At 36 years old I became the first person in the Western United States to receive a heart
and liver transplant. October 24, 1998, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles my life began again. My remarkable recovery amazed the medical community and drew the attention of the national news media. A major part to my recovery was due to the fact that I kept myself as physically fit as I could prior to surgery and maintained a positive attitude. From the age of 17 I suffered with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and had to have my spleen and gallbladder removed. At 25, lupus attacked my heart causing congestive heart failure. I was given large amounts of chemotherapy and prednisone to counter the effects of the lupus. Three years later when I moved to New York I was told that I would not be able to exercise with the exception of walking. <O:P></O:P>
I joined a health club and started walking on a treadmill a couple of days a week. After a while I was able to increase my walking to 6 days a week which eventually lead to bench step classes and the Stairmaster as I grew stronger. I moved to an apartment building with a gym and continued to exercise on the Stairmaster, twice a day, 5 – 6 times a week and for 45 minutes at a time and lifted weights 3 times a week. That kept my heart going, which impressed my doctors greatly.<O:P> </O:P><O:P></O:P>
In 1996 (6 years later), I developed multiple stones and strictures in the bile ducts of my liver causing chronic liver failure and infection. I was left weak and lethargic after the surgery when the doctors were unable to remove the stones. I exercised the best I could, but my liver continued to deteriorate and weaken my body that exercise was no longer possible, and eventually the inevitable happened, I needed a double-transplant. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>
I spent 11 weeks in an intensive care unit before my transplant and I tried to walk the halls every day as much as I could. During that time my family and I were sustained by faith and the many, many prayers from my family, friends, doctors, nurses and even total strangers. Through the help of prayer and the fact that I was physically fit for so many years prior, eighteen days after my transplant I was released from the hospital and the next day I was on the treadmill for 20 minutes and back to work in my family’s advertising specialty business.
Two months after being released from the hospital, I returned to New York and to
exercising every day. I hired a personal trainer/nutritionist and have been kick-boxing and weight training ever since. I feel incredible! I have written a book titled “A Stranger Within Me”, awaiting publication, I speak in schools on the importance of organ and tissue donation and I continue my volunteer work with The Starlight Children’s Foundation NY, NJ & CT granting wishes to seriously ill children. <O:P></O:P><O:P></O:P>
With the assistance of Richard Gordon, MA at the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Cedars Sinai, I designed this video. I strongly feel that exercise and positive thinking played a major part in my recovery, and I want to share with you what I did to get back a “healthy and fit me.” 
In May I started doing yoga and have seen remarkable differences in the way I feel and significant amounts of my medication have been lowered. I also completed the New York City Marathon on November 4th, 2001.
Starting Slowly: Sticking with Exercise
Many people have tried dieting and exercise with varied success, but the benefits of incorporating exercise into your daily routine will extend beyond weight control and increased fitness. Exercise is necessary for longevity and is crucial to reducing the side effects of medications.
When beginning an exercise program, emphasize consistency, low intensity and motivation. First, remove any mental blocks. Be realistic in your goals and don't set yourself up for failure. Consider how much available time you have in your weekly schedule, as well as what access you have to gym or equipment. Begin slowly: it's hard enough to find time to get everything done in a day, so you must put exercise at the top of your list. If you lack confidence or motivation, try the following exercises with a friend or group:
Keep a log of your exercises; make sure to reward yourself and celebrate progress. Document health-related changes - like better breathing.
You may experience discomfort, pain or injury early on or when advancing to a higher level. Be careful of the exercise you choose when just starting out. Although activities in which you bear weight ( running) expend more calories, they may cause increased discomfort. Non-weight-bearing exercises such as biking or swimming may be a better choice. Often times being overweight can cause poor balance and lack of agility, so choose exercises that do not take a lot of athletic ablility, like walking.
As difficult as it may be, overweight exercisers may feel that they are being haunted by teasing, poor performance, or feelings of inadequacy. Find supportive friends until you are comfortable on your own. The benefits you will feel boost your self-control, self- confidence, and well-being, as well as lessen stress and depression. Although physical activity lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, you must also be on a healthy, low-calorie diet. Remember you must put out more than you put in. In other words, if you exercise more than you eat in a day you will lose weight! For example, if you walked 15 minutes a day and didn't take in any more calories than usual, you could lose 10 pounds in a year. You should try to do 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, or preferably, all days.
To lose weight, it's best to exercise five to seven days a week. If possible. This doesn't sound easy, I know. But walking is convenient, efficient and good for the soul as well. Ultimately, your goal should be to work up to approximately 60 minutes of continuous walking or other comfortable exercise. Starty slowly and progress each day or each week. Begin at a leisurely pace, and continue to increase your speed and distance. Most beginners start with about 15 to 20 minutes of daily walking, and progress after two weeks. ( But try whatever you can, whenever you can.) When ready, increase to 40 minutes and try to eventually work up to 60 minutes.
Concentrate initially more on consistency and duration than intensity. Your intensity will come as your fitness progresses. Once you have gotten into a routine, and have built a solid foundation of fitness, ( which can take anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks) you may then want to add variety to your work out. This way, your 60 minutes wil be much more fun and a bit more challenging. For instance, if you bicycle for 40 minutes, try walking for 20 minutes. Acitivities like stationery cycling, swimming, water aerobics and rowing can reduce joint pain and injuries.
Circuit weight training is another option that will help preserve muscle while you lose weight. Circuit training involves using low weights, high repetitions and little rest between lifts. In addition to the above remember that daily acitivities can also help you to lose extra pounds. Any time you have the opportunity to take the stairs, park further away, walk instead of ride, you will be burning calories. Exercise, a healthy diet for body and soul, must become a way of life.
What you mind perceives, your body will achieve.(Source: Transplant Chronicles, Vol 10, No. 2 by Vanessa Underwood)
Exercise Health for Post Surgery 
