Forked River Gazette: Local Heart Disease Survivor Shares Story To Support Heart Walk In Asbury Park

Forked River Gazette
“I had no symptoms whatsoever. I felt no chest pain, and was fit and healthy. It was like someone hit me on the side of the head with a 2×4 when I found out,” sextuplet bypass survivor Howard Schoor shares his story this year as the Survivor Ambassador for the 2017 Shoreline Heart Walk.
Howard Schoor, 78 years young, of Asbury Park never expected to battle heart disease.  Although his father had a valve replacement at age 88, Schoor had no other family history of heart disease.  Despite this, he had a nuclear stress test done every five years, just to be sure.  In October of last year, his test showed some irregularities and his cardiologist requested a catherization.
In mid-December, Schoor underwent the catherization as planned, “expecting the worst-case scenario would be a stent or two.”  But afterterwards, he received the news that he would need bypass surgery to open six arteries in his heart.
On January 24, Schoor received sextuple bypass surgery by Dr. Craig R. Smith, a leading cardiovascular surgeon and an American Heart Association Board Member. The good news was that his recovery went smoothly and now he’s back to what he really loves doing: making retirement busy with painting, philanthropy and overseeing several businesses.
Many people take for granted that they can take a walk with little trouble.  For others, taking a walk means more than just lacing up your sneakers and hitting the streets—it means life. “Nothing has really changed since my bypass surgery, but I do try to eat more fruits and veggies, and I walk the boardwalk every day,” continued Schoor. “I’m asking my friends and family to please join my team ‘Howard Schoor Art’ and walk with us on Sunday, October 1st along the same path I’ve taken for my recovery since my sextuple bypass.”
Schoor will be sharing his story along with two other local heart disease and stroke survivors at the American Heart Association Shoreline Heart Walk on Sunday, October 1 at 9 a.m. at Bradley Park across from Convention Hall at the Asbury Park Boardwalk.
The Shoreline Heart Walk, locally sponsored by Hackensack Meridian Health, Coral Harbor, Mid-Atlantic Surgical Associates, New Jersey Natural Gas, RWJ Barnabas Health, VNA Health Group and Howard Schoor Art, brings hundreds of families, organizations and businesses of Monmouth and Ocean counties together annually for a fun event filled with cardiovascular wellness.
Heart Walks are the signature community event for the American Heart Association’s Healthy For GoodTM movement which encourages Americans to lead healthier lives by delivering science-based
recommendations, tools, tips and motivation to build healthier behaviors.  The walk also raises funds to support the fight against heart disease and stroke – our nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 leading causes of death.  Held in more than 305 communities nationwide, the Heart Walk is designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living through a fun environment that’s rewarding for the entire family.
To learn how you can join Howard at the American Heart Association Shoreline Heart Walk, visit www.shorelineheartwalk.org, call 609.223.3711 or email lena.siddiqi@heart.org.

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