12th November 2008 - Heart Patient gives marathon medal to doctor
Syracuse.
Tom Price won a medal last week for finishing the 26.2 mile New York
City marathon.
Today he presented that medal to his cardiologist, Dr. Ron Caputo,
at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse.
23 months ago Price underwent aortic heart valve replacement surgery,
after Dr. Caputo diagnosed his leaky heart valve.
Price says "My old aortic valve was calcified and decrepit. (Doctors)
put in a new bovine pericardial tissue. So, I have part of a cow in
me now. That's what makes my heart work."
His
heart worked just fine throughout the NYC marathon, Price says. He
did cramp up at the 20 mile mark, but that was a runner's issue not
a heart issue, he says, and he was able to finish the race in just
over five hours.
Price has been a runner for more than 20 years. He had been running
25-35 miles a week, while training for the race.
His heart has benefited, as a result. Dr. Caputo says Price has lowered
his blood pressure, he's been able to raise his good cholesterol and
bring his bad cholesterol down, to the point that Tom Price no longer
has to take any medication beyond one baby aspirin a day.
That's why Price says his doctor deserves a medal.