After decades of abusing his body—not exercising, smoking heavily and eating poorly—Bob suffered two heart attacks. Though his first was alarming, it wasn’t until his second heart attack six years later that he decided to change his lifestyle.
Just over three years ago, Bob quit smoking, started eating better, and he and his wife joined the Kelowna Family YMCA. He had a rapid recovery after triple bypass surgery in 2014, which he attributes to his participation in YMCA Healthy Hearts, a program that is made possible by generous Y donors.
Bob was active at the Y leading up to his surgery and is convinced that without the support he received from the YMCA, which helped him get into shape, he would not have been able to endure the operation and possibly would not be here today.
“The Y keeps me centred. I owe a lot to the Y. The facility and all the equipment are great, but it’s the incredible staff who are so knowledgeable and caring who keep us coming back.”
Bob and his wife continue to come to the Kelowna Family YMCA three times a week with a goal to remain healthy, active and independent for as long as they can.
“I can’t say enough about the Y and the people that make their work possible. This is home.”