DUBUQUE – John Walsh has been a runner his whole life. “I usually run somewhere between thirty five and forty miles a week,” says John. But his lifestyle was put on hold last year. “I woke up about four o’clock in the morning, and I had chest pains,” says John.

John drove himself and his wife to find out what was wrong. “She was kind of freaked out when we pulled up to the hospital,” adds John.

When they arrived, John explained that he was a lifelong runner and always demonstrated a healthy diet. “There really wasn’t any reason why, one would think I was a candidate for a heart attack,” says John. But to John’s surprise, “he [the doctor] looked right at me and said Mr. Walsh, I’m reading your EKG you’re in the middle of an acute heart arrack right now.”

John’s daughter Kim describes the emotions she and her family went through that day. “It was a surprise for all of us, it was the worst day of my life,” says Kim.

Following his initial stint surgery, John had some tough months ahead of him. “When he had chest pains again, again we were surprised,” adds Kim.

Six months latter John had open heart surgery. The quadruple bypass performed on John enabled better blood flow to his heart, and allowed him to get on with life as usual. “I am feeling great now, running six miles a day again, and no symptoms; so that is good,” says John.

John’s story is just one of the many that has inspired people in Dubuque to participate in the annual heart walk benefit taking place this Saturday. “It goes toward local research and community education programs,” says regional director Kristen Anderson.

Although you may not know anyone who suffers from a cardiovascular disease, those who do can give you one reason to support the cause. “He is back to leading his full life,” says Kim.

The Heart Walk will take place Saturday, May 1, 2008 at Heritage Trail from 8:00am to 12:00pm. If you would like to be a part of the walk or make a donation contact Kristen Anderson at 651-295-4460.

Nichole Hayden can be reached at Nichole.Hayden@lctv13.com 

Nichole Hayden

Posted: April 10, 2008 

DUBUQUE - First the streets of Dubuque were coated with ice and snow, but now they are dotted with potholes. They are unpleasant, potentially dangerous, and can damage your car.

Potholes in Dubuque are worse this year than last and they are more than just an annoying hole in the road.

Mike Brooks, manager at Midas Auto Repair, is receiving a lot of pothole related calls from car owners, “this is the season, where one good pot hole will take a part off.”

Potholes can cause major damage to one part of your car.

“Tires, it can do some damage to tires themselves, the tie rod ends, which is part of what actually steers the wheels back and forth, and then ball joints,” says Brooks.

It is important for car owners to have checkups whenever they are concerned that something may be wrong. A pothole usually does not cause the initial damage to a vehicle, but it can make a minor problem worse.

The best thing is to try and avoid potholes when driving.

Nichole Hayden can be reached at Nichole.Hayden@loras.edu