Everett Winter
Former athlete faces health scare, but finishes a winner
After years of steadily declining health, Albany resident Everett Winter finally learned that it wasn't age that was causing him trouble, but rather the gradual clogging of his arteries that was just making him feel old.
But today, at age 72, Winter says he feels 10 years younger. And that's where this story begins...years ago when he was a runner, living an active lifestyle, not thinking for a minute that heart problems would ever slow him down.
"I have always been a very driven person...an overachiever," Winter said. "Physical health has always been important to me; but when I moved to Albany 11 years ago, I definitely started to slow down."
According to Winter, his health decline was a very slow process. He began to feel more tired and get out-of-breath more quickly; but there were no drastic symptoms so he just pushed on and figured age was creeping up on him. He was aware that his blood pressure was high, but with his healthy diet and exercise habits, he was able to keep the pressure steady for years.
But, in 2005, Winter realized that he could no longer manage his health alone. When a dizzy spell and terrible pain in his shoulder plagued him while he was painting his house one hot summer day, he decided it was time to see the doctor.
"It had been a year and a half since I'd gone in (to see the doctor)," said Winter. "And I'm so glad I did. I did not recognize my symptoms as having anything to do with my heart, but Dr. Potter did.
Dr. Michael Potter, a primary care physician at Geary Street Clinic in Albany, performed an EKG on Winter and saw something of concern. So he sent Winter for a treadmill test and subsequently to Good Sam for an angiogram.
"I expected them to tell me everything was fine," said Winter. "I was wrong."
Winter learned that his left main artery was 98 percent closed. He would need surgery.
"At first I kept thinking 'why me?' said Winter. "I've done everything right. Then one of the nurses gave me some perspective. She told me I was lucky to be alive. I did not have a massive heart attack and I still had time to get better. She was right."
So just one day after his angiogram revealed the trouble in his heart, Winter underwent a triple bypass procedure. Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon Rodrigo Oyarzun performed the operation by using Winter's internal mammary artery and harvesting a vein from his leg to provide a new conduit for blood flow. Traditionally, surgeons obtain the vein by making a full-leg incision. However, Samaritan surgeons practice endoscopic vein harvesting, in which they make just one to three small leg incisions, each 1 to 2 inches long.
"I have friends who've had heart surgery and they have huge scars," Winter said. "I just have a tiny one (scar) on my leg and there are no nerve problems or continuing pain. I am very happy with my results."
Winter admits that the first few months after the surgery had some challenges--he slept in a recliner for some time and it took a while to get back to his usually active self. He said his doctor's recommendation to join the Cardiac Rehab program at Albany General Hospital made all the difference.
"When I first started the rehab program, I was a little nervous about exercising again, said Winter. "But they monitor you so closely. I felt safe, and it did not take long to get right back into the swing of things."
Now Winter participates in the Phase 3 rehab group, which is a long-term maintenance program for people who've had heart problems.
According to Angie Gallagher, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation manager at Samaritan
Albany General Hospital, Winter is a model patient and takes his health seriously.
"Everett has reflected on his past personality traits and how they may have had something to do with his getting heart disease," said Gallagher. "He admits to previously being a 'Type A' person and has had to really force himself to relax more and not expect so much from himself. He still works hard, and you can see that in his dedication to exercise, but I think he's found some new perspective on what's really important."
Winter echoes Gallagher's assessment.
"I feel like my body is working at a really high level again. Now I feel young," said Winter. "And being almost dead...well, it gives you a different outlook on life. I can truly say I stop and smell the flowers now. I really appreciate the things around me."
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