Pera's Story
Pera's Story
I have a genetic heart disease which has run rampart through my family. I lost my Dad and a brother to this cruel disease. In 1998 I was sent to Wellington for a heart by pass and returned a new man. But since then I have lived on a daily cocktail of 19 different pills and insulin injections. To be honest I wasn’t an active person, I was actively social but not actively active – if you know what I mean.
Then this GCC came along and I was put into a team with friends and thought – why not, can’t be that hard geez Taylors in it!!
So I collected my bag, hat and pedometers and set off to do some steps for the good of the team. My first ever reading was 8895 steps and I felt I’d done a marathon. You need to understand that when I started GCC I was a forklift driver, and the only steps required for this machine is the step up and step down. So each day I’d get off my fork lift and walk a little more, park it further down the yard and walk to smoko. I even started sacrificing one smoko each day to walk down the railway side, then after work I’d push myself a little further around the streets of Napier and before long the steps were up to 39289.
Then one day I started having nose bleeds and my hands started swelling, I was terrified. My greatest fear is going to see my Doctor, he gives me nothing but lectures, bad news and more pills each visit. I thought of my moko (granddaughter), who I’d face the Devil himself for, and conceded the Dr was in slightly easier category.
I rang and he asked that I record my blood sugar levels for the next 2 days then come see him. The first day my readings were 6.5, 7.2, and 5.6. I couldn’t believe it, so I repeated it the following day with results in the same range. This can’t be right, something must be faulty. I have NEVER EVER had blood sugar levels down in single digits.
I was sitting in the Drs waiting room when he come out, he stood and stared at me with his mouth hanging open, I thought “ geez I must be dying” and my heart started racing. He leaned over and asked me “What have you been doing?” I muttered a single word “Walking”. He took me through and completed his exhaustive tests, blood pressure, sugar levels, weight, and cholesterol and when it all came together he shook his head, took a long look at me and summarised – all my tests were the lowest they’ve ever been. He reviewed my medication and dropped my pills down to 14, with a reduction in strength for some, and my insulin is now less than half of what I was taking. I no longer fear my Dr and I plan to be around for a very long time.
My highest daily step is 52775 and my current average is 29748. I started with small steps and have taken a huge leap to a longer life.
My name is Pera and I am a GCC walking addict and I’m proud of it.
I AM a Recycled Teenager.