When I was 17 years old, I went into sudden cardiac arrest and almost died. Sudden cardiac arrest is an abnormal rhythm with the heart also known as an arrhythmia where the heart suddenly stops working. Immediate CPR and the quick shock from AED are crucial to someone surviving sudden cardiac arrest. I did not receive CPR right away and there was no AED on site in the building where I suffered my sudden cardiac arrest. When 9-1-1 was called, there was a volunteer EMT named Bob in the building next door working his full-time job. His pager went off and he recognized the address so he came over to where I was and started performing CPR. He saved my life, saved my brain, and kept me alive until the ambulance showed up with a defibrillator. In this video, Bob and I talk about the day that he SAVED MY LIFE! Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact *Disclaimer* I am not a medical professional. You should always consult with your physician about your heart disease. This is just my story that I am sharing from my personal experience.

After surviving sudden cardiac arrest and being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy I was afraid to exercise. Prior to surviving cardiac arrest and being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I was training to be a college basketball player. I was doing intense workouts and I was really fit. I didn’t really worry about my diet because I was in high school and exercising so much. After being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I didn’t want to do anything to make my body go into sudden cardiac arrest again. I was afraid to work out. I was afraid to elevate my heart rate. I was afraid to do anything! I did not change my diet. Therefore, I started to gain weight which let to self-confidence issues. In this video I talked about how I used cardiac rehabilitation to learn my body and learn how to exercise and how I do weight training while living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact *Disclaimer* I am not a medical professional. You should always consult with your physician about your heart disease. This is just my story that I am sharing from my personal experience.

After surviving sudden cardiac arrest and being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy I was afraid to exercise. Prior to surviving cardiac arrest and being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I was training to be a college basketball player. I was doing intense workouts and I was really fit. I didn’t really worry about my diet because I was in high school and exercising so much. After being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, I didn’t want to do anything to make my body go into sudden cardiac arrest again. I was afraid to work out. I was afraid to elevate my heart rate. I was afraid to do anything! I did not change my diet. Therefore, I started to gain weight which let to self-confidence issues. In this video I talked about how I used cardiac rehabilitation to learn my body and learn how to exercise and how I do cardio training while living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact *Disclaimer* I am not a medical professional. You should always consult with your physician about your heart disease. This is just my story that I am sharing from my personal experience.

When I was 17 years old, I went into sudden cardiac arrest and almost died. Sudden cardiac arrest is an abnormal rhythm with the heart also known as an arrhythmia where the heart suddenly stops working. Immediate CPR and the quick shock from AED are crucial to someone surviving sudden cardiac arrest. I did not receive CPR right away and there was no AED on site in the building where I suffered my sudden cardiac arrest, so doctors told me my chances of survival were ONE in a MILLION. I was later diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy also known as HCM. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is excessive thickening of the heart muscle and can affect everyone differently. Doctors prescribed a beta blocker called Nadolol and surgically placed an Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). During my time in the hospital I was very anxious. This was new for my family and me. I had a lot of questions, but I was under care 24 hours a day. Any time I had a question a nurse or a doctor would answer them and make me feel better. When I finally was discharged, I felt so relieved and excited, but when I got home, I was scared. I was afraid that I was going to go into sudden cardiac arrest again and die in my sleep! Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact

After being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), doctors surgically placed an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) into my chest. They told me that the battery on the device would last 7-8 years. Eight years later, I was 25 years old and an assistant basketball coach at Quinnipiac University, a Division 1 school in CT. The battery on my Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) was running low and it was time for a replacement. I went in for surgery in early August and it did not go as planned. I had another surgery the next day that went well and they sent me home. Little did they know I had contracted a bacterial infection during surgery. Weeks later I had to have my Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) completely removed which resulted in life saving open heart surgery. Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact

Following my sudden cardiac arrest, I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. It affects 1 in 200-500 people of all ages. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the leading cause of death among young student-athletes. There currently is no cure for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) but it can be managed with medication and an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). According to the American Heart Association, an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) is a device placed under the skin that keeps track of your heart rate. It is battery powered. The wires connect the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) to your heart. If an abnormal heart rhythm is detected the device will deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat if your heart is beating chaotically and much too fast. Learning I had to have this device placed was very scary for my family and me but doctors explained to us that it would keep me safe if I go into sudden cardiac arrest again. Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) are crucial in allowing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and heart disease patients live a long and normal life. Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact

When I was 17 years old, I went into sudden cardiac arrest and almost died. Sudden cardiac arrest is an abnormal rhythm with the heart also known as an arrhythmia where the heart suddenly stops working. Immediate CPR and the quick shock from AED are crucial to someone surviving sudden cardiac arrest. I did not receive CPR right away and there was no AED on site in the building where I suffered my sudden cardiac arrest, so doctors told me my chances of survival were ONE in a MILLION. Following my sudden cardiac arrest, I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. It affects 1 in 200-500 people of all ages. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the leading cause of death among young student-athletes. There currently is no cure for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) but it can be managed with medication and an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact

When I was 17 years old, I went into sudden cardiac arrest and almost died. Sudden cardiac arrest is an abnormal rhythm with the heart also known as an arrhythmia where the heart suddenly stops working. Immediate CPR and the quick shock from AED are crucial to someone surviving sudden cardiac arrest. I did not receive CPR right away and there was no AED on site in the building where I suffered my sudden cardiac arrest, so doctors told me my chances of survival were ONE in a MILLION. This video is all about the day that changed my life forever! Click the link to order your copy of my memoir, A Big Heart! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/a-big-heart Click the link to order your A Big Heart shirt! https://www.abigheartbook.com/product-page/unisex-t-shirt Click the link to donate to In A Heartbeat and HELP US SAVE LIVES! https://inaheartbeat.networkforgood.com/projects/60391-in-a-heartbeat-annual-fund Click the link to book Mike to speak at your next event! https://www.abigheartbook.com/contact