There is hope...

• by blucherries7x89
• 2011-04-20 02:04:32
• Exercise & Sports
• 1517 views
• 4 comments

I haven't been on in a while, but I just wanted to say, to all of the swimmers and runners out there, there is hope to returning to a normal life after a PM implantation.

I had my first pm put in at age 21, after a 13 second flatline while at home on a event monitor. They told me without the pm, i would not live to see 22. (Regardless, I did not want the pm, but thankfully my parents made me get it).

After having the pm, I figured my athletic life was over. I was a NCAA swimmer and recreational runner. While I have not gotten back to the NCAA level swimming (and never will after blowing a shoulder out), I am once again swimming. (Getting used to the scar and the questions took some getting used too, but eventually I grew a thicker skin lol).

While I could swim, I could never get back to running like I was before. However, my father had promised me while I was in the hospital (right before surgery) that he would run the Gate River Run with me the following March. So I was not going to let the fact that I could not run like I used to stop me. I ran every day (even if it was only a mile.)

I am proud to say, that when March finally got here, my father and I both ran out first 15K race.

It is now almost my 22nd birthday (a day I was told I would probably not see).

To all of you out there who are new to the pacemaker game, or are feeling down about it, I just want to remind you that there is hope. Having a pacemaker is not the end of the world, even though it may feel like it right now. Things really do get better. :)