Couple of the Month

February, 2000

Jeanne and Rex Miller

Until January of 1998 my husband Rex and I were long time smokers with poor eating habits and a family history of heart disease on both sides. To Rex's credit he exercised regularly. You think it will never happen to you.

Upon going upstairs to bed one January evening in 1998, I experienced a pressure in my chest and a tingling in the front of my throat. This subsided as soon as I sat down but reoccurred with the simplest exertion. After seeing Dr. Chen it was determined I required an angioplasty with a stent. He advised me that I must quit smoking. My loving husband decided he should quit as well and we could get through this hurdle together. We both quit after 25 years of smoking and my procedure went very well.

Three weeks after my procedure, Rex experienced severe chest pains and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He was diagnosed with an aneurysm and required immediate quadruple bypass surgery. Thankfully he had not suffered a heart attack, but was lucky to be alive. He came through the operation well and is doing great.

Our youngest has just left the nest and it is the desire to enjoy our life together that motivated us to quit smoking and live a healthy lifestyle. After raising our children we have a long list of things we want to do and see. This experience was a "wake-up" call and we listened.

We are smoke free for over two years, we eat much healthier than before and we have a love hate relationship with our treadmill.

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