FEBRUARY 14, 1996

Few people, if any, ever think about organ function, let alone organ dysfunction, unless something catastrophic occurs. I admit that neither did I prior to February 14, 1996. What is clear, however, is that my quest for a strong, lean body in preparation for my 10 year Teaneck High School Reunion in 1990 ended up saving my life in 1996. ALL my organ function returned, ALL my limbs survived intact and ALL my muscles retained their memory allowing me to return to normal function within weeks after my discharge. This was incredible after 29 days in the Intensive Care Unit and an initial prognosis of only a 10% chance of survival.

What happened to me is akin to a whodunit, only it is and will forever remain an unsolvable mystery. Septic Shock is a reaction your body has to an infection, be it bacterial, fungal or viral as your body attempts to fight it off. In my case, there was no evidence of any infection of any kind. The doctors "guessed" that it was an airborne viral infection from a carrier's cough or sneeze, but there is no evidence. Whatever it was is really of no consequence. The point is that when my body tried to fight it, my army of antibodies went into overdrive and attacked ME. This caused immediate system-wide inflammation which resulted in full-blown Septic Shock along with the cascade known as Mutiple Organ System Failure rapidly following suit. 

Septic Shock is a life-threatening medical emergency which if undetected or left untreated results in lifelong organ dysfunction, limb amputations and even death. There were 1.6 million cases of Sepsis/Septic Shock in the United States last year resulting in the deaths of more than 258,000 Americans of all ages. It can strike anyone who has an infection at anytime. The key is awareness and education on the part of the public as well as medical personnel who DO NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZE IT IN TIME. It kills more Americans than Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and HIV COMBINED!

Despite the expectation of very competent and experienced physicians that I had but 24-48 hours left, I not only survived but since 1996 I have truly thrived. Septic Shock was no match for my very conditioned "cardiac muscle" which had to work harder than humanly imaginable to keep me alive. It never stopped beating despite how enlarged it had become. Although my body had been losing battles left and right over the course of the 29-day ordeal, my entire body ultimately won the war as it valiantly defeated Septic Shock and its merciless reign of terror known as Multiple Organ System Failure. 

As I mentioned in my last post, I am working hard on a manuscript which recounts the events leading up to February 14, 1996, the aftermath & recovery and a very special epilogue. I will keep you posted on its future release. In the meantime, from the bottom of my "cardiac muscle," I wish all of you the very best of health and fitness, not only on this Valentine's Day 2015, but everyday, for the rest of your lives.

As always,

CLIMB, LIFT AND EAT WELL...