Good morning!

We had a new member at last Saturday’s Walk with a Doc.

It all started when we saw Bob (not his real name) in our cardiology office. Bob’s a new patient who just moved to Columbus.

Since Bob’s heart attack (2013), he’s made impressive changes. Many of his cardiac risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes) are now under control. At the end of our visit, we asked him to join us at Walk with a Doc. 

He appeared interested. I was happy to see him arrive on a brrr cold Saturday morning.

With the rough weather, we were glad to have 18 people present. 

As I cleared my throat before addressing the group, he raised his hand and shared,” I’m new!” 

This turned several heads.

Bob approached me, stood behind the weathered picnic table, and faced our group.

“Hi, my name’s Bob and I’m a walkaholic.”

WHAT?

I looked at my wife, confused. I was going to discuss the new study on tomatoes and depression. I step towards Bob and Krissy grabs my right elbow. “Hold on, give him a second”

Then it hit me. 

Bob’s a lip reader. In the office, I’d said, “Please join us at Walk with a Doc”. He must’ve thought I said “Walkers Anonymous” 

I can mumble late in the afternoon.

“HI BOB!” responded our guests in unison. Once again, Krissy’s right. Let him go.

“It started innocent enough. I had my heart attack 12 years ago and like everyone else, I enrolled in cardiac rehab. In 2013, I was new to exercise and didn’t understand its powers. During rehab, everything was great. My wife noticed I had an energy that she hadn’t seen since we were in college. Regular physical activity made me happier, more productive, and more fulfilled than ever. Believe it or not, we now look back on that heart attack as a blessing in disguise.”

A couple of loud, random ‘yesses’ hurdle in from the rear. 

“Then, rehab ended, and I was sad again. My blood pressure went back up into the 140’s, my HDL dropped, and I couldn’t get my sugar below 180. I was lost.

That’s when it happened.

“At first, I denied it. I made all the excuses. I’d tell my wife I was I going to McDonald’s, or the movies, anything to throw her off my scent.

It started with innocent stuff. 

Taking the stairs, parking far away, walking to a colleague instead of sending an email.

Stuff that I never thought would add up.

He grabs the picnic table with both hands and looks down to the left 

Before I knew it; I was walking for a half-hour or more, every single day”.

He was choking up. Long pause.

Melissa, a 31-year-old in the 5th row begins to sway her hands high in the air, smiling wide. Is she whistling?

“You’re telling cancer to shove it Bob!” came a shout from the pavilion rear,

He continued, “In retrospect, I had all the classic signs.

Sure, I thought about cutting down. 

Maybe watch more TV or read a book on the couch instead of walking and listening to Libby audiobooks.

People would suggest that maybe I was walking a little too much (Editor’s note: say it ain’t so, Bob!).

“I’d get so angry. I was seeing these beautiful blood pressures, my blood sugar dropped to normal – and I wasn’t even going to the gym. Honestly, It felt like I was cheating.

Did I feel guilty? When I was sneaking up those stairs, while my wife was on the elevator?

Yeah, I felt guilty. 

My memory was improving, my anxiety disappearing, and my joints felt better – sure I felt guilty. I was ‘hogging’ all the walking.

“Last Thursday, I hit rock bottom. I thought I could walk 30 minutes before work and no one will ever know. It’ll make me feel good all day long. I was right, and although I felt great from the morning walk, I was concerned when I walked into Dr. David’s office. It must’ve been written all over my face because he asked me to come to the meeting this morning, I knew it was something I had to do.”

Thank you for your understanding. I needed to do this.”

Everyone applauds.

Bob sauntered back to his picnic table and sat down.

Our crew of Walk ambassadors rapidly descended on him, smiling, and pulled him up to his feet from under his arms.

Not understanding, he shook his head and stared over to me, terribly confused.

I smiled, nodding our approval.

“Bob, it’s okay. Come walk with us. You’re family now.”

As Bob and his new friends headed to the trail, I stayed focused on Bob’s reaction.

It was about 8-10 strides in when I watched a half smile sneak onto his face.

Good dude.

david

Disclaimer: We did have a new participant at Walk with a Doc on Saturday, but this is a fictional story.