WESTAMPTON — About 10 years ago, doctors were worried Bob Goodman’s heart would one day fail.
Now, the Westampton resident regularly runs half marathons, hikes mountains, and competed in the Transplant Games of America in Salt Lake City last week.
“I went from having end-stage heart disease to competing in the Transplant Games, and I have my doctors, surgeons and cardiac rehab professionals to thank for it,” Goodman said.
As a lifelong athlete, Goodman was surprised in 2008 to learn he had a dangerously low heart rate of 32 beats per minute. A normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100.
He was given a pacemaker to prevent his heart rate from falling too low. The device worked for a while, but in 2011 doctors discovered his heart rate had risen dramatically to 250 beats per minute.
“In the meantime, I’ve never had a heart attack. And I’m thinking, what the hell is going on?” Goodman said, adding that he felt generally healthy during this time period.
Read more stories about Team Philly at the Transplant Games of America!