Today’s post is actually written by my father, Rick Corcoran, Sr. When I sign my name, I use “Jr.” to distinguish myself from my dad, but I am actually “Richard J. Corcoran IV”, the fourth generation with the name. It’s an honor to be part of this lineage, but there is one downside: in addition to a proud name, I also inherited a health profile that unfortunately includes heart disease. In support of our efforts during American Heart Month, I asked my father to share his first-hand experience when his father, my grandfather, unexpectedly passed away from heart disease. I am thankful that he can share this with us in our blog; even more, though, it’s a privilege that he can share himself with my children, the next generation (though no Rick #5 just yet- I have 2 lovely daughters!).
A phone call in the middle of the night is never good news.
July 29, 1971 the caller was my brother informing me my father had died earlier that evening. He was 59 years old and worked in a very stressful job. He was innately intelligent, a recognized community leader who suffered from heart disease. He had visited his cardiologist the day he died. It was a very sad time in my life, eased only by the appreciation he had attended my wedding six weeks earlier.
Since that time I have accepted the fact that I am genetically predisposed to heart disease. Diet, exercise and stress management are all variables that need to be properly managed to mitigate against that which I can not control. Sometimes I do better managing these than others.
Enter Let’s Dish!, an interesting chapter in my life for two reasons:
First, Let’s Dish! provides a heart-healthy solution in three parts….healthy meals, reduced stress at meal time, and fun exercise when dishing! It is a proactive investment in my longevity!
Second, my son, named after his grandfather, is one of the owners of Let’s Dish!. His grandfather would have taken great pride in this young man, who is a scholar, athlete, entrepreneur, husband, father and overall good guy.
The greatest disappointment in my life is that heart disease took my father before he could know both my sons. How ironic that my son invests in a business that helps his dad avoid the fate of his grandfather. Let’s Dish! is a fabulous way to good health and family happiness.
Unlike my dad, I have lived to know my grandchildren which is a gift beyond measure! Thanks Let’s Dish!, and by the way, don’t call me at night!
2 Comments
Thanks Rick Sr. for such a great story! Your son sure is an overall good guy!
Your blog reminds me of a rule that my parents established long ago. When I went off to college my parents told me that if “it’s good news you can call up until midnight. If it’s bad news - don’t call until the morning. There won’t be anything we can do to help and we’ll only lose a night of sleep.
When I was 34 weeks pregnant with our first child my water broke at 9 PM. While I was on the line with my husband telling him that he needed to leave work immediately another call beeped in. Of course, it was my parents checking up on me. I told them that everything was great and that I would call them in the morning. It took every ounce of my strength not to break down over the phone and ask them to get in the car and meet me at the hospital. My mother was in the late stages af breast cancer at the time and she only needed two things to get through the day. One was a good night of sleep and the other was the excitement of knowing that her first grandchild was on the way.
The next day, after they got an early morning call, my parents made it to my side at the hospital in no time. By that night they had their first grandchild. Within days, miracuously, my mother gained much of her old strength back. She made it to my son’s first birthday party and reigned over the crowd as the proudest grandmother in Manhattan!
The things we know now about disease prevention are amazing. I only hope to have the wisdom make good decisions every day that help me to one day know my grand children.
Rick snr
Its so easy to slip back into old habits after a heart attack.
Lets Dish looks loke a great way to stay on track.
I am sure your dad would be as proud of your son as you are.
Paul