A cyclist and his bike (stock image)
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Active grandfather John Cantrell fainted while biking with friends and then “woke up in the emergency room”
The 66-year-old had previously been diagnosed with aortic stenosis, but he had left it untreated
“It’s one of those moments in my life that I wish I could do it over again,” he said about initially writing off the diagnosis
John Cantrell dedicated his life after retirement to staying active.
The 66-year-old grandfather, who continued cycling and started playing pickleball to keep fit after he retired, told CBS News that although he was diagnosed with aortic stenosis in August 2024, he wasn’t worried as he noticed no symptoms and had no family history with heart disease.
Aortic stenosis is defined as a type of heart valve disease, which “reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the aorta and to the rest of the body,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
Just one day after Cantrell’s aortic stenosis diagnosis, he fainted and crashed while cycling with a group of his friends.
“I felt kind of weird, like my heart was fluttering,” Cantrell recalled. “It was just a really unusual feeling. I told the group ‘Hey, I’m going to turn around and go back home.’ And next thing I knew, I woke up in the emergency room.”
At the hospital, doctors told Cantrell that he had severe aortic stenosis and that his blood wasn’t being pumped correctly, which caused him to pass out. He also suffered broken ribs, a fractured collarbone and a punctured lung due to the post-fainting crash.
Cantrell looked back on the moment with regret, as he initially dismissed his diagnosis because of his healthy lifestyle and family health history.
“It’s one of those moments in my life that I wish I could do it over again,” he explained. “I think, gosh, if I could do this over, I certainly wouldn’t go on the bike the day after. … I should have been more diligent about following up on it.”
Dr. Mark Russo, professor and chief of cardiac surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, told CBS News that patients should take their diagnosis seriously. Although Russo did not treat Cantrell, he explained that it is common for many to “underestimate the risks” of aortic stenosis.
“Once patients have symptoms, then their median survival is only about 18 months if it’s left untreated,” Russo said.
“If they don’t have it treated over a five-year period, then almost everyone dies by that point. It has a mortality that’s similar to the most advanced forms of cancer,” he added.
Treatment for aortic stenosis can include surgical procedures, including biological valve replacement, mechanical valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), per the Mayo Clinic.
Cantrell’s doctor offered him two options between the mechanical replacement or TAVR, which is less-invasive.
“Even though the physician was saying maybe go with the other procedure, I went with the TAVR,” the grandpa said. “I really felt like that was right for me.”
TAVR procedure
Credit: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Cantrell underwent TAVR surgery in October 2024 and “couldn’t believe how fast the recovery was.” Through cardiac rehabilitation, he was able to get back to riding his bike and running on a treadmill.
He has also had two check-ins with his doctor, and has received the all-clear both times. Cantrell is now embracing being able to spend more time with his family. He took a trip with his son and grandson to Japan in March, and he is heading on a cruise soon to celebrate his 50th anniversary with his wife.
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Additionally, Cantrell planned a two-week cycling trip down the Pacific Coast Highway in California, as he is “not too worried” about his heart in 2026.
“I just wanted to be back and kind of be my normal self, so I could pick up a grandkid and do things with them,” he said. “And that’s where I ended up.”
Read the original article on People