A contractor by trade, Harry Gross Sr. still likes to keep him self active at age 79. He owns nine rental units—which would keep anyone on his toes—and he also finds himself mowing a lot of grass. He likes to be sure of his health, though, and that’s why he was happy to get a clean bill of health during a medical checkup. His doctor even listened to the carotid arteries in his neck with a high-tech electronic stethoscope and found nothing unusual.
A few weeks later, the Hutchins, Texas, resident received a card in the mail announcing that Life Line Screening would be setting up shop at a nearby church. He asked his doctor whether screenings for abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, osteoporosis and carotid artery blockage would be worthwhile. The doctor’s reply: “Well, it couldn’t hurt.”
When Harry received his report and scan images from Life Line Screening, he was surprised. He likes to paraphrase the report in Monopoly game terms: “Do not pass go, do not collect $200—go directly to your doctor.” Harry’s screening indicated that there was significant blockage in his right carotid artery.
Harry’s doctor was surprised by the report, too. He checked again with his stethoscope and still could hear nothing out of the ordinary in Harry’s carotid arteries. The doctor sent Harry to the hospital for another sonogram and a dye test, which confirmed that there was blockage putting him at risk for a stroke. Within a few days, Harry had surgery to correct the problem.
Harry now returns to Life Line Screening every year for follow-up screenings. He watches his diet, too. Since his wife Patsy, 78, has type 2 diabetes, they are well versed in nutritious eating. “I just try to eat healthy and stay away from all of the fatty, unhealthy foods,” Harry says.
They also like to keep active. They have 4 children (all in their 50s), 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren—most of them within an easy drive.
They have an RV they have driven to Florida, California and Oregon. Harry likes to fish and his wife, he says, is “a computer nerd.” They also both like to read. (Harry goes for mysteries and Patsy for adventure stories.)
And anytime they get a chance, they encourage their friends to drop in at a Life Line Screening session. “It’s inexpensive, and I credit it with saving my life,” Harry says.
Patsy adds, “We tell everybody we can think of.”
