Police chief of Medina ISD urges others not to gamble with their health after 15 minutes of heart attack

MEDINA COUNTY, Texas – Medina ISD Police Chief Abel Devora was at work at a job rally on February 28, 2020, when everything went south. He had a heart attack and was dead for about 15 minutes until a nearby emergency room nurse brought him back to life with CPR.

‘That day I just walked in, and it was like falling asleep on my feet. So I have no idea what happened, ”said Devora.

The police chief woke up after five-way bypass surgery and several surgeries to remove his arteries a few months later. A year later he is back at work and living a different lifestyle.

“I try to walk every day. I’m trying to put in some light weights, exercise, you know, try to eat a little bit better, ”he said.

Devora’s goal is to make it day by day.

Dr. Dawn Hui, associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at UT Health San Antonio who treated Devora, says the chief’s recovery has been quite remarkable.

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“The disease affecting his heart, it turned out that the disease was similar to those in other areas, in other blood vessels, like the ones that went to his brain,” said Hui.

February is National Heart Health Month and Devora is helping Hui spread the word about the importance of taking care of someone’s health before problems arise. Hui said heart disease is the number one killer in the US for men and women.

Hui says getting under a doctor’s care is crucial. She says she often hears people say they are having a hard time seeing the clues that something is wrong.

“What I often hear is, ‘Oh, I thought it was heartburn,” she said. “One of the symptoms of heart disease is that you feel more tired with your usual activity. But sometimes those things are difficult to figure out. “

Hui said people throw it out to age, but it could be a little more.

People with a family history, who smoke, and are diabetic and obese, are at high risk. Heart disease occurs in people in their 30s.

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Hui says staying ahead of the problem doesn’t have to be a major life-changing change, but it starts with small choices.

“Every meal you eat is a choice you make. “Am I going to eat a healthy meal?” “I’m going to eat the unhealthy meal,” or “can I make a small compromise?” I think small, small incremental changes are the best we can do, ”said Hui.

Devora is back at work. He says that leading up to his heart attack, he was just a typical guy who wasn’t great at doctors and often too tired to exercise. He says everyone knows the importance of taking care of themselves, but sometimes work, family and lack of time get in the way.

“For me personally, with myself, I have never really apologized. I was tired. I just went home, ”he said. “Basically it just boils down to – do what you know you have to do. I mean common sense is just that. If you know, force yourself, and that’s the hardest part – force yourself to do what you already know. “

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To learn more about heart health, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s page on How to Make Seven Healthy Choices in Seven Days.