Aaron Donez of Harlingen copes with heart disease at a young age, with help from Valley Baptist program
Special to the Star
At age 37, Aaron Donez of Harlingen sometimes feels he’s too young to be dealing with heart disease. But with the help of a Cardiac Rehab program at Valley Baptist Medical Center, Donez has learned how to cope with his condition – and to live life to the fullest.
In January, Donez said he was shocked to find out that two of his arteries were 99 percent blocked by cholesterol and fat. Another artery had an 80 percent blockage.
“I would have never know if I hadn’t gone to Valley Baptist for another procedure and had an EKG done during pre-op,” Donez says. “Because I am so young, I never thought I would have heart disease … I thought I was just tired.”
In fact, Donez, who is an electrician by trade, credits the EKG performed at Valley Baptist with saving his life. “If I hadn’t gone to that pre-op, I would have probably had a heart attack by now and it may have occurred on the job site,” he said.
Now, after going through triple bypass surgery and completing a 12-week cardiac rehab program which involved monitored exercise and changes to his diet and lifestyle, Donez said his heart is much stronger.
“I’m doing great and am going to keep following the advice they gave me at the hospital,” he said. “It’s a big difference now in the way I feel ... the way I do everything is totally different now.”
For example, Donez said now he no longer eats fried foods or the skin on chicken -- and he has also cut down on beef and salt in his diet. He has lost 40 pounds since his surgery.
Donez said it really helps that the Cardiac Rehab staff at Valley Baptist takes time to explain things and answer his questions. “They are great; they really care about all their patients,” he said.
Valerie Arizmendi, RN, one of the Cardiac Rehab nurses, said Donez was able to increase his endurance by using the treadmill and “Nu-Step” seated exercise machine, and reduced his risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure.
“It is very rewarding to see patients such as Aaron overcome their challenges and leave here doing much better – some walking several miles a day,” Arizmendi said. “We are very proud that our program at Valley Baptist recently became the first cardiac rehab in the Valley to receive national accreditation from the American Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation.”
Donez said he’s very grateful to Arizmendi and all the Cardiac Rehab staff members and looks forward to spending many more years with his wife, Dolia, and his three step-sons, as well as doing some occasional fishing.
Donez was born in Harlingen, at Valley Baptist, and later graduated from San Benito High School. In addition to the Valley, he has also lived in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, but for now he is thankful to be back home in Harlingen.
Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 910,000 American lives a year. The association invested more than $543 million in fiscal year 2005-06 for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.
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