On November 20, 2019, after attending the YMCA for an early morning work-out, Dave Publow’ s life took a drastic turn. While attending daily mass that fateful day, Dave suffered a cardiac arrest. Thanks to his parish priest, fellow parishioners, the Brockville Fire Service, EMS paramedics, and the staff of the Emergency Department of Brockville General Hospital (BGH), Dave was stabilized then rushed to the Kingston General Hospital (KGH), where he received a stent and spent 6 days in the Cardiac Unit. Dave survived because of the care he received at both BGH and KGH.

On being discharged from KGH, Dave was placed in the care of Dr. Jamie Hynd and the Brockville General Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. This program, which is funded principally by community donations, is so valuable to survivors like Dave who can access cardiac rehabilitation care without having to travel to Kingston or Ottawa. This program consists of exercise, nutrition education and monitoring of vital signs, all provided by a kinesiologist and registered nurse, under the supervision of a cardiologist.

Dave’s sessions in Cardiac Rehabilitation Program were prescribed for 24 visits and he is about to “graduate” from the program in early February. This program seems to always be at capacity due to the prevalence of heart disease. It has been an invaluable resource for him, both in his physical recovery to full health, but also for the mental aspect of recovery as well. Dave is a vocal advocate of this program in our community, and thanks the staff of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for its excellent care. This is an invaluable program that must be preserved in our community.