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as told by Les Eversole
 ore than three years ago, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer and was told that surgery would be the best treatment option. Little did I know, my hospital stay would become far more complicated. I ended up having a heart attack and required many weeks of rehabilitation to get on my feet again.
 After being in the automobile industry since 1954, I must say I know a thing or two about good sales. But I have to admit Gundersen Lutheran’s cardiac rehabilitation team did an excellent job of selling me on Movin’ and Improvin,’ a supervised exercise program. I was recruited while lying right in my hospital bed.
I began the program shortly after my surgery and hospital rehabilitation in hopes of regaining strength. I had no idea that, three years later, I would still be participating. The exercise physiologists, my classmates, the results, everything about it has kept me coming back for more.
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I take a ride to the sixth floor of the Hospital and round the corner to the Exercise Physiology department, only to be greeted by the motivating and knowledgeable staff. They make our workouts fun and I think their positive attitudes rub off on all of us. We have more energy because of them.
And I can’t say enough about the relationships I’ve established with my fellow exercise classmates. We hold each other accountable for showing up for classes because, at our ages, exercise is one thing that really keeps us going.
I’m 87 years old and I must admit I am probably more active than most people my age, thanks, in part, to Movin’ and Improvin.’ But with 51 years in the automobile industry, I just can’t get that drive out of my blood. In fact, I feel good enough to still be selling cars. Just the other day, I was discussing vehicles with one of my exercise physiologists. I guess I will probably never quit.
One thing I know for certain is that as long as I can stay away from nursing homes and wheelchairs, I’ll be racing back for more. After all, Movin’ and Improvin’ has literally kept me alive and I still have a few more miles to go. |