David Voda

David Voda’s symptoms started on a Friday. But it wasn’t until the following Monday that the Alexandria business owner decided to get to the Emergency Room at Rapides Regional Medical Center.“

I had had shortness of breath all weekend, so before I went in to work on Monday, I decided to exercise a little and see what would happen. As soon as I started exercising, the pain started and I knew what was happening.”

Once Voda arrived in the Emergency Room and was settled into a room, he collapsed with a small heart attack.

Four days later, Voda — who was 43 at the time — was scheduled for a double bypass. That was three years ago.

“My mother and father both had bypass surgery — but they were in their 60s when it happened,” Voda said. “I knew I was going to have heart problems, but I didn’t know I was going to have problems this early.”

Today, Voda exercises five days a week, keeps up with his blood pressure and cholesterol and takes an aspirin a day.“

Looking back on it, thank goodness I decided to get help when I did,” Voda said. “Every day, I’m a walking miracle.”