Bob Lam Shares Heart Attack Experience: “I Was Scared For My Family”

It was one of the scariest experiences of his life. He knew he had three clogged arteries in the heart but, unwilling to postpone work, he treaded on. Fortunately, his doctor was steadfast and immediately pulled Bob Lam (林盛斌) out of work before the worst could come.

“I remember my heart feeling stuffed,” Bob recalled. “As if something was pressing me down. It was hard to breathe. My shoulder, back, and even my jaw had this numbing pain!” Bob immediately sought medical care and was approved for an emergency coronary angioplasty, a procedure used to widen blocked coronary arteries to increase blood flow to the heart.

Bob’s wife was very calm on the evening of the surgery, and helped him pack his daily necessities fo the hospital. But Bob himself was anxious, with many worries flowing through his head. “I was afraid that something would happen to me. I was afraid that no one would be able to take care of my three girls. I was afraid that my wife wouldn’t be able to handle it all…”

At the time, Bob’s son Jaye, born in 2017, was not born yet. Bob remembered how his eldest daughter Faye had reassured her younger sisters at the time, and reminded them to allow their father to rest. Bob still hasn’t forgotten that feeling of warmth after hearing Faye’s words.

The surgery was a great success. Bob promised his wife that if everything went well, he would work hard on improving his health to protect his heart. He said he’s never been more obedient about following his doctor’s suggestions and orders. He would follow his medication plan to the T, so as to ensure that this experience would never happen again.