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First podium finish in new age group

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October 17th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Checkers AC | no comments

Practicing the 3Ps

Before I get to the topic on hand…I will be running the Breaking the Sound Barrier 5K tomorrow for the benefit of the St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. Even though I wasn’t a student there, my CIs give me the incentive to make this a special race.

And now to the topic on hand….here is a recent exchange with someone I am mentoring on the Bionic Ear Association (BEA) website…

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Hi Sam. Very good of you to follow up on this. I met with the audie Monday for 9 months follow-up visit. She made “dramatic changes” to the maps (her words) and said it was well worth coming in for the appointment. She also wants me to try the other HiRes program. I forget whether it is P or S. I was using the one favored by long-term deafness. I am to try the other strategy for two weeks and then switch.
I have to say hearing with the CI is like reading glow in the dark letters as opposed to reading black on white. Same information, just a different way of getting into my head. She also said it will take 4 to 5 years before I realize full use of the CI, something I was expecting to hear from our conversations with you and my research prior to CI. I wanted to be that “special” one with the dream activation.
Back to the subject at hand - the audie boosted my levels so I hear better - just need to “like” the sound the CI gives me since it gives me more information than the familiar HA. I don’t like rustling papers - they hurt. The audie said she cannot strike a balance between human speech and papers. I can’t say I liked that answer. Reading books is part of my daily rehab and wincing as I turn the papers as quietly as I can….That is not normal.

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My response…
It is interesting you mention the rustling paper as an annoying sound. To me, its more of a welcome sound because it is something I have never heard all my life. The more I hear it, the more my brain knows it is an “unnecessary” sound and it tunes it out. It doesn’t tune it out completely but instead, it chooses to ignore or minimize it. The same can be said for a lot of other sounds in my every day life…the ticking of clocks, the car engine, road noise, water running, etc.
We are like snowflakes with our CIs. Each and everyone of us is different. I don’t think there is a right or a wrong but instead, its a matter of how we exchange information with the Audiologist and how that is interpret into the computer program that makes our maps. No matter what, I always practice the 3 Ps - Persistence, Perseverance and Patience!
Sam

So please don’t forget…and those 3Ps can apply to anything you do in life…Persistence, Perseverance, Patience.

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October 16th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant, BEA | one comment

Comings and Goings

It’s been a while since I have done a post so I thought maybe I’ll use today’s entry to catch up on things.

Its been a little more than three months since my heart attack. Thank God for my family, my angels, my friends I am fully recovered. I’ve made changes to my diet cutting out or back the fried fatty foods, butter (try Smart Balance. It’s just as good!), pizza, meats (don’t give me that shocking look!) and I have explicitly prohibited wine in the house. I am feeling great although I am still hard pressed to shed those last 10-12 pounds especially with the running season coming to an end.

On the job front, after a setback where an opportunity I thought I had fell through, I am still stomping the pavement. Many of you know me as the all consummate IT and Accounting professional. Even though my recent experience has been IT with focus in report development and business intelligence, I have decided to reach back into my past to when I was an Accountant in the not-for-profit field. One thing I would love to do is leverage the combination of both skills into a Programmer who knows accounting and, an Accountant who knows programming. And two areas that I am extremely proficient in are developing financial and non-financial reports, business analysis and business process improvements. If you or you know of someone who can use my skills, please let me know.

I have pretty much cut back on my running schedule. Unlike last year where I did 40 races and the year before - 34, I’ll probably finish just a little over 20. I am finding that if I am ever going to get that elusive sub-21 time, I’ll have to be lighter and give myself more rest before a race. This Saturday, I will be doing the Breaking the Sound Barrier for the benefit of the St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. And for the rest of the year, the Bob Ivory Run, Lindsay’s Legacy 5k and the world famous YMCA Turkey Trot. As I mentioned to Anne, I am projecting 13,279 runners at this year’s Turkey Trot.

My cochlear implants continue to be a source of joy. I am still picking up wow moments here and there. The other day, I was able to hear the Canadian geese flying overhead…at least I got the warning to look out for the green poop! I was also at a meeting where a mom was holding a crying baby and patting him on the back to quiet him down. It sounded like she was pounding him on the back! I have also been increasing my activity as a mentor on the Bionic Ear Association (BEA). And lately, I have been starting on books on CDs in an attempt to break the age old myth of “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Basically, its time to reduce and hopefully do away with the total reliance on lip-reading. This of course would be the first step to trying to use the telephone, unassisted.

