FROM DEATH BED TO BLACK BELT by Libby Downes
As a young college co-ed, I had several significant insights and made a few smart choices based upon those "eye-openers". If I was going to work the greater part of my adult life; I wanted it to be in a field that I would enjoy. After an introduction to Abraham Maslow's human needs hierarchy and self-actualization theories in one of my psychology courses; I made the decision that the human needs hierarchy would be my professional orientation and self-actualization my personal life-long goal and road map. As a graduate student in the school of social work, when my own daughter was just 6 weeks old; I decided that if I was exposed to and learning all of this excellent material about human development, interpersonal relationships, communication, marriage and family, effective parenting, etc..; I would be foolish to only use these skills from 9 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and not internalize them, make them a part of me, and, use them anywhere, anytime, as simply one human being to another. And, I would feel hypocritical to tell another adult or child to do something I would not do myself, or instruct my own child to do, if the situation was appropriate.
Since college, I have on-goingly worked on my own self-improvement issues. I have chosen to work on areas that either others or I, myself, might view as a "weakness". Thus, they became my "pet projects", opportunities and challenges, where I could turn a "perceived" weakness into my personal strength.
I found myself in other situations where I felt that I needed to practice what I preached; since I suffered a heart attack in 1993, two weeks prior to my 46th birthday. After 5 years of being "medically compliant" with my doctor, not to exercise unless hooked up to a heart monitor (cardiac rehabilitation therapy was an exclusion on my husband's health insurance plan); I had read and observed enough to realize that was the wrong prescription for a cardiac patient. In 1998, at the age of 50, after experiencing a small stroke because my heart became to weak to prevent it; I gave myself a THERAPEUTIC PRESCRIPTION to begin the study of Tae Kwon Do, without medical clearance, in an effort to heal my heart. In 2001, I enrolled in 5 courses offered by the International Fitness Professionals Association and began cross-training in the fitness industry; but, by then, I found my heart was too weak to demonstrate anything to a client or group. I cancelled my scheduled Personal Fitness Trainer proctored certification exam. Through 2004, my health continued to decline. My cardiologist advised me in October 2004, that what I had was congestive heart failure; and, an accumulation of 20 pounds of fluid retention was seeping into my lungs. Upon asking my cardiologist about treatment options and exercises to strengthen my heart muscle; he informed me, "There are none, it's too late!" Thus, I began investigating options that would stabilize and revitalize my heart.
One month later, I serendipitously found the article Help the Heart Heal Itself with ECP. After reading the article about External Counter Pulsation, and believing that I understood the principle behind this treatment; I discussed this non-invasive treatment option with Tony, my husband. Although he was very skeptical, he gave me the "OK" to proceed if I really wanted to. The next day, I phoned Dr. John D. Ramirez, MD, at the Tampa Heart Center, and obtained an evaluation appointment based on my own self-referral. Dr. Ramirez believed I was a good candidate for this treatment and scheduled me to begin treatment immediately. The treatment consisted of an intensive program of 35 one-hour treatments hooked up to what appears to be 5 large blood pressure cuffs attached to and synchronized by a computer. The cuffs squeezed the blood, from my feet back into my heart, between heart beats. When the heart beat, the blood flowed through my arteries with very little resistance. The result was improved circulation and improved oxygenated blood flow in the heart itself; thus, stimulating the heart to grow its own new collateral circulation, new coronary arteries that formed "natural by-passes" in formerly oxygen deprived areas of my heart, during the next 6 months immediately following completion of the 35th treatment. Unlike many alternative therapies that cannot be scientifically validated; this one is different--it can! An ultrasound of my heart, taken just 1 week after completing the program (January 2005( indicated that my ejection fraction ( repeatedly documented at 30% since 1998 ) had miraculously risen to 70%. In June 2005, 5 months later, I underwent a complete cardiac work-up, including another ultrasound and Persantine (radioisotope) stress test, which documented my ejection fraction had returned to the normal range of pumping. My former cardiologist confirmed that there were, in fact, new blood vessels oxygenating my heart; and, his junior assistant cardiologist exclaimed, "Your heart looks nearly normal!"
Dramatically improved circulation allowed me to resume my THERAPEUTIC PRESCRIPTION "physical/cardiac abilitation" program known as Martial Arts Therapy. In March 2005, I resumed my study of Tae Kwon Do, and even added Hapkido and Kick-boxing, to my growing repertoire. I started working out 2 hours/day, every other day; while I rested the rest of the time in bed. By April 2005, I worked up to practicing 2 hours/day, 6 days/week; and I entered my first Tae Kwon Do tournament since 2000. AND, I won 2 first place and 1 third place trophies, in exhibitions category. A standing ovation from the crowd of spectators, now at the age of 57, was another kind of "breath taking" and awesome experience. This title and story was originally conceived 8 years ago, to be my Black Belt Essay. I still anticipate the day when I finally get to test for my Black Belt some time during 2006.
As a "baby-boomer" approaching my senior years, I decided to remain true to my commitment to practice what I preach. I decided to resume cross-training in the fitness industry and obtain my Certification as a Personal Fitness Trainer. In June 2005, I was hired by the YMCA as a fitness attendant, while waiting to take my Certification Examination as a Personal Fitness Trainer, through the International Fitness Professionals Association. Since August 2005, I have taken and passed my Personal Fitness Trainer, Advanced Personal Fitness Trainer, Sports Nutrition Specialist, Youth Fitness Instructor, and Tai Chi certification exams. Although I got derailed from my dreams, I am now back on the road towards my goal of self-actualization through community service as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, through various counseling and martial arts therapies, and as an Advanced Personal Fitness Trainer!
