| 11 Life’s priorities in clear focus after heart attack Waikato farmer Alan Henderson says lying in a hospital after a heart attack provided plenty of time for re ection. Richard Loader RURAL PEOPLE » Alan Henderson (Cranleigh) There is an age old saying that if you want a job done give it to the busiest person, and apart from a few brief but tense moments when life gave way to death, that is something that Waikato farmer Alan Henderson is living proof of. Alan farms 400 hectares in the Paterangi district, northwest of Te Awamutu. His farming operation is primarily dairy but also includes 700 commercially reared calves, 80 drystock cattle that are nished and Angus bulls put over dairy heifers with calves sold into the early market. There is also a large cropping operation with 80ha of maize, and 50ha of chicory or turnips. In addition to a busy on-farm life, Alan was also a member of eight community organisations, and in most cases held leadership roles. Alan thought he was managing his farm workload, community involvement and stress levels pretty well. Last August Alan started feeling a tight chest while dehorning calves, but dismissed it as having pulled a chest muscle. Reaching the end of the week, lacking energy and not feeling well Alan decided to have a lazy day and rest up. It happened to be his 59th birthday. Concerned about Alan’s lethargy over the week Alan’s wife and son urged him to have it checked out, and that is when Alan says the journey began. “Hospital tests veri ed that I needed a triple bypass. Twelve hours later, at 4.00am, I had a cardiac arrest. They spent about 25 minutes doing CPR, during which I technically died. They gave me one or two electric shocks, which resuscitated me. “I was placed in the emergency queue but I had a blood clot that needed to dissolve before I could have the triple by-pass operation to ensure it didn’t travel to the brain during the operation.” It took three days to get the clot under control before the operation took place but either during or soon after the successful operation Alan contracted an infection. After two weeks spent at home, Alan was readmitted to hospital and over a 20-day period underwent ve additional surgeries to clear the infection. “I was stitched back up and now I have two permanent plates holding my chest together, which at the moment is causing on-going chest discomfort.” Alan acknowledges that his heart attack probably occurred while dehorning the calves the week prior to going to the hospital and says lying in a hospital bed provided opportunity for re ection. “I think the heart attack was brought on by stress. I think it was long-term stress that I felt I was managing. “The stress was exacerbated because of my community involvement. I don’t like being disorganized and inef cient, so a lot of my organisation got done between 1.00am and 4.00am in the morning when I couldn’t sleep.” Alan’s medical event has resulted in lower energy levels, less ability to sustain mental challenges, and his enthusiasm to carry on a high level of farm and community performance has become diluted. “It de nitely means doing less community work, cutting 80% – 90% of my community involvement. My advice to other farmers is to choose two or three things that are really important and focus those areas of your life, don’t try and be a ‘yes-person’ to all community and work situations — be con dent and brave enough to say no.” “My advice to other farmers is to choose two or three things that are really important and focus those areas of your life, don’t try and be a ‘yes-person’ to all community and work situations – be con dent and brave enough to say no.” Office (07) 825 9870 Mace 0275 397 602 Graeme 027 451 8143 Email: admin@gcl.net.nz 525 Te Pahu Road, RD5, Hamilton Goodwright Contracting Ltd is pleased to be associated with Alan Henderson Diggers • Bulldozer • Truck & Trailers • Tractor & Trailers • Effluent Ponds • Feed Pads Ground work • Ag Lime & Fert Cartage • All Grades of Metal • Sand .(A ͠;696/(5.( 1 Progress Drive | 07 873 4004 Logan Coffey 027 208 9002 Gary Dando (Jockey) Ph: 07 871 5272 Mob: 027 493 1879 · Email: dispatch@dibbletransport.co.nz · 1495 Alexandra Sta, PO Box 320 Te Awamutu WE STOCK: AG LIME WOODCHIP CHIPPER FINES Delivered or Pick up Ex Store All Farm Metal/Stock Food From the quarry or store of your choice. Fertiliser ex works or your local store. We will work with any local spreading contractor of your choice. WE SUPPLY AND CART: AG LIME / RACE FINES RACE ROCK / AGGREGATES STOCK FOOD ALL BULK PRODUCTS OUR EFFICIENCY ISYOUR ECONOMY! WE PROUDLY SUPPORT ALAN HENDERSON WITH ALL HIS BULK CARTAGE NEEDS
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