So that is it for now…any questions?

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October 15th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant, BEA | no comments

Looking back

Today, October 1st is a milestone of sorts.

First and foremost, last week I have posted on my Facebook status that I declared my house alcohol free. I also commented on that in my blog post Moderation. Ever since, I have not touch a drop. Not only it saves money…lots of it, it really feels good. In fact, despite a lot of stress because of my job search I still don’t have any desire.

Secondly, its the three month anniversary of my heart attack. Dead Rabbits and Pixie Dust is the first post on that top. There were several others leading up to today. I am looking back and reading them. I am back to running full speed. It is truly amazing at how far I have come since. I did hear of a fellow runner who was having some issues himself and wasn’t aware of them. This will be posted in the upcoming Checkers newsletter. And, this one is even scarier. I’ll post the article as soon as I can, if permitted.

It is also three months since I have been out of work. The market is tough, really tough. And to compound it, my age and hearing disability does not do any justice. Neither does the fact that for the moment, we have decided to stay in Buffalo because of our many, many friends.

Finding peace in God helps.

“As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.
Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.”
- Psalm 55:16-18

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October 1st, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Religion, Personal Reflections | 2 comments

I am Honored!

Yesterday, I received the monthly Bionic Ear Association Mentor Minute Newsletter and as I have always done, just casually scroll down to see who is featured for the month. Surprisingly, they still haven’t gotten tired of me STILL! You know, I am really honored among my fellow mentors to be mentioned. This is a highly esteemed group of individuals who have committed to volunteering to help others navigate the world of hearing with cochlear implants. The picture below is the very first class of the current group. We all got together in March 2009 in Valencia, CA for training. This is a very special group, many of whom I keep in close contact every day.

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I enjoy giving back what I have been given - the ability to hear better than I have ever! Each day brings a new sound and WOW moment. And new each day brings an email from another recipient who has been blessed with the finest medical technology put out by the finest company, Advanced Bionics. Below is the snippet from the newsletter. Thank you to all who have been part of my CI journey and life!

Mentor Minute | October 2009 Mentor in the Spotlight Many of you know Sam Spritzer, an active BEA Mentor helping others “Hear and Be Heard” every day. A bilateral CI implant recipient from Buffalo, NY, Sam was first implanted in January of 2007 and went bilateral in January of 2008. Sam is an active runner and, although he recently suffered a sudden heart attack, he is already back racing just seven short weeks later! Sam’s commitment to the BEA’s efforts is just as strong as his commitment to running. Sam serves as a moderator on HearingJourney.com, AB’s online community. He also serves on the board of and is an active member in the Buffalo Cochlear Implant Group. Sam hosted a BEA Social in the Buffalo/Rochester area in June, gave a talk at the University of Buffalo to a group of graduate students, and also manages his own website, www.samspritzer.com, where he provides highlights of both his running and his mentoring. Sam’s enthusiasm is felt immediately, whether you meet him online or in person. If you have not met Sam already, you are bound to “run” into him soon! Say hello to Sam on HearingJourney.com or visit his website to read more about Sam, his journey to hearing and his experiences as a BEA Mentor.

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September 26th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant, Buffalo Implant Group, BEA | one comment

Moderation

Yesterday, I posted on my Facebook that I declared my house alcohol free. I got some pretty snick comments and a few very nice ones. And I got a few “thumbs up” as well. My mom doesn’t have a Facebook account but I know she has to be proud of me.

About a month after I had my heart attack, I was back to swigging beer. My Checker’s mom (Diane) saw me and my biological mom heard about it (thanks a lot Steph!!) and boy, I never heard the last of it. That night as many of you DON’T know, I did wound up back in the hospital the result of a reaction from the beer to the blood pressure medicines.

No, I wasn’t drunk; I don’t get drunk! My massive frame seems to hold alcohol pretty well. What it doesn’t goes down the toilet! I don’t know if its the result of some 40 years of the “good stuff” or not but the fact of the matter is among some of the changes I had/have to make because of my heart attack, this is one of the harder ones. Not the hardest…just one of the harder!

Lately, I’ve had some time to sit back, think and reflect on life. I’ve thought about some of the additional changes I could make and why. Cutting out alcohol is one. They say a glass of red wine a day is good and healthy. Yea, true! That’s not the problem! Its expensive, empty calories (I have been trying to lose 10 lbs. since oohhhhhhhh I can’t remember!), a toxic substance in one’s body and can cause someone to be more prone to making errors in judgment (see above). And my problem is I can’t seem to moderate it! So in that respect, the healthy aspect goes out the window with the 2nd FULL 8 oz. glass!

