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Heartline Magazine October - December 2004
Second lease on life - The Ena Belgrave Story
Ena Belgrave on recovery path
From the jaws of death to the arms of life. That’s how Ena
Belgrave recounts her experiencing of two heart attacks, followed by a bout of
illness, and her very satisfactory recovery under the guidance of the Cardiac
Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation (CDP&R) programme at the Heart
Foundation of Barbados.
“It began in 1995 when I suffered the first heart attack.
There was not much pain, just shortness of breath and seizures in my chest. But
it was a heart attack all right, and was taken to hospital, where I spent a
short time. Then I the returned home, and back to life as usual.”
In 1998, the second heart attack came. “This time it was
different,” she said, “with severe chest pains. I received open heart surgery in
January, 1999, and the operation was successful.” However, while in hospital,
she contracted pneumonia, and was confined to intensive care for six weeks.
“It was touch and go “ Ms. Belgrave said, “I’d say I had a
50/50 chance of making it. But I pulled through, with the help of some very
caring nurses and doctors at the hospital.”
Very weak, she returned home, and in fact required a
wheelchair to get around. Her doctor suggested that she enroll in the CDP&R
programme at the Heart Foundation of Barbados. This she did, and “it made all
the difference” she said. “I remember when I first started the programme, I was
so weak, I couldn’t even stand up. Mrs. Shirley Gill, the programme director
helped me a lot. Sometimes she would have to hold me up on the exercise
equipment. At first I found it difficult. One minute on the treadmill was all
that I could manage. Then gradually I got stronger and stronger, and the
exercise routines got easier. Now, I can manage them with ease. Then there are
the sessions of counseling on correct dieting, lectures and discussions. I find
the programme enjoyable. It’s like a family.”
Now, the spritely lady in her 70s says that she feels fit
and well again. “I cannot thank Mrs. Gill and the Heart Foundation staff enough
for the help they gave me in putting my life back together again. I know that
that is not the end of it, that I still have to keep to my exercise and fitness
programme, and proper dieting, and trying to remain stress free. But I’m glad
that I went into the rehab programme at the Heart Foundation. I have to say that
they gave me a second lease on life.”
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