I had been suffering for just under 3 months with terrible chest pain that was attributed to indigestion, anxiety, and GERD which caused me to pass out for the first time in my 32 years of life. Now I had to deal with the reality of a clogged major artery. This was all new territory for me and I never felt so helpless. I realized for the first time in my life that my future was not within my control (or so I thought) and I felt like a true victim.
Life altering words were shared between my operating cardiac surgeon and I. He expressed that I was extremely fortunate to be alive. When I passed out 2 weeks earlier, I ran the risk of not waking up due to lack of blood flow. He also said he had never seen anything quite like my situation and expressed that individuals at my age with such a severe problem often pass away in their sleep. He said I really should be dead based upon on facts of the situation. My surgeon truly did not have bedside manner, but honestly I didn’t want it. I needed someone to be as blunt and honest as humanly possible. And for that, I will be forever grateful because he saved my life and changed my way of thinking.
Here is an alarming statistic. “About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men. Nov 28, 2017”
Recovering from the angiogram later that night, I listened to the beeps and systematic tones of the machinery encompassing me. I thought to myself, with my phone close by, do I check social media, my business, or scroll through a newsfeed maybe? But I couldn’t bring myself to do it, or even turn on my phone. My phone represented a connection to the world beyond Mercy Hospital of Buffalo’s Cardiac Care Unit. The hardest realization was that the sun was still going rise and set again even though my world felt like it was crumbling down. Everyone that was tied to me for one reason or another would continue living their lives within their sphere of existence and the world goes on. Sadly, that’s the cold harsh truth of reality and most of us are destined to face it one way or another.
Other truths did resonate within me looking back at my near 32 years of life now previously behind me.
- Material possessions are meaningless, especially when the fate of your existence is in the balance. Time itself is the one and only true universal currency. It’s the bond that holds true for any and all living creatures. Every minute that goes by we are depleting our reservoir bank and can never have it back. It’s all about perspective so spend it well.
- This is going to sound cliché, but your health is truly the most important thing in this world, and you don’t realize it until it’s threatened.
- The only thing that could break through the heavy shrouds of “why me-ness” are as follows: memories of loved ones, past and present including pets, vacations and amazing things you have seen (not on television or the internet), and people from your past that you have learned from and that made you grow. I didn’t have any moments of regret, maybe, because I am relatively young, but I did have thoughts of not having children and being married.
- This is my BIGGEST point of them all; “What is the meaning of your life?”, and within this critical moment, I was able to better understand mine. And it was simple…I thought, did I make any kind of significant change, difference and/or improve another’s life directly or indirectly? In layman’s terms, did I make a difference in this crazy roller coaster ride of a world? I truly understand now, more so then ever before, that the only thing that truly matters at the end of the day is that you did make a difference for family, friends, co-workers, animals, or complete strangers when you had a chance. This was the catalyst for the White Gloved Vegan.
So, the idea of the White Gloved Vegan is not to say you have to be “vegan”. At the end of the day, we’re just a WNY couple trying to promote healthier eating habits, reducing processed foods and showcasing meals that don’t need dairy or meat. Our blog has generated quite a bit of traffic throughout the United States and several other countries. Take a walk in my shoes and learn from my mistakes, cardiac signs, symptom’s, former diet routine and dealing with doctors. Who knows it might save your life because 1 in every 4 people die of heart disease in the United States. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and I, Alexander Miller was diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 32.
This chapter is over but my book is not nearly closed yet.
Click here to read how a plant-based diet is keeping me alive!
(https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm)
A truly inspiring story!! I’ve been plant-based for 9 months and will never look back. I’m hoping to convince my loved ones to do the same by cooking delicious meals. Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you and congratulations on your plant-based journey! The hardest part is convincing family and friends but by cooking delicious meals I think it’s just a matter of time before they crack! Good luck and thank you for your comment. Happy New Year!