So when I mentioned it to Steph, she said “but I like a glass on wine!”. Good for you honey, hide it in the trunk of your car and go in the back of the garage (remember mom’s friend, Sam, and the flask of scotch he kept in the trunk of his). And you won’t have to worry about it staying cold in the winter either. I’ll even compromise and plow you a path to the back of the garage! But if you truly love someone, you’ll share the pain and the change especially for the better and for your own benefit.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” - John 14:12

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September 25th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Personal Reflections | 6 comments

21:45

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Sam with the Checker’s Shamrock painted on cheek

Under the beautiful clear blue sky and cool crisp air over 300 runners partook in the Lebro’s 21st Annual Fall Classic for the benefit of Carly’s Club. This race took place on one of my favorite courses. A lot of good friends were there. And most notably, TOO many of them were in the 55-59 age group! I am really having second thoughts about running in that group. If any of the guys in either the 45-49 or 50-54 age groups can agree with my female groupies, I might consider moving down.

It was a great race is an understatement. Except for a nagging post-nasal drip, I felt absolutely phenomenal. And, it was amazing how the ticker just simply hummed along. For the first time I can remember, my legs felt more tired and worn out than my chest. When I crossed the finish line, I was not completely out of breath but more like ecstatic for being able to finish the race under 22 minutes. After all, that was my goal AND I hadn’t done that yet this year.

The best part of the whole thing was feeling so good about myself without worrying about others. Achieving the goal of finishing below 22 minutes with a repaired heart and new sense of self worth is far more worth the effort than the fact that three of the runners in my age group passed me during the last quarter mile. Seeing is believing, feeling is believing. But at the end of the day, the only word one can truly count on is in that verse at the top of this post.

To all of my Jewish friends and family, shana tova umetukah!

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September 19th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Checkers AC, Personal Reflections | no comments

Arrogant?

I have been called arrogant once in a while. Well, ok…pretty often although I haven’t heard it directly! Here is the moral of the story…

Last night, Steph and I attended a Devotation with some students at UB. Despite being the oldest in the room, it was really interesting. The study is led by Alexander Tullis who is the minister at the Amherst Church of Christ. The whole idea behind this is for my own inner peace particularly in light of my heart attack a little more than two months ago.

Last night’s discussion was about Correction. Several verses were cited but the ones that stood out the most are:

“Mockers hate to be corrected, so they stay away from the wise.” - Proverbs 15:12
“If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” - Proverbs 15:31
“If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” - Proverbs 15:32

As much as we tried to sit where we could see, and I could understand, everyone the conversations flew around the room faster than I could keep up. I am guessing I got about 75% of it. In general, people don’t like to be corrected or criticized. One student said it has to do with personal pride. There was a lot of other stuff being said that I didn’t catch. But that is ok.

Correction is about learning from it; giving yourself the opportunity and ability to do so. The grist of it all is that Correction makes you a better person but not better than the next person. And, being arrogant is about being better than the next person. I am taking a nice deep look at this Correction thing because arrogant is not something I want to be called anymore. I am getting off the mountain.

This Saturday is going the be my first race in my new age group (55-59). I don’t hope to be better than anyone who is already there but instead, I want to be better myself. I want to improve my own times. I know I will feel much better about myself knowing that I have make some sort of personal improvement. I won’t feel guilty knowing that someone thinks of me as an arrogant S.O.B. because I am not. I am gonna make that effort! That is all it’s about…feeling better. YEA!

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September 17th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Personal Reflections | 6 comments

As published in Buffalo News, 09/14/2009

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Dash for Dad 5k on Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo NY

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September 14th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Checkers AC | 2 comments

9/11 - In remembrance - God bless America and what she stands for

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September 11th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | 9/11 | one comment

None?

There is an article in today’s Buffalo News that appears quite interesting. Its called Outside faith, a rising tide of ‘nones’. A very interesting part of this article talks about how the stories of the Torah are beautiful but “Judaism lost its sway” with the individual. In many respects, I feel the same way.

