgot to mention his past of heavy drug and alcohol abuse. im sure the steroids that he abused for years and the cocaine had more to do with his heart problems then his genetics. add cigerette smoking into the picture and he is a real good example of health and wellness. oh, and kenny walburns education of kinesiology, exercise physiology, and wellness is more of a joke than my knowledge of building a spaceship. kenny is such a slime he leaves a trail behind him like a slug where ever he goes. just ask him to see proof of his education, he can't!
March 22, 2010 at 8:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
If you don't have anything nice to say.........
March 22, 2010 at 8:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lcountyvictim (anonymous) says...
Someone has some serious venom to drag this story out three years later. Don't accidentally bite yourself in the rear while you're talking out of it. Truth or not, yrapos, your post is tasteless.
March 22, 2010 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rjskis (anonymous) says...
Um well.... I think he may be right...
August 23, 2010 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )