“A heart attack is not an end.”
By Cristiano Goldenberg
I became a running lover in March 2007. After more than three years living abroad, I came back to my Brazil – where I was born – with some extra pounds. So, I started running to lose weight, but after achieving my target, I couldn’t stop running.
After that, I participated in a couple of running events. On April 12, 2015, I woke up early to complete my 16th half-marathon in Rio de Janeiro, a distance I was used to completing. The day was hot, and I was well-trained and ready to cross one more finish line. One more medal.
But that finish line was not crossed that day. At kilometer 17, I felt a fast heartbeat and stopped running to walk a little. After a couple of minutes, I started running again. And I alternated walking and running until I saw the banner for kilometer 19. Then I fell down. My heart stopped. I had a heart attack.
I lost my life at 40. But due to the incredible – and almost unbelievable – teamwork of runners, I got my life back 16 minutes later.
Luis Paulo Albuquerque stopped to see what was wrong. Leandro Albuquerque called for an ambulance. The captain – cardiologist Bruno Bussade – took the lead with cardiac massage. After two to three minutes, he needed backup. He got it from Patricia Albuquerque, a doctor, and Thatiane Delatorre, a nurse, who took turns.
The ambulance arrived. Bruno applied the first shock with the defibrillator. Nothing happened. But Bruno didn’t give up. He kept doing cardiac massages and applied a second shock.
After 16 minutes, I opened my eyes and, from the floor, I saw a lot of people around me celebrating something. I didn’t understand why. (William Lorena collected my belongings and later contacted my family to return them.)
Without knowing anything, I was only worried about my teeth that were broken in the fall. After a couple of exams at the hospital, nothing was detected in my heart. No disease. No need to take any medicine. I just made a surgery to put an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) that I proudly hold on my chest. Just for safety. Safety is always good in life, isn’t?
One year later, in May 2016, I participated in the same run with my “angels.” We all crossed that finish line hand in hand. And in 2018, I also completed my first full marathon in Rio de Janeiro, along with Bruno.
So the show must go on. I encourage everyone to stay attentive to body signs, to individual limits and to love life deeply. Who cares about running medals? Maybe we’ll meet each other in a running event someday (yes indeed, I keep running). It will be a pleasure. Take care and stay healthy!
For more information on this health topic, visit heart.org.
Would you like help dealing with heart or stroke conditions -- either yours or someone else’s? Join us in the AHA’s Support Network! We are an online community of patients, survivors and caregivers where you can share your experience while getting encouragement, hope and informational resources from others who have been there. Membership is free and the benefits can be priceless. Register today.