While I am not suggest that I am abandoning my faith nor am I converting, but is it possible for one to believe in God while not practicing any particular denomination? A friend of mine suggested I read the New Testaments. I find it very interesting and fascinating. It is more about guidance as opposed to rules which make up the Old Testaments. During that course, I came across some literature which said “In a divided religious world it is believed that the Bible is the only possible common denominator upon which most, if not all, of the God-fearing people of the land can unite.” And even in the New Testaments, the most surprising thing I came across is the word “Rabbi” is being used to describe Jesus Christ. Rabbi means teacher. And today, Rabbi more commonly means leader of the a Jewish temple.

In order to understand all this, I would like to encourage the readers of my website to weigh in on their opinions. Please use the comments to share yours. Thank you!

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September 3rd, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Religion | 3 comments

Two Month Anniversary

Today is a milestone of sorts. I had a checkup at my cardiologist and I was given the green light to resume my running, as I remembered it. The doctor was amazed at my progress but he knew that I was exercising and wasn’t surprised that I was doing 8 miles a day. I think he is taking pity on all of those poor souls who thought they had me beat but will be in for some surprises.

The first real race back will be the Run for Hope in Tonawanda. I am not sure if I promised him anything but I am going to give Checkers AC President Tom Donnelly a chance to make me his dead rabbit. I am almost sure he is going to try to bribe me with a large order of wings and pizza right before the race. I think Steph will be very upset but then again, she could be co-conspiring with him and wanting to make me her dead rabbit.

In the midst of all this, I had time to think and reflect. I picked up a little pamphlet, “Can I Change?” by Allen Webster. To excerpt the opening paragraph…

Most of us cringe at ourselves sometimes. We say or do something that later seems so out of place, embarrassing or regrettable. It maybe anger that makes us act “mad”. Perhaps we show off a bit when we get the chance. Maybe we have the tendency to move ourselves ahead of the other guy when he’s not looking (or when he can’t do anything about it). Perhaps we feel timid and backward and tongue-tied and self-conscious. Or maybe we just can’t seem to stay focused on anything serious for more than two seconds. We complain to ourselves, “Why do I act like that? I wish I wouldn’t do that!”

I really like to think that this is an accurate reflect of me. I am someone who could easily be diagnosed with either ADD or ADHD. If that is the case, then pump me up with drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, etc. and lets move on. The reality is if we want to change, with the right help and if we want it badly enough we’ll find it in a much safer manner…through the spirit. There are various parts of the New Testament which make reference to how we can change. Many of them seem to make sense. But because this is all new to me, just like life after my heart attack, I want to find out what that means as much as I want to know what kind of life I will have with the repaired heart.

Oh I do want to interrupt this blog post but I just got this package in the mail and it was an early birthday present from a very good and special friend, fellow CI mentor, Evelyn from San Jose (sorry guys, she is taken and spoken for by Normie!). Evelyn is one of Advanced Bionics’ top and most popular mentors. I had the opportunity to meet her not once but twice. She runs the finest Bed and Breakfast place in San Jose, California. Even her basement is a paradise comparing to most 5 star hotels. And she has the most adorable grandchildren you could ever see. Thank you, Evelyn!

Most importantly, I am so very thankful to be standing today with a healthy heart and a new outlook in life. I count my blessings every day, I say my prayers and I live for tomorrow. With the support of my beautiful wife Steph and two of the best sons Mike and Dan, wonderful friends, family and angels I am looking forward to a long prosperous life….and many, many more dead rabbits.

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August 31st, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant, Checkers AC, BEA | one comment

Back! (28:26)

My line at last night’s Moonlight Run…
400. Sam Spritzer 0:28:26 0:09:09 30/M50-54 271/M

And that had to be my second worse time ever. Only the 2000 St. Gregory the Great “The Great Race” with a time of 29:04 is worse. And that was when I was 30 pounds heavier and smoking a pack and a half of those cigarettes with the hole in the filter called Vantage.

But the goal wasn’t to be the fastest or place within my age group. It was to FINISH! Most of my fellow runners and friends were somewhat appalled that I was able to make a comeback so soon - seven weeks after that fateful moment. But as long as I kept my heart rate below 140, I was good to go.

The evening started out nice and warm but without the oppressive humidity of the days before. As customary for me, I can be found at the front shortly before the gun, giving out the customary good lucks to all of my Checkers buddies. There was one problem…the street was narrow, there were 600 runners and I was suppose to be in the back! You just had to see the look on fellow gym-rat, Debbie’s face. She was like all tatter-taling to my trainer, Pat LaDuca who made it very clear she was gonna kick my a$$ if I didn’t get back there and run SLOW. Somehow, I did manage to get back there.

