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Heart rehab helps former dentist revive a passion
McCOOK, Neb. — Golf is so important to Chris Nix, retired McCook dentist, he has played in or supported every Community Hospital Pro-Am at Heritage Hills in McCook but one.
“Golf is important to me,” he says. “It’s one of my passions—to be able to play at a high level.”
Last year, the 30th anniversary of the Pro-Am, his passion was interrupted when Nix experienced a serious heart episode in April 2018, a month before the event.
This year Chris Nix will attend the Pro-Am with a different perspective on life.
That’s why this year’s Pro- Am fundraiser to support the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center is so important to him.
Thirteen months ago Nix was flying home from a family reunion.
During his travel, he felt a squeezing and pain in his chest. He could only walk about 20 yards before needing to catch his breath.
Nix thought it was related to a lung infection, but he also knew he was overweight, out of shape and aware his symptoms could be heart related.
He took some aspirin and followed up at a local hospital to find out he had had a heart attack due to four blocked arteries limiting the blood supply to his heart.
Nix contacted his family physician, Dr. Richard Klug, McCook Clinic, who referred him to a cardio-thoracic surgeon, Dr. Robert Oakes, of Bryan Heart in Lincoln.
Within a couple days Nix had quadruple cardiac bypass surgery. He was sent home three days following his open heart surgery.
Within ten days, Nix started cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at Community Hospital.
He wanted “to feel better,” he said.
He wasn’t moving to the degree he wanted and was having bouts of depression.
“I remember thinking, is this heart going to make it? I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be 100 percent again,” Nix recalled.
The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation team of nurses and therapist encouraged and built him up. “T
he rehab and my progress went quicker and faster than I thought,” he said. “When I started I could hardly walk half a block. After five or six weeks of rehab I was dang near running on the treadmill,” he chuckled.
One of Nix’s goals during rehab was to play golf on a planned trip to Scotland, the modern birthplace of golf, that August.
But, “at the start of rehab, I could barely swing a club,” he said.
Nix wasn’t sure if he would get back to his normal golfing skill.
He credits his doctors and the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation team for making this dream of a lifetime come true when he played at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland.
During rehab, Nix learned the importance of diet, exercise, and monitoring his blood pressure, which led to many lifestyle changes.
Now, a year later, he has lost 50 pounds, is on a ketogenic diet, walks three miles, three to four times a week, and lifts weight.
“I’m in great shape now and feel good,” he said.
“I’m thankful I’m alive,” Nix added. “I have a new outlook on life, a new appreciation for life. The cardiac rehab center went a long way in making this happen.”
\A dentist for 38 years, he retired from Southwest Nebraska Dental C
enter in McCook in 2015. For three and a half years, he taught at UNMC College of Dentistry where he was the Digital Dentistry Clinic Director, retiring in the fall of 2018.
He continues to guest lecture at area dental hygiene programs and UNMC. He also enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.
Community Hospital Health Foundation is preparing to hold its 31st annual Community Hospital Pro-Am at Heritage Hills, May 31, June 1 and 2.
Proceeds from this fundraising event will purchase equipment for the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation expansion project at Community Hospital.