One year anniversary of heart scare spurs fundraising efforts for the Heart Foundation
Nov 1, 2004 is a date Berescourt, Hamilton resident Shaun Clements (34) will never forget.
He was at work doing the night shift as the signal box controller at 
Railway Corp and suddenly felt his heart start to race. At first he thought it was indigestion, but as the racing continued he realized something was wrong with his heart.
Shaun called 111 and paced the room to distract himself from being scared while he waited. He was then taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital, where he spent 11 days being run through a range of cardiac tests to find out what was going on and was also taken to Auckland Hospital for a day for an MRI. Finally doctors were able to diagnose Arrythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD), a rare congenital heart condition that had been with him since birth, but had never been picked up before.
"That was the worst part, lying in hospital for 11 days and knowing something was wrong, but not knowing what it was," he says. "It shows you the importance of not discounting anything, and with making sure you go and have all the tests you can."
The shock of finding out he had a heart condition that he never knew about "was like a high voltage jolt - then everything came to a standstill. I was just numb".
As doctors could not tell if an attack would happen to him again, Shaun was placed on beta-blocker medication and urged to get into a healthy lifestyle, incorporating less stress, eating well, quitting smoking, and undertaking regular low-impact 'aerobic' physical activity.
Aerobic activity, such as walking, is the kind that uses the large muscles in your arms and legs and is the best kind of physical activity for the heart, helping prevent heart disease and aid recovery.
"It's wonderful to know it's not too late and I can take action to go on to live a healthy life," says Shaun, who is married with two young children and is now doing a new, more active role at Toll Rail as a shunter.
After being discharged, Shaun also contacted the Heart Foundation for more information and support and learned about Avatar, a cardiac club for 18-35 year olds being started by student Melissa Horne that same month. Avatar is the first young adults support group affiliated to the Heart Foundation, offering support, friendship and advice for young people living with heart disease.
"It's been really great to meet Melissa and other people who have similar experiences and hear how they have reacted," he says. "Most of the time I try to live a normal life, look after my family, go to work - but sometimes that nagging thought of 'am I a walking time-bomb' creeps in. These are the times that it's been great to know others who have the same kind of experiences. Avatar has been really valuable that way."
This year, two days shy of the first anniversary of his heart event, Shaun will be walking his longest distance yet - not only for his own heart-health, but to raise donations for the Heart Foundation and awareness of Avatar.
Shaun has entered the 10km fun run and walk at the adidas Auckland Marathon (October 30th 2005) along with Melissa. Both have signed up as Ambassador "Heart Racers" at the event, writing up webpage profiles and asking their friends, families and other Waikato community members to sponsor their marathon day efforts.
All proceeds will go the Heart Foundation to help it continue to help others just like them.
Shaun and Melissa also hope other Hamilton-based walkers and athletes traveling to Auckland to enter the marathon will sign up as Heart Racers too, and also raise donations for the Foundation.
"I was saying to a mate the other day, I could either sit around waiting for another cardiac event, or I could get out there and take life by the horns and make a difference!" Shaun says.
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