Heart Manual | Success Stories

Wilf is 53 years old. He is a 30 year resident of Mackenzie, a small town in northern BC. He's the proud grandfather of two. Wilf is a pipe-fitter by trade and is well represented in his community. He manages his Type 2 diabetes with ongoing support from his diabetes nurse, Deb.

In November 2007, Wilf had severe chest and jaw pain and was admitted to Prince George Hospital. "It felt like someone punched me in the face."

Wilf ended up at VGH for an angiogram and angioplasty. A week later, he returned home. As it happens, Deb had been trained to facilitate The Heart Manual and had a copy waiting for him.

"It was really good -- it had all the stuff in it, and I was able to follow it week to week. You think about stuff -- you have questions. The Heart Manual gave me answers to the questions I didn't know I had. It gave me insight into how I was feeling, and what I should do."

Wilf has had a challenging year. He seperated from his wife of 30 years, injured his knee on the job, witnessed the closure of a number of mills in the area, suffered a second bout of severe jaw pain and was recently re-admitted to hospital.

Despite these recent set-backs, Wilf stays connected with his diabetes nurse, Deb. "Wilf is great" says Deb. "He connects with me on a regular basis. I know he's had a rough time. I reminded him about The Heart Manual, and he agreed that it would be a good idea to listen to the relaxation CD and practice his coping skills again."

Wilf's advice to other health professionals like Deb? "Get on The Heart Manual as quick as you can. It just makes your job easier. You couldn't ask for anything better."

When asked what he would tell other patients who have an opportunity to use The Heart Manual, this is what he said: "It gives you confidence. We don't have the docs and specialists here... you get scared... you get worried. The Heart Manual helps you out a lot. It takes the stress away. The bottom line is that it just makes you  feel comfortable."