Weather, not health slowing retired sheriff's return

Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Former Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon can hit the golf course once the weather clears up, since attending cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and recovering following his March heart attack.
Courtesy Photo

McCOOK, Neb. — Retired Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon looks forward to a game of golf when the weather clears.

Thanks to good healthcare, it has been poor weather and not poor health keeping him from playing.

On the morning of March 27, Mahon exercised as normal at the Ed Thomas YMCA of McCook riding a bicycle for seven miles.

That afternoon while doing yard work, he felt a strong burning in his chest.

He rested for a bit and went back to working.

He then felt pain in the left side of his chest going into his shoulder.

His wife called the ambulance and he was transported to Community Hospital where he was found to have had a heart attack.

He was flown to Kearney Regional where two stents were placed in his carotid arteries.

In weeks that followed the cardiac stents being placed, Mahon noticed the chronic shoulder pain he had been experiencing had disappeared.

He believes this was an early symptom of his cardiac trouble.

A week after his release from the hospital. Mahon began cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at Community Hospital.

“I didn’t know anything about it,” Mahon said. “I’d done rehab before but not this type.”

Mahon is now 20 sessions into the program. He goes three times a week for forty-five minutes to an hour.

“It’s going great. The staff is wonderful, very professional. I can’t say enough good about them,” he added.

During his time, Mahon has learned about heart disease, diet, exercise, and stress management.

“I didn’t think I was eating bad before but I’ve change some things in my diet. I’ve always exercised,” he revealed. “The staff taught me new techniques to exercise better.”

When asked about stress, Mahon commented he’s used to stress after 47 years in law enforcement.

“Once I retired it was a different kind of stress,” he said. “They (cardiopulmonary rehabilitation staff) taught me some new stress management techniques.”

Mahon is currently in Phase 2 of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program.

Once he finishes with Phase 2, he intends to move into Phase 3 and continue with that phase.

Phase 3 is a private pay maintenance program that allows patients to continue attending cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services for a small monthly fee, as long as the patient stays engaged in the program.

Mahon has played golf on and off for several years.

Since retirement, he tries to play with friends a couple times a week and with his children and grandchildren.

He’s hoping for some good golf weather in the next week.

“I’m looking forward to seeing if the strength I gained from cardiac rehab will help me hit the ball a little further,” he chuckles.

Community Hospital Health Foundation is preparing to hold its 31st annual Community Hospital Pro-Am at Heritage Hills starting Friday through Sunday.

Proceeds from this fundraising event will purchase equipment for the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation expansion project at Community Hospital.

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  • Seems odd seeing this on the sports page, while a woman looking to re-home her cats is on page one of the paper.

    Glad to see your on the mend Gene. Thanks for your years of service to Red Willow County and I'm sure you'll master that golf swing in no time!

    -- Posted by Bruce Baker on Wed, May 29, 2019, at 3:03 PM
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