For the first two miles I ran with another gym-rat, Maureen, whose only objective was to make sure I kept my heart rate at 140 (+10% for bounce factor!). And every 25 steps just like a Marine drill sergeant, “How are you feeling?” “Are you alright?” Even at a 9:45 mile pace, I did manage to get ahead of her a couple of times but the thought of Pat kicking my a$$ was just too gruesome. Now this 9:45 pace is truly for the birds…I am used to sub-7 minutes! But at least, I was able to enjoy the view, recognize spectators along the route, not worry about catching my breath and even ran backwards twice.

Finally when I got to the 2 mile mark, I am like hardly breaking a sweat and poor Maureen is literally pleading for mercy all while I am strolling along at a 9:45 clip. With one mile to go, why not…Pat be damned!! As long as my heart rate stayed within a reasonable range and I wasn’t laboring, I felt like I wanted to give it a go. And boy, did I blow by probably at least 50 runners half who were already running on fumes and the other half who were either conducting business or tell the latest gossip in Housewives of Amherst.

At the 3 mile mark which would be around the top of a downhill on Glen Av., I decided to just fly…and I mean literally fly! Normally at such a stage in the race, I would be braking on my way downhill in order to avoid running out of control and mashing myself into some poor spectator. I just had to be a blur…and never in my entire life did I ever run so fast. Later when I checked my Garmin, I found I was screamin’ along at a sub 6:00 minute mile pace. And I crossed the finish line…ALIVE! I didn’t bother to check my heart rate but I think it was around 145 or so. I just didn’t feel it like I used to.

The greatest feeling wasn’t just being able to finish a merely seven weeks after laying in a hospital bed with a completely blocked artery! Lovely wife Steph was waiting for me at the finish line, with a water bottle asking me 13,427 times “Are you alright!??” Unlike in the past, I was able to respond right away instead of falling half dead totally exhausted! And to top it all, two minutes later I was doing a recovery run in the parking lot of Glen Park. Never in my entire life did I feel so good! No chest pains, tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, light-headiness feeling, etc. I probably could have kept going for another mile or so.

I will have to admit it was scary but one way or the other, it had to happen. But it could not have been done without the support of so many wonderful friends, by the grace of God with a couple of angels helping along the way. And lastly of course, wonderful, lovely wife Steph (now I better hurry up out of town or she’ll be down here smothering me in a ton of puppy love kisses or Pat will be kicking my a$$).

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
It took a heart attack, but I finally beat you, Sam.
                                                       -Budd Bailey

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August 20th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Checkers AC | 2 comments

Striving for the Crown….

Tonight, I make my comeback at the Moonlight Run. Not exactly in the fashion I would have like. But think about it, seven weeks ago I was laying in a hospital room the result of a heart attack. I’ll be running in the back somewhere and I welcome anyone to be my pacer or rabbit hunter of which I am offering myself as a target. While my fellow runners and friends will be racing for glory and the right to place, I’ll be running for my life. After all, Pre’s favorite quote suits me well….“Most people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.”

And to quote from 1 Corinthians 9:24,25…

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Life is indeed an imperishable crown.

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August 19th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running | 2 comments

Les Paul 1915 - 2009

Clearly, Les Paul is the greatest of all time and a legend. May he rest in peace…

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August 13th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Les Paul | no comments

As printed in the Buffalo News 08/09/2009

Spritzer sends out heartfelt thank you

By Budd Bailey
August 09, 2009, 6:21 AM

Sam Spritzer’s summer has been as serious as a heart attack

Actually, it featured a heart attack.

The 55-year-old from Williamsville had a heart episode at the end of June. Considering that Spritzer may be as visible a runner as there is in Western New York, someone who seems to say hello to everyone lining up to run in a given race, it is safe to say that the news provided a shock to many. After all, runners are suppose to be in such good shape that they can’t suffer from such ailments.

“I never really ever thought I was having or would ever have a heart attack,” Spritzer said. “I mean, come on—I am an athlete. No pain, no gain!”

Spritzer’s story begins with a typical workout with his fellow members of the Checkers A. C. at Crosby Field in Kenmore.

“I was warming up with Rich Meyers when I felt out of breath,” he said. “Thinking nothing of it, I started doing the workout but after doing one lap I was completely out of breath. Coach [Vicki] Mitchell came over to me and asked if I was OK.”

