Your Health: Man Survives To Participate In Heart Walk

Mark Gaines is one of the honorary survivors of this year's walk.

He's in great health now, but in 2010 he had a very close call.

His doctor gave him a shock.

"He said, 'If you hadn't come in here today and had that stent put in, you'd have been in the morgue by Friday,'" said Gaines.

Only days before hearing those words from his doctor, Gaines was busy performing his duties as the manager of four local radio stations.

He had no idea he was sick until he felt pains in his arms while he was shoveling.

The pain came and went throughout the night and into the next day. 

A visit to the emergency room was followed by an overnight stay in the hospital and a stress test a few days later.

The results weren't good.

He was sent immediately to Syracuse where surgery was performed.

"There was a 99 percent blockage," he said.

The lifesaving procedure that was performed has given the Heart Walk new meaning for him because he knows it can happen to anyone.

The walk is Saturday morning, April 28, starting at the Fairgrounds Arena. 

There's a survivors ceremony at 9:30 and the walk begins at 10.

You can sign up at northcountryheartwalk.org or call 783-4116.