Hall of Famer Rod Carew has opened up about the health challenges he has faced lately, which are marked by a massive heart attack two months ago that left him facing death.
The 7-time batting champion and career .328 hitter spoke with SI’s Steve Rushin and shared the details of his heart attack and current health.
Carew was playing golf in Corona, Calif., on Sept. 23 when he suffered a massive heart attack. He told Rushin he blacked out at one point and woke up in an emergency room getting revived by someone in paddles. Carew’s heart stopped beating twice, and he is lucky to be alive.
“I was dead,” Carew told SI, “and they brought me back to life.”
Despite coming back from the “widow maker” heart attack, Carew still has a lot to battle. He underwent a lengthy open-heart procedure to insert a Left Ventricular Assist Device in his body that pumps blood for him. The device is connected to a computer controller on his waist that has tubes running from the device to through his abdomen and into his chest. He needs to charge the batteries for the device regularly.
Carew, 70, is hoping to receive a heart transplant. His age makes him a borderline candidate to receive one, but he is not losing hope. The 1977 AL MVP is now aiming to raise awareness for heart health. Sharing his story is a good way to start.