Mitchell, a track and cross country coach at UB who runs the Checkers’ workouts, had noticed that Spritzer was not his usual energetic self. “I asked how his workout was going, and he said it was too hard, he was breathing too hard, and [the] pace was too hard,” she said. “Normally, Sam is at the front of his pace group—so the fact that the pace was too hard indicated that something was ‘off,’ and that he should stop the workout. Again, Sam’s usually a very energetic guy and kidding around a lot—he was not that night. That was the key.”

Still, Spritzer didn’t do anything out of the ordinary after the workout.

“I attended the Checkers board meeting and in customary fashion—as [club president] Tom Donnelly says, ‘That’s par for Sam’—I woofed down pizza and wings,” he said. “Other than feeling tired since it was hot and humid, I didn’t feel anything different.”

But later that night, Spritzer woke up with a really bad case of “indigestion.” It wasn’t much of a decision to head for the hospital.

“Decision? As if I had a choice? Laying on the floor in the bathroom, IVs in both arms, paddles ready, street filled with police cars, volunteer cars, one rescue truck and an ambulance in the driveway plus a screaming hysterical wife?” he asked.

“I had to have an angiogram to determine the cause. Once it was determined to be a complete blockage of the right rear artery, it was decided that two stents would be sufficient as opposed to bypass surgery.”

Spritzer was told by his doctor to be more careful in the future. Runners have been known to try to run through pain in workouts and races, and sometimes that forces them to miss or ignore warning signs.

Still, things could have been a lot worse.

“Absolutely!” he responded. “There is no doubt in my mind that even considering my family history, the running and working out was a major factor in minimizing the damage.”

Spritzer was forced to take only a few weeks off. He has started working with trainer Pat LaDuca in order to make a full recovery in his running program.

Spritzer isn’t sure when his next race is—perhaps in as few as 10 days—but he believes the actual return will be “a triumph of sorts.”

The popular runner already knows the benefits of medical technology. He was born deaf and received cochlear implants in 2007 and 2008 to enjoy most of the same type of hearing that everyone else has. This time in particular, Spritzer seems to be running with a renewed sense of perspective.

“I am thankful for the opportunity of a second chance,” he said. “Life is a precious commodity. One should never take it for granted. Always listen to your body.

“I cannot tell you how much I truly appreciate the support of the Western New York running community. The thoughts and prayers have been phenomenal and everyone is like an extended family of mine. From the bottom of my repaired heart, I thank them all!”

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August 10th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant | no comments

A Quote that Makes Sense

I saw this quote. It really does make sense and applies to many of us…

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal;
It is the courage to continue that counts!”
- Sir Winston Churchill

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August 4th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant | no comments

The Second Chance

Today, I am celebrating the four week anniversary of my Second Chance. Besides looking for a job and spending some quality time with Miss Moosie, I’ve had a chance to reflect back on the last four weeks.

And last night, I made my redemption by returning to track practice (as a spectator, of course) and the Checkers Board meeting. Oh and yes, I do have ten witnesses who saw me eat a salad instead of woofing down wings and pizza (Tom D. has taken my place in this task).

I am still amazed at the well wishing, prayers and thoughts I am still getting. I am fortunate to be honored with such wonderful friends and family. And I continuously thank you all from the bottom of my heart. All of my cochlear implant and running friends are like a second and extended family to me.

I am also blessed by a most wonderful family especially wife, nurse, cook, maid, laundress, driver, etc. Steph. I thank you and love you from the bottom of my heart (but please spare me all the mushy stuff!).

Some of you may not know this, but I’ve decided that perhaps maybe God gave me a second chance because he had a purpose for me and decided to keep me here a little longer. So I have taken up reading the New Testaments and hopefully, find some solace in this purpose.

I have also decided that I am a mere mortal. Yesterday, I took off my “gung-ho” suit and signed up with one of the finest trainers in Buffalo for cardiac rehab. Not only will I find out what kind of healthy lifestyle I need to lead but I’ll should also be able to achieve my goal of collecting a few more dead rabbits….Greg, both Eds, T, Fig, Darlene - are you listening??

I have learned a lot over the last four weeks. Life is a precious commodity. It need not be taken for granted for we all live once. And we might as well live it to the fullest. And as I said to my son when we got home from the hospital…

“Its not my turn yet…its just not my turn”.

