DETROIT (WXYZ) — Today is “Go Red for Women” Day! It’s a reminder to promote good heart health for the ladies in our lives.
7 Action News reporter Syma Chowdhry interviewed Robin Martin, who had a scary wake up call and now wants to inspire others to live a healthy life.
She told Syma, “I could have had a fatal heart attack.”
Two years ago Robin was at her heaviest, weighing more than 360lbs. She had diabetes, thyroid issues and leg pain.
Robin thought if she got weight loss surgery, she could start getting healthy. But when they ran tests, they found out she had 90% blockage in one of her heart vessels. Turns out that was causing the leg pains.
This foster mom raised four of her own children and was in the process of adopting four young kids when she got the news.
“Like, if something happened to me, who is going to raise them?”
It’s clear her heart is full of love but if doctors didn’t remove the blockage, she wouldn’t be here today.
“I have a second chance, you understand. When I look at what I’ve been through I could have been gone,” she said choking back tears.
Robin turned to DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan to work out and make better food choices, no weight loss surgery needed now. She’s lost about 75 pounds.
“I wanted to do it the hard way and work at it.”
Cate Spurr is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and said, “Endurance, shortness of breath, fatigue levels improved and she was able to do things at home a lot easier and take of her family a lot better.”
Robin is living proof, it’s never too late to take care of yourself.
“You can do it. Don’t let anything keep you from moving forward.”