Sincerely,
Libby Downes, MSW, LCSW, CPFT
Since college, I have on-goingly worked on my own self-improvement issues. I have chosen to work on areas that either others or I, myself, might view as a "weakness". Thus, they became my "pet projects", opportunities and challenges, where I could turn a "perceived" weakness into my personal strength.
I found myself in other situations where I felt that I needed to practice what I preached; since I suffered a heart attack in 1993, two weeks prior to my 46th birthday. After 5 years of being "medically compliant" with my doctor, not to exercise unless hooked up to a heart monitor (cardiac rehabilitation therapy was an exclusion on my husband's health insurance plan); I had read and observed enough to realize that was the wrong prescription for a cardiac patient. In 1998, at the age of 50, after experiencing a small stroke because my heart became to weak to prevent it; I gave myself a THERAPEUTIC PRESCRIPTION to begin the study of Tae Kwon Do, without medical clearance, in an effort to heal my heart. In 2001, I enrolled in 5 courses offered by the International Fitness Professionals Association and began cross-training in the fitness industry; but, by then, I found my heart was too weak to demonstrate anything to a client or group. I cancelled my scheduled Personal Fitness Trainer proctored certification exam. Through 2004, my health continued to decline. My cardiologist advised me in October 2004, that what I had was congestive heart failure; and, an accumulation of 20 pounds of fluid retention was seeping into my lungs. Upon asking my cardiologist about treatment options and exercises to strengthen my heart muscle; he informed me, "There are none, it's too late!" Thus, I began investigating options that would stabilize and revitalize my heart.
One month later, I serendipitously found the article Help the Heart Heal Itself with ECP. After reading the article about External Counter Pulsation, and believing that I understood the principle behind this treatment; I discussed this non-invasive treatment option with Tony, my husband. Although he was very skeptical, he gave me the "OK" to proceed if I really wanted to. The next day, I phoned Dr. John D. Ramirez, MD, at the Tampa Heart Center, and obtained an evaluation appointment based on my own self-referral. Dr. Ramirez believed I was a good candidate for this treatment and scheduled me to begin treatment immediately. The treatment consisted of an intensive program of 35 one-hour treatments hooked up to what appears to be 5 large blood pressure cuffs attached to and synchronized by a computer. The cuffs squeezed the blood, from my feet back into my heart, between heart beats. When the heart beat, the blood flowed through my arteries with very little resistance. The result was improved circulation and improved oxygenated blood flow in the heart itself; thus, stimulating the heart to grow its own new collateral circulation, new coronary arteries that formed "natural by-passes" in formerly oxygen deprived areas of my heart, during the next 6 months immediately following completion of the 35th treatment. Unlike many alternative therapies that cannot be scientifically validated; this one is different--it can! An ultrasound of my heart, taken just 1 week after completing the program (January 2005( indicated that my ejection fraction ( repeatedly documented at 30% since 1998 ) had miraculously risen to 70%. In June 2005, 5 months later, I underwent a complete cardiac work-up, including another ultrasound and Persantine (radioisotope) stress test, which documented my ejection fraction had returned to the normal range of pumping. My former cardiologist confirmed that there were, in fact, new blood vessels oxygenating my heart; and, his junior assistant cardiologist exclaimed, "Your heart looks nearly normal!"
Dramatically improved circulation allowed me to resume my THERAPEUTIC PRESCRIPTION "physical/cardiac abilitation" program known as Martial Arts Therapy. In March 2005, I resumed my study of Tae Kwon Do, and even added Hapkido and Kick-boxing, to my growing repertoire. I started working out 2 hours/day, every other day; while I rested the rest of the time in bed. By April 2005, I worked up to practicing 2 hours/day, 6 days/week; and I entered my first Tae Kwon Do tournament since 2000. AND, I won 2 first place and 1 third place trophies, in exhibitions category. A standing ovation from the crowd of spectators, now at the age of 57, was another kind of "breath taking" and awesome experience. This title and story was originally conceived 8 years ago, to be my Black Belt Essay. I still anticipate the day when I finally get to test for my Black Belt some time during 2006.
As a "baby-boomer" approaching my senior years, I decided to remain true to my commitment to practice what I preach. I decided to resume cross-training in the fitness industry and obtain my Certification as a Personal Fitness Trainer. In June 2005, I was hired by the YMCA as a fitness attendant, while waiting to take my Certification Examination as a Personal Fitness Trainer, through the International Fitness Professionals Association. Since August 2005, I have taken and passed my Personal Fitness Trainer, Advanced Personal Fitness Trainer, Sports Nutrition Specialist, Youth Fitness Instructor, and Tai Chi certification exams. Although I got derailed from my dreams, I am now back on the road towards my goal of self-actualization through community service as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, through various counseling and martial arts therapies, and as an Advanced Personal Fitness Trainer!
Sincerely,
Libby Downes, MSW, LCSW, CPFT
posted by IFPA Success Stories at 8:10 AM
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