Medina ISD police chief urges others not to gamble with their health after suffering a heart attack and dying 15 minutes

MEDINA COUNTY, Texas Middle ISD Police Chief Abel Devora was at work at a lane meeting on 28 February 2020, when everything was heading south. He suffered a heart attack and was dead for about 15 minutes until a nearby ER nurse resuscitated him with CPR.

‘That day I just walked in, and it was like falling asleep on my feet. So I have no idea what happened, “said Devora.

The police chief woke up after having a bypass operation for five months and had several surgeries to clear his veins. A year later he is back at work and living a different lifestyle.

“I try to walk every day. “I’m trying to gain some light weight, exercise, you know, try to eat a little better,” he said.

Devora’s goal is to make it one day at a time.

Dr. Dawn Hui, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at UT Health San Antonio who treated Devora, says the recovery of the principal is quite remarkable.

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“The disease that affected his heart turned out to be similar to that in other areas, in other vessels, such as those that are to his brain,” Hui said.

February is National Heart Health Month and Devora is helping Hui spread the importance of health care before problems arise. Hui said heart disease is the biggest killer in the U.S. for men and women.

Hui says it is important to come under the care of a doctor. She says she often hears people say they are struggling to see the clues that something is wrong.

“What I hear very often is, ‘Oh, I thought it was heartburn,'” she said. ‘One of the symptoms of heart disease is getting tired of your normal activity. But sometimes it’s hard to figure out. ‘

Hui said people let it beat until old age, but it could be something more.

Those with a family history, who smoke and suffer from diabetes and obesity, are at high risk. Heart disease can be found in those in their thirties.

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Hui says anticipating the problem does not have to be a dramatic life-changing change, but it starts with small choices.

‘Every meal you eat is a choice you make. “Am I going to eat a healthy meal?” “I’m going to eat the unhealthy meal,” or “can I compromise a little?” “I think small incremental changes are the best thing we can do,” Hui said.

Devora is back at work. He says in the run-up to his heart attack, he was just a typical guy who did not have great doctors and was often too tired to exercise. He says everyone knows how important it is to take care of themselves, but sometimes work, family and lack of time get in the way.

‘For me personally, with myself, I never really made excuses. I was tired. I just went home, “he said. ‘It really comes down to everything – do what you know you have to do. I mean, common sense is just that. If you know it, force yourself, and that’s the hard part – force yourself to do what you already know. ”

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For more information on Heart Health, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s page on how to make seven healthy choices within seven days.