This is my Second Chance and I am thankful for every opportunity to have it.

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July 29th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant, Western NY | 4 comments

A Post from the Heart

I read one of the most “from the heart”, make men cry, inspiring post you could ever come across. This is about Jennifer, a fellow CIer, of Surround Stereo. Jen and I met on Laurie’s blog, Laurie’s Dance with Sound over 2 years ago.

What Jen has done, no one has ever. She had been struggling for a good two years trying to get her left ear to work. She even underwent the knife a second time in August 2008 to reimplant that ear. The problem she was having was instead of hearing sound, she was feeling it. I can’t imagine that instead of tones and pitches one feels an electric razor inside their head.

For those of you who hear normally, wearing a CI is not a total miracle cure for deafness. It is all about hope along with the 3P’s - Persistence, Perseverance and Patience. For others, they add a 4th P - Prayer. What Jen did was she had hopes, she persisted, she persevered and she had patience. And being the deeply religious woman she is, she prayed.

Jen proved that even though CIs can make us bionic and give us a strength many others don’t have, there is still the human element to consider. Medical technology can throw the whole nine yards at us but just like my heart attack three weeks ago, we learned that we are still merely mortals.

Click here to read that post and make sure you have plenty of tissues handy.

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July 18th, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Cochlear Implant, BEA | one comment

Dead Rabbits and Pixie Dust

This is one post that I sometimes wished I never had to make but to be fortunate enough to be making.

Last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning I suffered a mild heart attack. I woke up at 1:00 in the morning with a “bad case of heartburn”. Earlier, I had just finish wolfing down pizza and wings at the Checkers board meeting. Checkers AC President Tom Donnelly said it so eloquently…

“The only thing missing was the fact that he may have curtailed his workout but he made up for it with all the pizza and wings he ate during the board meeting, but that’s par for Sam.”

It was at practice earlier that I couldn’t finish my workout. This was the second time it happened. I was just totally out of breath after one lap around the track…the very same track where I was able to complete 10 to 12 laps non-stop. Checkers Coach Vicki Mitchell came up to me and asked if I was alright. She made me stop my workout. Who knows…the next lap could have been the “one”. A few other fellow runners came up to me and asked if I was alright. Clearly, I wasn’t!

Fortunately, it happened at home and Steph, despite her frazzled screaming ways, had 911 on the phone right away. Emergency personnel arrived 3 minutes later, just as I was waking up from a stupor in the corner of the far side of the bathroom. My heart rate was fluctuating between 40 and 100 (60 is the norm). I was rushed to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, 5 minutes away. After two hours of tests and what-not, it was decided to ship me to the Cardiac Center at Millard Fillmore Gates Circle, downtown. At that point I needed further testing; an angiogram was performed and I was found to have a completely blocked right rear artery. Two stents were inserted. Two days later, I was discharged with a long-term prognosis of a full recovery.

Mike, along with Steph, bought me home from the hospital. While Steph went inside to get her keys so she could head over to the pharmacy with a million scripts covered in medical terminology that I have to trust the docs on, I looked at Mike and said “Its not my turn yet…its just not my turn”. And we cried….

I mean, come on….I just had a physical in February and like all of the other’s, it was “good”, the lab results were “close to perfect”. I am a runner, an athletic! Who would ever think one would have a heart attack? And as I am saying this, a friend of mine and one of channel 4 (WIVB) newscasters, Mylous Hairston was going through the exact same thing as me.

In the midst of all this, an email went out to all Checkers members requesting their medical information to be kept in a binder in case of a God-forbid incident at track practice. I made it very clear that

“I strongly encourage the membership to provide an emergency contact number and to volunteer any medical information. If anyone is uncertain about what information to provide, please contact a physician and ask what information would be most helpful for emergency personnel.”

Life is just too precious to be taken for granted. God has given us that right. We all have a purpose but we all live once. I feel a new sense of enlightenment. The love of Steph, Mike and Dan take on a whole new meaning. We have this new super powered sense of living because we’ve been there and back but at the end of the day, we are merely mortals…

“Its not my turn yet…its just not my turn”.

Through all of the thoughts, wishes and prayers of all my friends and family, too numerous to count, I am forever grateful for the outpour of love. Thank you from the bottom of my now repaired heart.
–Sam

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July 3rd, 2009 Posted by Sam Spritzer | Running, Cochlear Implant, Checkers AC | 2 comments