From heart surgery to hustling up the Hancock

Heart surgery turned Joe Casey into a bit of a fitness fanatic.

Casey underwent aortic valve replacement surgery on April 23, 2014 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Illinois. As with all Condell heart surgery patients, his recovery included a cardiac rehabilitation program through the hospital. But instead of stopping after his 12 weeks of rehab, Casey took his health to a higher level of fitness.

"I needed to decide whether my general fitness would recede, be maintained or improve," the Lindenhurst, Illinois, man says. "I chose the latter."

Casey joined Advocate Condell Centre Club in Gurnee, where he met with a personal trainer. He told her he wanted to participate in and complete the Hustle Up the Hancock fundraiser, which was scheduled to be held just six months later. His trainer Nancy Witt, helped him develop a plan to improve his overall fitness, and he worked hard to reach his goal.

"She really put together a good plan that worked great for me," says Casey, 67.

On Feb. 22, 2015, one day before the 10-month anniversary of his surgery, Casey successfully completed the event. He climbed 94 floors - a total of 1,632 steps - up the John Hancock Center in Chicago in 50 minutes and 23 seconds. His son, Tim Casey of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, was with him every step of the way.

"One person made the climb in less than 10 minutes; others have taken well over two hours," Joe Casey says. "My goal was to complete the full climb within an hour, and I did it."

After the climb, Casey visited the offices of all the doctors who helped him along the way, including Dr. Robert Kummerer, his cardiovascular surgeon at Advocate Condell Medical Center. Casey asked him and the others to sign his Hustle Up the Hancock T-shirt. Kummerer says he was thrilled to do it.

"It's so rewarding to have a patient do so well," Kummerer says. "It's very gratifying."

Kummerer says heart patients are encouraged to get up and walk at least a little the very next day after surgery and to participate in cardiac rehabilitation. Rehabilitation helps put a patient on the path to recovery. Those who take it a step further - as Casey did when he joined the Centre Club and began working with Witt - set themselves up for even greater health benefits.

"After heart surgery people are scared, they do not want to push themselves too hard," Witt says. "When speaking with a client I reassure them that if their doctor has cleared them, exercise is the best thing they can do for themselves."

Witt recommends that they start slowly, gradually improving strength and stamina.

"Listen to your body," she says. "Remember, the heart is a muscle and it wants to work and get stronger."

She says Casey's idea of setting a goal was smart.

"You are more apt to stick to a fitness program when your goal is specific," she says.

Some goals could include:

• Losing a specific amount of weight

• Getting in shape for an upcoming reunion, wedding or other important event

• Lifting a certain amount of weight

• Running in a marathon or other race

Witt says the plan she developed for Casey focused on the parts of his body that needed to be strong for the 1,632-step climb up the Hancock. He started on a step mill three days a week for five to eight minutes. Gradually, as he felt more comfortable, he increased the rate of speed and length of time. He also incorporated a senior cardio class and a senior strength class into his routine. Those two classes helped with balance, core and muscle strength. After a few months, Casey was on the step mill for more than 30 minutes at a time.

"He was very determined, dedicated and committed to his training," Witt says. "I am so proud of him. He's an inspiration to me."