Site Content
Produced Stories
More than five decades after his father died of a heart attack, Barry suffered the same traumatic event. Without a heartbeat for 20 minutes, emergency medical techs broke his sternum and ribs to bring him back. Today, Barry’s energy is unstoppable as he speaks with conviction about the joy of life, family and healthy living.
Barry Walter: From heart attack to lovin' life
Story printed on Sprint Corporation internal home page in August, 2013 for 40,000 employees to view.
Dear Friend,
Barry Walter’s friends have heard him say over the years that his biggest fear of dying was that he’d die on a Friday and get cheated out of the weekend. Well, it turns out Barry did “die” on a Friday, but he wasn’t about to miss out on the weekend … or the rest of the year … or all the years ahead.
“With just a two percent survival chance, I am truly blessed to be here. Not many people get a second and third chance at life,” said Barry, a Business Care Manager in Michigan who suffered a massive heart attack four days before Christmas last year. “I plan on being here for many years to enjoy my grandson, my family, friends and retirement someday. There are too many men and women in their 50s passing away from heart attacks, and I understand that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in their 50s. We all deserve our retirement, because we have worked our entire lives to reach this goal.”
Intent on celebrating his second chance at life and the people who made it possible, Barry and his wife, Cheryl, are hosting a party at their son’s house this month for the emergency medical technicians who saved his life … plus all others in the city.
“They saved my life. I want them, and everyone who does this life-saving work, to come to my son’s house for a barbecue lunch on me just to say ‘thank you,’ ” Barry explained. “The last thing I remember from the morning of the heart attack is telling my wife I didn’t feel right. A little later, she heard a ‘death rattle’ as I gasped for breath. Seeing the look in my eyes, she knew I was dying. She called 911. Soon the EMTs arrived. After working on me furiously — and breaking my sternum and two ribs, they managed to bring me back. I’d had no heartbeat for 20 minutes.”
Later at the hospital in emergency surgery, the medical team opened up Barry’s blocked heart valve, pushed the blood clot clear and inserted a stent. To minimize damage to his brain, they lowered his body temperature and induced a coma. The cooling procedure saved Barry’s life and the quality of his life. He went home four days after coming out of the coma, in time for New Year’s Eve with his family.
Today, Barry feels healthy and strong and has no lingering effects. Doctors say he is a miracle patient. Barry figures there must be a reason he’s still here, and he takes every chance he can get to encourage others to know their family history and to get annual exams.
“My father passed away at age 35 of a heart attack when I was just two years old,” Barry said. “We were always told my father’s heart attack was caused from a blood clot that formed after a surgery a month prior. After 57 years, we now know that my father passed away from a heart attack, period. Knowing this family history changes all the rules. I never even imagined I would have a heart attack, and since we thought my father’s heart attack was caused by the surgery, I really never watched for any specific signs. I never thought this would happen. I encourage everyone to know your family history, exercise regularly, eat properly, get regular checkups and control the stress.”
Today, Barry has stepped up his exercise, including running 2.5 miles three times a week and has made many changes to his diet.
“I rarely eat lunch meat anymore and my wife makes me a lot of homemade soups and dinners, which are much healthier because we know what ingredients we are using,” he said. “My heart surgeon has me on a 2000-calorie diet, low sodium and low fat as expected.”
Asked if he has any advice for his Sprint colleagues looking to live the healthiest, happiest life possible, Barry is quick with an answer.
“It was my doctors’ opinion the blood clot that caused my heart attack took 10 years to develop and that stress was definitely a contributing factor,” he said. “We all have stress in our personal and business lives, and we always will. It’s all about how you deal with it. I find the treadmill helps relieve a lot of it. Get a stress test and pay attention to any signs of a problem. If you think there could be a problem, get checked. Get regular checkups and keep an eye on blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. As the saying goes, the life you save just may be your own.”
Having experienced the miracle of a second chance, Barry knows just how he plans to make the most of the years ahead.
“My grandson, Joey, is now 13 months old; my wife Cheryl and I have been married 36 years; and my sons are 31 and 30. I plan on being here for many years to enjoy them, my friends and retirement someday. Every day is a bonus!”
Site Content
St. John Hospital fund raising letter
May 2013
Dear Friend,
When I awoke from a seemingly endless sleep last December, an ICU nurse asked if I knew where I was. I didn’t. She told me I’d had a massive heart attack. The news came as a total shock to me. I later learned I’d been in a coma for six days.
I am in good shape and get a physical every year, so I never saw this coming. But I quickly learned how lucky I was to be alive and at a St. John Providence Health System (SJPHS) hospital — St. John Hospital and Medical Center (SJH&MC).
The last thing I remember from the morning of the heart attack is telling my wife Cheryl I didn’t feel right. A little later, she heard a “death rattle” as I gasped for breath. Seeing the look in my eyes, she knew I was dying. She called 911. Soon the EMTs arrived. After working on me furiously — and breaking my sternum and two ribs — they managed to bring me back. I’d had no heartbeat for 20 minutes.
Next stop was SJH&MC for emergency surgery with Dr. Mouhammed Joumaa — one of the best there is. He and his team opened up my blocked heart valve, pushed the blood clot clear and inserted a stent. Then, in order to minimize damage to my brain, they performed an innovative procedure that involved lowering my body temperature and inducing a coma. Doctors told my family there was no guarantee I’d survive or, if I did, what kind of shape I’d be in.
It turned out the cooling procedure saved not only my life, but also my quality of life. With the excellent care I received at SJH&MC, I actually went home four days after emerging from the coma — in time for New Year’s Eve with my family. And now, a few months after my ordeal, I feel healthy and strong with no lingering effects. Doctors have called me a miracle patient.
Just two days before my heart attack, my son and baby grandson paid me a visit. Reflecting on the loss of my father when I was two years old, I said, “I hope I’m around long enough for Joey to remember me.” Thanks to SJH&MC, I will be.
I’m so grateful that SJH&MC was there for me. The personalized care, the outstanding nurses — the love and attention from everyone there was overwhelming. And they took care of my family, too. Spirituality is important to us. While my future hung in the balance for those six long days, staff members made it clear to Cheryl and my family that spiritual help — a talk with a nun, a visit to the chapel — was always available if they needed it. That meant a lot to them.
I know SJPHS relies on community support to provide its special brand of care. Please help them in their Mission by making a gift today. As the saying goes, the life you save may be your own.
Best of Health,
Barry L. Walter
P.S. Every year, SJH&MC helps thousands of families just like mine. On behalf of those families, please give as generously as you can.