Describe an incredibly difficult day on the job as a Golf Superintendent and how you overcame or learned from it?
Ok, let’s get to the heart attack story I mentioned a few weeks ago. I dropped from a massive heart attack in February when the course was closed due to some snow cover and wet conditions. It happened on the sixth fairway as my Assistant Superintendent Blaine and I were walking the course – as we did most days looking for issues.
I was 42 years old with a wife and two young children. That is what was on my mind as this was all occurring.
I was very fortunate to have Blaine there, and he did indeed save my life. If it weren’t for his quick action to have Denny and the crew come and get me, call 911, and then stay with me all the way to the operating room – I wouldn’t have made it.
You see my blockage was in what they call the “Widow Maker” or the LADD. Timing is very important when this happens, and I was very fortunate to get in and under the knife in 45 minutes – I now have a 2 ¼ inch stent in my LADD. To bring you up to speed, I also had a 6×6 inch patch of skin taken off my leg due to melanoma and I now have 2 titanium knees.
What I learned most from each of these days, was a few things. The biggest thing is to get your stubborn ass to the doctor once a year for a physical and the next biggest thing is to listen to them.
I would not be here for my family if I didn’t change and start going and listening regularly. It has been 26 years since my massive heart attack.
It is not that hard to make changes in your life that not only benefit you, but the people around you. Below is one of my slides that I use when giving presentations on life. I still exercise every day, eat right (meaning in moderation and you can splurge every now and then) – What is Eating in Moderation?
I see the doctor three times a year and get all the shots. At my age there are a lot of shots! Oh, and take the medications if prescribed!
P.S. – Thanks Blaine Oxyer for saving my life. Also, thanks to Tim Davisson for saving my leg and ultimately my life due to the melanoma. That is another story.
-Mark S. Merrick, CGCS Retired
Introducing ‘Merrick Mondays’, a segment where we hear from Mark Merrick, our resident brand Ambassador, Chief ‘Cool” Officer, and general source of wisdom and secrets of the universe, to spotlight a dose of interview-style content, weekly.