Micheline is a 66 year-old heart attack survivor from Chelsea, Québec. She had a heart attack six years ago while skating alone on the Rideau Canal.
Micheline says that just before her heart attack began, she had difficulty breathing. Coincidentally, her husband called her on her cell phone at that exact moment. He insisted that she give her phone to a passer by, who immediately called the paramedics. Micheline soon lost consciousness and remained in that state for three days.
“I think the experience was almost harder on my husband,” says Micheline. “He stayed by my bed for three days as I lay there unconscious. He thought he had lost his best friend.”
Despite having a history of heart disease in her family, Micheline didn’t think she was at risk for heart attack due to her active lifestyle and normal cholesterol levels.
“Because I was so active, I didn’t believe I could be affected by heart disease,” says Micheline.
Prior to her heart attack, Micheline kept herself physically active by skating, skiing and snowshoeing regularly and also observed a healthy diet. Her cardiologist told her that her fitness level was what saved her life. Since her heart attack, Micheline says she has learned new ways to improve her diet.
“I’m definitely more careful with my diet after the heart attack,” says Micheline. “I always check the labels when I go grocery shopping, I cook with olive oil instead of butter, eat smaller portions of meat and I don’t eat things like cookies any more.”
I think the experience was almost harder on my husband.
