February is Heart Health Month, and heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Even for those who eat right and exercise, they could still be susceptible to a cardiac event.WBAL-TV introduces you to a member of the Baltimore Orioles organization, who is thankful to be alive and well. Sean Kirkpatrick, 53, is 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 245 pounds of muscle. The retired Baltimore City police officer is head of team security for the Baltimore Orioles, and he says he takes good care of himself.”I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I eat very well,” Kirkpatrick said.The last thing he would expect is a problem with his heart, but on Sept. 8, 2024, that’s exactly what happened.”The team was about to travel to Boston for the next series. It was about the 8th inning, and I did my last security checks prior to staging, post-game. And I felt some discomfort in my chest. No pain, my heart rate was beating really fast. And I became very, very warm,” Kirkpatrick said.Luckily, he was standing right near the first aid station of the stadium.”An Orioles representative assisted me into first aid,” Kirkpatrick said.The first aid office is just steps away, but Kirkpatrick said it was difficult to get there once inside. He had an electrocardiogram or EKG.”It showed that something was wrong,” Kirkpatrick said.Over the next 10 days, Kirkpatrick underwent various cardiac exams and tests.”We learned that there were some serious issues. And on Sept. 18, I had quadruple bypass surgery,” Kirkpatrick said.”So, he had multiple blockages throughout all the arteries in his heart. And thankfully for him, the blockages were in a place that he has good vessels outside the blockage, past the blockage that we could bypass,” said MedStar cardiac surgeon Dr. Rachel Harrison.Harrison said Kirkpatrick’s heart muscle itself was in good shape.”So, we caught the myocardium — the heart muscle — in time before he started to have a heart attack or something life-threatening. So, his heart muscle was still very good when we decided to operate,” Harrison said. Harrison said the surgery went very well and Kirkpatrick’s recovery was excellent, partly because his overall health is very good. Kirkpatrick’s message to others, take care of your body and listen to it.”I hope that folks are proactive with their health care. And I was one that went to the doctor on a regular basis. And if anything is out of the normal, get it looked at. Because it could save your life,” Kirkpatrick said.
February is Heart Health Month, and heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. Even for those who eat right and exercise, they could still be susceptible to a cardiac event.
WBAL-TV introduces you to a member of the Baltimore Orioles organization, who is thankful to be alive and well. Sean Kirkpatrick, 53, is 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 245 pounds of muscle. The retired Baltimore City police officer is head of team security for the Baltimore Orioles, and he says he takes good care of himself.
“I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I eat very well,” Kirkpatrick said.
The last thing he would expect is a problem with his heart, but on Sept. 8, 2024, that’s exactly what happened.
“The team was about to travel to Boston for the next series. It was about the 8th inning, and I did my last security checks prior to staging, post-game. And I felt some discomfort in my chest. No pain, my heart rate was beating really fast. And I became very, very warm,” Kirkpatrick said.
Luckily, he was standing right near the first aid station of the stadium.
“An Orioles representative assisted me into first aid,” Kirkpatrick said.
The first aid office is just steps away, but Kirkpatrick said it was difficult to get there once inside. He had an electrocardiogram or EKG.
“It showed that something was wrong,” Kirkpatrick said.
Over the next 10 days, Kirkpatrick underwent various cardiac exams and tests.
“We learned that there were some serious issues. And on Sept. 18, I had quadruple bypass surgery,” Kirkpatrick said.
“So, he had multiple blockages throughout all the arteries in his heart. And thankfully for him, the blockages were in a place that he has good vessels outside the blockage, past the blockage that we could bypass,” said MedStar cardiac surgeon Dr. Rachel Harrison.
Harrison said Kirkpatrick’s heart muscle itself was in good shape.
“So, we caught the myocardium — the heart muscle — in time before he started to have a heart attack or something life-threatening. So, his heart muscle was still very good when we decided to operate,” Harrison said.
Harrison said the surgery went very well and Kirkpatrick’s recovery was excellent, partly because his overall health is very good. Kirkpatrick’s message to others, take care of your body and listen to it.
“I hope that folks are proactive with their health care. And I was one that went to the doctor on a regular basis. And if anything is out of the normal, get it looked at. Because it could save your life,” Kirkpatrick said.
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