In August of 2024, Greg's life changed in a way he never expected. He suffered a heart attack and went into sudden cardiac arrest. It was one of those moments that you never think will happen to you — until it does. What started as a medical emergency quickly became a life-changing experience not only for me, but for my family as well. He was fortunate to survive, and He does not take that lightly. Since then, He has spent a lot of time processing what happened physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Recovery has been about much more than just healing my heart. It has included learning how to slow down, pay attention to my body, manage stress, make lifestyle changes, and accept that life after a major heart event looks different. There are the physical pieces — medications, appointments, restrictions, exercise, nutrition, and learning what is safe — but there is also a mental side that people do not always talk about. Fear, anxiety, gratitude, survivor’s guilt, and the question of “what now?” can all become part of the journey. This experience also opened my eyes to how important support is. His wife, children, family, medical professionals, and the people around him all played a huge role in helping him move forward. It also made him realize how many people are quietly dealing with heart disease, cardiac recovery, or caring for someone they love after a major health event. Out of that experience, he felt called to share more openly. He started focusing on encouragement, awareness, prevention, and support for others through The Hearty Gnomes. The goal is not to give medical advice, but to remind people that they are not alone, that small steps matter, and that taking care of your heart is about more than just numbers on a chart. Greg's hope in sharing his story is that it helps someone recognize symptoms sooner, take their health seriously, support a loved one better, or simply feel less alone in their own recovery. Song: Heart Still Here https://suno.com/s/nTPI1FRJ39Zk9ARY The Hearty Gnomes FB https://www.facebook.com/theheartygnomes Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theheartygnomes/ Please subscribe to the All Hands On Podcast available on Spotify and Apple. You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube under All Hands On Podcast. We are on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Mental Health Awareness Group where we always continue the conversations.
