Carlos’ story: Living life to the fullest with heart failure

Carlos Martinez describes himself as someone who “lives and breathes fitness and health.” He eats carefully, works out daily and even competes in fitness competitions. So when he noticed trouble breathing after a run, he shrugged it off as odd—but probably nothing serious.

A few days passed, but his breathing didn’t improve. Then lying down to sleep started to feel impossible.

“Every time I would lay down, I felt like I was drowning,” he said. “That’s what indicated to me that I needed to go to the hospital and take it seriously.”

At the emergency room, a nurse immediately admitted him—and asked how long he’d had a heart condition. Carlos was confused. He didn’t even know he had one. The diagnosis? Congestive heart failure.

“I was just trying to understand what was going to be my new normal from that point on, if there was going to be one,” Carlos said. “I was scared, I was overwhelmed, I was frustrated. I was a lot of things at that point.”

And just like that, a new chapter began.

Coming to terms with an unexpected diagnosis

Carlos’ care team initially recommended removing fluids and managing his pain. But at only 40 years old, he wanted more than symptom control. He wanted to fight. That led him to Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano’s multidisciplinary heart recovery program.

Carlos found the expert care and support he needed in his team of heart failure cardiologists, surgeons, advanced care practitioners, nurse navigators and nurse coordinators.

“The doctors fought for me and the nurses believed in me,” he said. “In times like that, you start to give up on yourself. So, with the staff, my husband, my family and everybody in my corner helping me fight, it's what still has me here today.”

When doctors first suggested a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), Carlos refused. He was active, enjoyed traveling and couldn’t imagine being tethered to a machine 24/7. But after discussing it at length with his care team and partner, his perspective shifted.

“I felt like whenever I heard LVAD, that I was going to be living on a machine the rest of my life, and that's not necessarily the case,” he said. “It's not living on, it's living with.”

Given the uncertainty of Carlos’ health, he and his partner of 18 years decided to get married—right in the hospital. Nurses orchestrated a beautiful ceremony complete with cake, decorations, non-alcoholic champagne, cake toppers and more.

“They went above and beyond,” Carlos said. “They turned such a dark moment into something so beautiful.”

That special memory is one he and his husband will cherish forever.

Learning to live with an LVAD

Recovery after the LVAD procedure wasn’t easy. At just 41, Carlos realized he couldn’t do many of the activities he loved. He often felt stuck inside when he wanted to be out traveling, exercising and going on adventures like he had before.

“The recovery for me has been more mental than physical,” he said. “The physical, I've just always been one of those people that suck it up, cheer up and move forward. But the mental part of it I've always struggled with because I tend to brush things under the rug. And this one was one of those things that there was no more room under the rug. I had to face this one.”

Determined to reclaim his life, he started small: walking, then running. He lifted light weights and learned how to adjust exercises around his pacemaker-defibrillator.

“I’m still pushing forward to try to do more and more and more every day,” Carlos said. “I've always had to be the one to prove myself. And when somebody tells me that I can't do it, I want them to see me do it.”

Making every day count

Life may look a little different now for Carlos with an LVAD, but he’s making it count. Since getting the LVAD, he has hiked and even run a few 5Ks. He pushes himself, but he also listens to his body.

This experience has given Carlos a new perspective and a deep gratitude for things in life that he took for granted before his diagnosis.

“Sometimes in life, we forget the things that are important to us because we have them every day,” he said. “And it's very important to never forget where you came from, because you never know when God's going to take you back to visit. He's taken me back a lot of steps to make me appreciate the things that I took for granted. So, every day is a blessing. Every day is a day to be thankful for.”

He also has advice to share with anyone who will listen: trust your instincts.

“You know your body best,” he said. “You know when something's good and when something's wrong. Just listen to your mind and listen to your body.”

Today, Carlos is living fully. His new favorite phrase is, “I love you with all my mechanical heart.” Though he hopes for a heart transplant someday, he’s grateful for the LVAD keeping him alive. Now, each day is an opportunity to live to the fullest.

“I've always seen life as glass half empty, glass half full,” he said. “I've had to teach myself that it's refillable and it's up to me to over pour my glass with love, happiness, success, health and strength.”

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