The successful wedding brought changes to Mike Griffin’s diet and exercise. Now he’s sharing a message to other fathers ahead of Father’s Day.
AUSTIN, Texas —
Ahead of this Father’s Day, one dad wants to emphasize just how important it is to be heart aware.
A new study from the American Heart Association said in approximately 25 years, more than 60% of U.S. adults risk developing cardiovascular disease.
It’s something Mike Griffin learned almost too late, when he had a heart attack just days before his daughter’s wedding.
Griffin’s daughter, Jenna Sole, is a nurse at Heart Hospital of Austin. He almost wasn’t able to walk her down the aisle.
Just because Sole loves her stepfather doesn’t mean she goes easy on him.
“I’d always kind of been on him. He would probably say I’m the toughest one of the kids. You know, I was always trying to get him to eat healthier and to work out,” Sole said.
Despite her best efforts, Griffin still showed up at her job five days before her wedding.
“I had pain in my chest, that was coming down through both my arms,” Griffin said. “They admitted me. They said, ‘You’re having a heart attack.’ And I was like, I have a daughter to walk down the aisle. Are you sure?”
Fortunately, doctors were able to clear up his blockage with stints and he was able to go home the next day. Sole was with him every step of the way.
“This is very routine for my hospital. Something we see and do every single day,” she said. “So I knew that his recovery process from then on would be pretty easy in all respects.”
Just three days after being released from the hospital, Mike was able to walk his daughter down the aisle.
“You go through a thousand thoughts in your head because it’s, you know, life or death. But I was just very thankful,” he said.
“He’s made big strides in his health and his recovery. And so, I’m really proud of him for what he’s done,” Sole said.
The successful wedding brought changes to Griffin’s diet and exercise. Now he’s sharing a message to other fathers ahead of Father’s Day.
“I would say the biggest thing I could say is love your family and take care of your health. So you’re around for them,” he said.
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After making the trip together from the hospital room to the aisle, the father and daughter hope to experience many more destinations in the future.
“Those things that you can control or within your power, you should really focus on. Because if you want to live a long, healthy life,” Sole said.
When it comes to taking care of your heart, you should have regular follow-ups with your doctor to know where your health stands. Also watch your diet and cholesterol, and try to work out regularly.
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