WASHINGTON, D.C.–If you’ve ever had heart trouble, then you can probably relate to the feelings that Rep. Gregg Harper (R-3rd Dist.) said he had five weeks ago when doctors discovered he had a major blockage in a main artery of his heart. They caught it before a major medical incident.
“When you have this issue, typically you don’t know it unless there’s a major incident or an autopsy,” said Harper on the Gallo Radio Show Wednesday.
Harper said he wasn’t feeling well, knew something wasn’t quite right, and so he went in for an exam and doctors suggested a stress test.
HARPER ON THE GALLO SHOW
Doctors at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Md., near DC, put him on a treadmill.
“I’m doing the treadmill stress test, they say it’ll take about 21 minutes. About four minutes into the cardiologist tells the technician, ‘we can stop there’.”
The doctors did not let Harper leave the hospital. They performed a heart cath and found that 95 percent of his left anterior descending arty of his heart was blocked (The one they call the widow-maker, said Harper). He was on the way to a major heart attack.
“Not knowing what was gonna happen, I can tell you as I’m laying there, I only thought of two things: my relationship with Christ and my family. I don’t know if it was praying or begging, but I did say ‘Lord, let me walk my baby girl down the isle.'”
Harper’s daughter is getting married in January.
Harper said that after his stint he felt much better.
“I haven’t felt this good in years. I’m 15 pounds lighter.”
Harper said he now has to avoid bacon and other foods that typically contribute to artery blockage. He said he has a good outlook and is happy to continue his service in Washington for Mississippi.
