English Joe - My Future PlansSince having the transplant in April 2006, I set myself a goal of keeping myself physically active. I do this through running, cycling, gym work and surfing when I get the chance. I also eat a Heart healthy diet, which keeps my cholesterol and sodium intake down to a minimum. The cardiology team at Stanford Hospital has always encouraged this. As many of you may already know, this is the key for a long and healthy life for everyone, not just me!
Events On April 28th, 2008, I had my first heart check-up in the UK since receiving my heart two years ago. As expected I was a little nervous as to what the new doctors had to say. I had gotten used to being more or less back to my life pre transplant and have always had these “what ifs” limbering in the back of my head. Well my Dad and myself were up at the crack of dawn and on the road to Papworth Hospital at 5:30am, this giving us enough time to make it there for my first appointment at 8:45am. Papworth Hospital has a history of pioneering ground-breaking procedures. It was the site of the UK’s first successful heart transplant in 1979, and in 2006 Papworth again took the lead with England’s first beating heart transplant. I received Blood tests, an X-Ray, an Echo scan, an ECG test and my first ever appointment with my new cardiologist Dr Jayan Parameshwa. Well I got the full thumbs up from Parameshwa and have been given the all clear to stop taking some of my medication. I was even given the all clear to play rugby again if I wanted to? I don’t think I will put back on the boots to play competitively again but the news has wiped clean this mental block I have always had in the back of my head making me nervous about pushing myself as hard as I’ve always wanted to go. I’m now currently training hard for the British Transplant games with help from my superhuman friend Boomer lol... The games will be held in Sheffield in August. On April 13th, 2008, My good friend Sebastian Lakes AKA "Boomer" and I participated in the 2008 Flora London Marathon both raising money for The Cardiomyopathy Association (CMA). Well what can I say, after training real hard for the race this year I was planning to complete the 26.2 miles in sub 4.5 hours? This was all going to plan until around mile 7 when I managed to get myself into a little accident with 4 other competitors, which ended in me completing the run, around 18 miles with a rolled ankle. Well its happened now and there's nothing I can do about it so I won't dwell on it for long lol... Next there's Boomers story? What an achievement he made. His first ever marathon and he completed it in 3 hours and 22 minutes. I’ve always been a firm believer that Sebastian isn’t human and for only completing a 6-mile run a week before the big day, I’m sticking to my beliefs.
On October 28th, 2007, My Dad and I took part in the Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth raising money for The Cardiomyopathy Association (CMA). The latest estimate is about £1000. I started off a little to fast and payed the price for it mid race. So much that my Dad started to real me in and put quite a big gap in the finishing time difference! (See GSR time pictures below). A record breaking 18500 runners took part in the event even so with the weather being cold, windy and wet. We stayed in the Portsmouth Holiday Inn amongst some of the international elite runners. It was very interesting seeing how they would prepare themselves over the event. The Portsmouth course is one of the leading circuits in The Great Run series. Although the weather was pretty miserable, the crowds were still strong adding to the electric atmosphere across the entire course. The money donated to CMA will help to raise awareness of Cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is the worlds leading cause of sudden death for people under the age of 35. More people including GPs need to become aware of this, because its an unknown potential killer.
Click the logo to get involved On September 9th, 2007, I participated in the annual Lowestoft Scores race. I successfully completed the race in 53 minutes and 25 seconds. Being my cocky self, I told a lot of my mates that I was going to beat my friend Chris Comyn this year. Chris is a very competitive and the thought of him loosing to me would completely demoralize him. Well I'm sad to say that he trained harder than me, beating me good and I will put that down to my poor training effort and the fact that the course was a lot harder than I had anticipated. However, I had already got it into his head that if I wasn't going to beat him that my best friend Sebastian AKA Boomer could. Boomer having never ran the scores race course in his life before, ran the course in an amazing 30 minutes and 35 seconds. This beating Chris and placing him in 16th position out of 150+ runners. I'd like to also inform everyone that Boomer didn't get back home from watching Sting and The Police in London until 4am the morning of the race. I ran the race under team "English Joe" which consisted of Sebastian "Boomer" Lakes, Chris Comyn, Jonno Comyn, Paul "Mossy" Spillings and Myself. I am pleased to inform everyone that team "English Joe" took first position out of all the non-affiliated teams.
On August 21st, 2007, I travelled back home to California for another post heart transplant check up. The Stanford Medical teams were all impressed with my way of life, giving me another A1 health status and the all clear to continue living the lifestyle I have been living. It was great spending time in the "Cali sun" again and I'm very much looking forward to return later on in the year. On July 22nd, 2007 I went back to Gymnastics: On April 29th, 2007, I traveled back to sunny California to have my first annual check up at Stanford Medical University. The appointments consisted of an Angiogram, a routine Biopsy, EKG Scan, Echo, Chest X-ray and clinic appointment. The medical teams were very pleased with my condition and were very impressed giving me an A1 status of health. My visit also coincided with the Stanford Celebration of Life party, which happens to be the reunion of all the Stanford Heart and Lung recipients and their friends and family. I also spoke with Bobby Robbins where I found out that he used englishjoe.net as part of his presentation at the International Heart and Lung transplant seminar in San Francisco. He also asked me to accompany him to the 2008 seminar in Boston. On April 22nd, 2007, I participated and successfully completed with a time of 6hours and 45 minutes, the Flora London Marathon, raising money for “The British Heart Foundation” and “Transplant Sport UK”. 
I can’t describe to you the buzz I received from all the spectators whilst running around the course. It was a record breaking hot day which was great for the spectators but not for us runners. I completed the first 13 miles in a little over 2hours, but by mile 16, my right leg started to feel the pain and I had to reduce my pace to a brisk walk with short half mile runs every mile or so. By mile 24 the crowd literally was making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up on end. So me being me, I decided to grit my teeth and pick up the pace again. With 400 meters left to go and the HUGE boost the crowd were giving, I sped up once more all the way to the finish, crossing the line with a huge smile knowing that I had done it and also that I wanted to feel the same feeling again next year. Hopefully this achievement will inspire others who are going through the transplant, both young and old that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that with this second chance life is indeed for living… On April 1st, 2007, I successfully completed the Bungay Black Dog half Marathon. I would love to give huge thanks to my Dad and good friend of the family Hass Sanyari for keeping by me and giving me huge encouragement around the 13-mile course. I completed the course in 2hours and 37 minutes. Not a quick time, but definitely a time that I’m hoping to smash next year. Completing this run has proved to myself mentally what is possible to achieve close to one year after having my transplant. Hopefully this will help to inspire others who are, or who have had a life saving transplant that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. 
Keep your eyes posted here for pictures of these events and for more events I will be participating in the near future. |
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