A note from Joe (November 2021):

I suffered a major heart attack on the evening of October 6, 2021, a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I collapsed on the gym floor while exercising. I was non-responsive and without a pulse. Thankfully, attendees at the gym included a cardiologist and a registered nurse. They sprang into action, using a combination of the on-site automated external defibrillator (AED) and CPR to bring me back, with Wystan providing the rescue breaths. Paramedics from Providence Fire Department Recuse 3 arrived in minutes and transported me to The Miriam Hospital. 

At the hospital, I underwent a heart catheterization that found a 90% occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. This event is fatal 85% of the time that it occurs outside of a hospital. The blocked LAD was surprising as I am in a low-risk category for heart disease. In general, I had no other blockages, and this seemed to be a case of very bad luck where a disproportionate percentage of plaque had accumulated at one specific and problematic location. The LAD was cleared and a stent was put in. The blockage was attributed to a genetic predisposition to the excessive creation of a specific lipoprotein (lp(a)) by my liver. I now take a daily statin to address this.

My prognosis is positive. There was no serious damage to the muscle of my heart, thanks in large part of the quick responses of everyone involved. I was also in good physical condition going into the heart attack. A full recovery is expected.

This event has encouraged me to look at my life with an increased sense of gratitude. I count my family, friends, and my role as a professor among my greatest blessings. I thank God for my life every day. I also thank you all for your prayers, well wishes, and words of encouragement during this difficult time.