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Implant has given Nock a second chance at life Continued from page 25 29 · Thursday, October 18, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Nock also volunteers in the community and worked in banking, real estate and insurance. A decade ago, a heart irregularity was the farthest thing from his mind -- but not his body. After a doctor, who is a friend of his, suggested he get an updated blood test and stress test, he was shocked to learn he had suffered two silent heart attacks that had damaged the lower left wall of his heart. "I was absolutely devastated," he said. He believes he's able to pinpoint both occasions. One was when he doing a three-day hike of the Bruce Trail with his daughter. At one point he felt weak, stopped, had a drink and then completed his journey. The other time he was baling hay. Again, he stopped when he felt weak and later returned to the task. He was given medication to deal with his heart blockage. With some due diligence to monitor his activities and by not overdoing himself, he was able to continue his active lifestyle. Then in 2006, he was hospitalized with congestive heart failure, which he attributes to stress. In April 2007, he was told at Sunnybrook Hospital that he was at a high risk of a major cardiac attack. A month later, he was outfitted with ICD, which was not even on the market at the time. It works as both a defibrillator and pacemaker. It monitors his heart activity for rates of less than 40 times per minute and of more than 130. The unit then sends impulses to his heart to correct his heart rate. As he is susceptible to sudden spikes in his heart rate, the device works to lower the number of beats. He's aware of four instances when the device had to intervene, when his heart rate shot up to more than 200 beats per minute. "I'm a little more cognizant of what I can and can't do," he said. Should the device be unable to lower his heart rate quickly enough, it will administer a full charge just like a defibrillator, which he likens to the sensation of being kicked by a horse. He's never been hit with the full charge, but knows he doesn't want one. "I got kicked by my horse Sandy only once. It is not a pleasant experience," he said with a laugh. Nock maintains an active lifestyle, playing badminton, tennis and golf, riding a horse and working out in a gym four times a week. He also gardens and cuts his own lawn and hedges. "I can do many of the things I could normally do, only in moderation," he said. "I'm in reasonably good condition, but I also don't try to fool myself because I realize that a lot of that is attributed to the medications I take." Nock wants people to know having an ICD doesn't spell the end for them, but rather it allows them to keep going. "There are a lot of people who are contemplating having these implants "I kid everybody that I'm bionic... I have an implant that basically keeps me going and allows me to keep a somewhat normal life." Ernie Nock, Oakville put in and they figure it's the end of their life. There are people who have had the implants who just don't know exactly how to deal with it. They don't realize they can live a somewhat normal life," he said. "I kid everybody that I'm bionic... I have an implant that basically keeps me going and allows me to keep a somewhat normal life." On Sunday, participants can wear costumes, while hiking through the provincial park to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The walk starts at 10:15 a.m. For information, visit www. heartandstroke.ca. to offer you unsurpassed paint quality and unique colours you won't find anywhere else. Benjamin Moore stores are different. They're the only places you'll find Aura® paint. With Aura's exclusive Colour LockTM technology, the colour is locked right in--no matter how often you wash it. Plus, the colours at Benjamin Moore stores are made with our own proprietary colourants and can't be duplicated by anyone else. Look for the big red Benjamin Moore sign in your neighbourhood and come on in. Available at: The Paint & Paper Place 2423 Trafalgar Road (Trafalgar Ridge Plaza) 905-257-4906 Paintscapes West 511 Maple Grove Drive (Maple Grove Plaza) 905-339-2002 Speers Paint 275 Speers Road (East of Dorval) 905-337-7272 The Painters Place 478 Dundas Street West (Neyagawa & Dundas) 905-257-2061 © 2012 Benjamin Moore & Co., Limited. Aura, Benjamin Moore and the triangle "M" symbol are registered trademarks; Colour Lock is a trademark of Benjamin Moore & Co., Limited.