Samuel Johnson did not have the typical symptoms of heart trouble. He was
just miserably tired, with a cough he couldn't shake. But his longtime
physician, Tito Izard, MD, found that Samuel's heart was functioning like the
heart of a much older man. Along with immediate treatment for congestive heart
failure, Samuel got some frank advice.
I delivered his son, Dr. Izard says. I told Sam that if he kept on this
path, he was not going to see Sam Jr. graduate from high school.
Samuel began working seriously with Dr. Izard to control his weight, blood
pressure and thyroid condition. He was always a great patient, but he made a
strong commitment to improving his health, Dr. Izard says.
Samuel calls Dr. Izard a superman to me an advisor, a confidant, a
friend. With Dr. Izard's encouragement, Samuel tries to exercise with a little
hiking or fishing whenever he can. I want to be around as long as I can, for
the sake of my kids, he says. That's the bottom line.
Protecting families