As 2024 Heart Ball returns to Austin, local doctor shares his remarkable story
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the 2024 Heart Ball returns to Austin on Saturday, a local doctor talked about his own health story after he endured a stroke. KXAN’s Britt Moreno interviewed him Thursday.
Dr. Michael Petersen, Chief Medical Officer at Aetna-CVS, talked about his remarkable story while being on the other side of medical care.
Read the full transcription of the interview below or watch in the video player above. Some responses have been edited for clarity.
Britt Moreno: I’m so excited to welcome Dr. Mike Petersen, Chief Medical Officer at Aetna-CVS. He’s joining us today to talk about his health story. And we say it’s remarkable because it truly is, and you’re so brave to be here. Okay, Dr. Petersen endured a stroke. And you know, I’m sure that irony isn’t lost on you here. You have been in the medical field for decades, probably on the other side of things. And here, you found yourself as a patient. What was that like?
Dr. Mike Petersen: It was, to be honest with you, it’s tough. It’s tough to be a patient. Because you’re on the other side, you kind of know everything is happening to you. But at the same time, you also know where you’re gonna, trajectory is gonna be. It is a overwhelming experience to be patient.
Moreno: When you think back, were there any early symptoms, any signs or warning?
Petersen: No. They call hypertension the silent killer for a reason. And I was fit, I was going to Orangetheory, three times a week. I had no reason to think that I had hypertension. And what got me was hypertension. I was diagnosed with hypertension.
Moreno: You didn’t even know you had it.
Petersen: I didn’t know I had it.
Moreno: You went through this traumatic experience. My goodness. So, just so folks understand. He is put together today. But that wasn’t the case after the stroke. You had to learn how to walk how to talk, tell us a little bit about that in-depth recovery.
Petersen: The recovery was through [TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital] down in Houston. And then this therapist at CNS took care of the rest. But it was intense. When I first was getting out of hospital, I was in a wheelchair for about four weeks, then a walker. And then from a walker. I told him I said, I’m not even going to use the walker anymore. So, I started walking about six and a half, seven, eight weeks of after my stroke. The the therapy was like I said, intense and we had physical, I had occupational, I had cognitive therapy. And it was remarkable. And I’m here because of the work that they did at TIRR and the way they did CNS wouldn’t be here talking to you if it wasn’t for them.
Moreno: You mentioned to me as well that you’re grateful to the initial EMS workers who came to you, and really your wife, yes, was the one who called 911.
Petersen: Despite my be a doctor, I told her don’t worry about calling 911. She called 911 anyways, because she just knew something’s wrong. But I owe everything to the EMS crew, they came to pick me up, because my son found me is the one who found me near the bed. And I was in a lot of pain. I had a major headache. And I told him to get his mom, she came up. Of course, she didn’t listen to me calling 911. And I was lucky enough that the neurosurgeon happened to be in the hospital when I pulled in. So he took me right to the ER,
Moreno: It can be a good thing when the wives don’t listen.
Petersen: Yes, it’s a great thing, trust me.
Moreno: You know, we’re talking about the Heart Association Heart Ball that’s coming up, and I know you’re going to that, yes. This is a way that we can educate other people and create awareness and so KXAN’s really happy to be a part of it. Yeah, we’re really glad that you’re going. What do you think is your big takeaway from enduring this experience?
Petersen: Yeah, there’s a lot of them. But the biggest one is, check your blood pressure, even if you’re healthy, have blood pressure check, especially if you’re over 25 or 26. I think that’s why what I take from this is not only the journey is long, but one thing to remember is that this stroke doesn’t just affect the person– it impacts the family. So think about my in-laws have to come watch my kids, so my wife could be with me in Houston. It is a overwhelming experience. Just be patient, and just know that time will be on your side. Because, you know, when you’re when the story does impact you you think in your mind you’re better. Reality is you’re not. You need people to tell you you’re not. That’s what therapists said.
Moreno: And how wonderful that you had that community of people and supporters wrapping their arms around you.,
Petersen: I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.
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