A Runner With Heart
Sometimes a life-altering event can be just a heartbeat away. CBS News Anchor Dan Rather reports on one man who got a second chance at his American Dream after suffering a near-fatal heart malfunction.
Last weekend, Floyd Ruben was among thousands intent on finishing the Chicago marathon. "I like to live life to its fullest," says Ruben. "That's why I run marathons - I like the challenge."
But Ruben was lucky to even be at the starting line. Just 14 months ago, he was a healthy 50-year-old who was almost stopped dead in his tracks. "One night, it was after eating Chinese food," recalls Ruben, "I had a chest pain like nothing I had ever had before. I actually thought I was having a heart attack."
Ruben suffered an aortic aneurysm, a condition where one of the main blood vessels in the heart ruptures - often with fatal results. "I was dead on the table. I'm real lucky because any person that I've ever talked to - any medical person says I don't belong here," he says.
His doctor agrees: "Floyd is very lucky," says Dr. Jonathan Somers of Chicago's Rush Northshore Medical Center. "Statistically it's very unusual for people who rupture this aneurysm to make it to the hospital."
Ruben's physical recovery amazed everyone. So did his strength of spirit. "I've always had a certain tenacity that is a never say die tenacity," says Ruben. "As soon as I woke up I told Dr. Somers that I was going to run the marathon."
Only a few months later, Ruben was back on his feet. "When I went back to start working out I made it a grand total of 15 minutes the first time at the health club and I had to crawl out," admits Ruben. "Now I can look back on it and see how far I've come."
Almost eight hours after the start, Ruben crossed the finish line nearly dead last, but happy to be alive. "It was worth it, all the pain was worth it, every bit of it," he says.
An American Dream realized not by winning, but by finishing what he set out to do and enjoying the miles in between.
And his racing days are not over. Says Ruben, "I'm doing it again next year."
After all he's been through, Ruben also has another goal: to take up electrical engineering - specializing in life-saving medical devices.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Last weekend, Floyd Ruben was among thousands intent on finishing the Chicago marathon. "I like to live life to its fullest," says Ruben. "That's why I run marathons - I like the challenge."
But Ruben was lucky to even be at the starting line. Just 14 months ago, he was a healthy 50-year-old who was almost stopped dead in his tracks. "One night, it was after eating Chinese food," recalls Ruben, "I had a chest pain like nothing I had ever had before. I actually thought I was having a heart attack."
Ruben suffered an aortic aneurysm, a condition where one of the main blood vessels in the heart ruptures - often with fatal results. "I was dead on the table. I'm real lucky because any person that I've ever talked to - any medical person says I don't belong here," he says.
His doctor agrees: "Floyd is very lucky," says Dr. Jonathan Somers of Chicago's Rush Northshore Medical Center. "Statistically it's very unusual for people who rupture this aneurysm to make it to the hospital."
Ruben's physical recovery amazed everyone. So did his strength of spirit. "I've always had a certain tenacity that is a never say die tenacity," says Ruben. "As soon as I woke up I told Dr. Somers that I was going to run the marathon."
Only a few months later, Ruben was back on his feet. "When I went back to start working out I made it a grand total of 15 minutes the first time at the health club and I had to crawl out," admits Ruben. "Now I can look back on it and see how far I've come."
Almost eight hours after the start, Ruben crossed the finish line nearly dead last, but happy to be alive. "It was worth it, all the pain was worth it, every bit of it," he says.
An American Dream realized not by winning, but by finishing what he set out to do and enjoying the miles in between.
And his racing days are not over. Says Ruben, "I'm doing it again next year."
After all he's been through, Ruben also has another goal: to take up electrical engineering - specializing in life-saving medical devices.
