By Anna Horner | News & Views

As a truck driver, Clarence Williams didn’t live the healthiest of lifestyles. Despite working a physical job and not being a habitual smoker or drinker, he fell into a routine of grabbing meals that were quick and convenient — but not necessarily the most nutritious — while on the road.

Those on-the-go eating habits began to take a toll on Clarence’s heart, although his cardiovascular issues weren’t immediately obvious. Around Christmas 2022, he began feeling abdominal discomfort and chest pains while working, but he self-diagnosed gastroesophageal reflux disease and took some over-the-counter medications. However, six months later, while celebrating his 50^th birthday in Mexico, Clarence experienced bouts of severe chest pain that would dissipate after vomiting. Although he initially attributed his symptoms to indulging in cigars and drinks during the trip, he couldn’t ignore the red flags any longer.

Upon returning to the States, he went to the emergency room and learned he’d had a heart attack. Even more shocking, he was told his “widow-maker” artery was 100% blocked and a second artery had two separate blockages, one at 85% and another at 75%. Clarence learned then that he was a “miracle man.”

“The only reason I survived the heart attack was because my body did what the doctors said only 30% of people on the planet can do,” explains Clarence. “It created these collateral vessels to bypass where my heart was blocked. Without those, I would have died.”

After COVID-19-related delays, Clarence eventually underwent triple bypass surgery. Following the recovery period, he began cardiac rehabilitation (CR) at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in Houston with a team he calls “the greatest people on the planet.” His CR plan called for 36 sessions, three times per week, but the regimen wasn’t daunting at all — and he even put an extra three days in at the gym on top of that. “I already had in my mind once God got me up off the operating table that I could do anything because I’m here, and I’m here for a reason,” says Clarence.

By the time Clarence was in his third week of CR, his providers said he’d already surpassed what patients further along in their rehab had accomplished. “They just encouraged me, pushed me to keep doing more because I wasn’t afraid,” he says. “Some people are scared to exert themselves or push themselves a little harder, and some people aren’t. I wasn’t afraid, so they were able to push me.” Clarence adds, “My cardiologist tells me my heart is strong, my heartbeat is great, my blood pressure is great. And I feel stronger.”

Now that he’s graduated from CR and gone back to work, Clarence has changed his eating habits, lost about 30 pounds since the heart attack and continues to visit the gym three days per week. While some patients find it difficult to complete CR, he says it wasn’t a challenge for him. “When you almost die, it’s very easy to be motivated.”

For people going through a similar situation, Clarence says it’s important to not be scared. He says, “Trust your doctors, and remember that you are better than when you went in. Don’t be afraid to push yourself. Don’t sell yourself short. You’ll feel a lot better in the long run.”