For Mark Iverson of Waverly, it started with something he could almost have brushed off as the winter cold. During the colder months, Mark began noticing an uncomfortable feeling in his chest when he was outside. The sensation would go away once he came inside and warmed up, so it wasn’t something he initially thought much about. But during a routine diabetes checkup with his primary care provider, Mark mentioned what he had been experiencing.
His provider recommended that he see a cardiologist. That decision proved to be an important one. At his cardiology appointment, Mark underwent a stress test. When he did not pass the test, additional testing was scheduled. A cardiac catheterization revealed significant blockages, one major artery was 100% blocked, while three smaller arteries were nearly 100% blocked. The cardiologist told Mark there was one option. A quadruple bypass.
Mark was scheduled for surgery in February. After a short hospital stay and a successful recovery, he was discharged home and referred to Waverly Health Center (WHC) for cardiac rehabilitation. For Mark, choosing where to complete his cardiac rehab was never really a question. He works in plant services at WHC, so he already knew the staff. When the cardiac rehab team contacted him to schedule his first visit, he was ready to get started.
From the beginning, Mark said he felt comfortable. “They set goals, and I immediately felt relaxed. I knew I was in the right place.” Three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Mark made his way to cardiac rehab. As the weeks went by, he quickly learned his routine. But he discovered something else along the way, cardiac rehab was more than exercise and recovery. It was a community. “I thought that was really cool,” Mark said.
Patients working toward similar goals encouraged one another, while the cardiac rehab staff provided guidance, support and reassurance throughout the process. For Mark, that combination made a difference. He describes his experience as a great one and one that ultimately helped him reach the finish line. When Mark graduated from cardiac rehab, he did so with “no restrictions.” Today, he readily recommends WHC’s cardiac rehab program to others. “There was never a question as to where I wanted to complete my rehab,” Mark said. “Their process works.”
The experience also gave Mark a new appreciation for the cardiac rehab department and the work its staff do every day. And the support didn’t end when he graduated. Mark continues to see members of the cardiac rehab team throughout the halls of WHC. Sometimes he’s simply passing them in the hallway. Other times, he’s there doing his job in Plant Services. No matter the reason, they still check in. “They always follow up and make sure I’m doing OK.”
For Mark, that ongoing connection is a reminder that recovery is about more than completing a program. It’s about having people in your corner, people who care about your progress and want to see you continue doing well. What began as an uncomfortable feeling in the cold ultimately led Mark to discover a serious heart condition, receive life-changing treatment and experience the power of cardiac rehabilitation close to home. And now, when Mark walks the halls of WHC, he sees his colleagues a little differently. He has a new respect for the cardiac rehab team and all they do. Most importantly, he knows firsthand that their process works.
