A Journey of Survival and Resilience with Jon Johnston

12/07/24 • 31 min

My interview with Jon Johnston. He’s a survivor of a widow maker heart attack and a cardiac arrest that caused him to be without oxygen for 20 minutes, technically dead. He is also an author of two books and a sports website owner.
Today he talks to me about his life before his event and how he died but miraculously survived. He shares with me how he pieced together what had happened with the help of family and friends along with his realisation that he was not the only person affected. His heart attack impacted his family and friends in ways that he didn’t expect.
Due to oxygen deprivation Jon now lives with a traumatic brain injury and yet during his recovery, he has penned two books to help himself and others with their own recovery. We talk about how Jon lives his life happy and has ambitions for the future despite the change to his life, health, and knowledge that he will never be the person he once was.
We talk about Jon’s books and he shares some content with us. Some of his tried and tested activities have helped him and will help you too.

You can find the links we mentioned here:
www.Manageyourdamage.com
www.Jonjohnston.com
Been Dead, Never Been To Europe
Manage Your Damage – Heart Attack Survivor

I’d love to hear your thoughts and any ideas, please get in touch.

You can read the complete article about this episode here Podcast & Blog Page.
Disclaimer
The information contained within my podcast and on my website is for general information purposes only. It is not official health advice and is not intended to be used as such. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. If you have any questions pertaining to specific health concerns or you think you may be suffering from a medical condition, you should consult a medical professional immediately. You should also consult a medical professional before making any changes to your normal lifestyle habits. You can read my full disclaimer here.
Getting to know Sallie Crawley
Survivorship after a life-changing event can be challenging. You can rebuild the puzzle of your life and thrive. It takes one beat at a time and the support of people that have had similar experiences. Join me and other hearties in the My Heart & Mind Community, you'll get a warm welcome.

You can find the links we mentioned here:
www.Manageyourdamage.com
www.Jonjohnston.com
Been Dead, Never Been To Europe
Manage Your Damage – Heart Attack Survivor

I’d love to hear your thoughts and any ideas, please get in touch.

Previous Episode

Finding Your Sweet Spot with Cheryl Strachan

This week is about nutrition, and my guest is Cheryl Strachan of Sweet Spot Nutrition. She is a Registered Dietitian, specialising in cardiac nutrition and wellness.

Her mission is to share her love for food that hits the sweet spot. She is also the author of a recipe book. It's called 30-Minute Heart Healthy Cookbook: Delicious Recipes for Easy, Low-Sodium Meals. Cheryl believes that we should focus on eating for health gain, because in the long run, weight loss diets don’t work for most people.
Please note that since we recorded this episode, alcohol recommendations have become quite a bit more conservative, due to more recent studies that link alcohol to cancer and heart disease even at relatively low levels.
(In Canada the new guidelines say low-risk drinking is 0-2 per week, moderate risk is 3-6 per week, and the risk goes up from there.😳)

Today we talk about involvement in cardiac rehab in Calgary and how she developed her model the sweet spot. We have a great discussion about moderation, and what it actually means in real life.

We chat about how what you eat can help reduce fatigue and talk about mood foods. If you want to hear her thoughts on chocolate, coffee, and wine, then stay tuned.

How to reach Cheryl: https://sweetspotnutrition.ca/

Free Book, The Sweet Spot Guide to Eating Well with Heart Concerns: https://sweetspotnutrition.ca/eating-well-with-heart-concerns/

Why not join Cheryl in the Sweet Spot Kitchen: https://sweetspotnutrition.ca/join-us-in-the-sweet-spot-kitchen. The kitchen is the heart and soul of your home – and the Sweet Spot Kitchen is the heart and soul of my cardiac nutrition program. Simply knowing what to eat after a heart event or diagnosis isn’t enough. Staying committed day after day, year after year can be challenging. Find your Sweet Spot with food that’s healthy, delicious, and right for you, with guidance from me and the support of an entire community.
As mentioned
The Look AHEAD study www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1212914
Mediterranean diet studies

I’d love to hear your thoughts and any ideas, please get in touch.

Next Episode

Stress Less, Live More: 5 Breathing Methods to Improve Cardiac Health and Emotional Well-Being

I am sure that like me you experience stress and anxiety. I thought that prior to my heart attack, I had it pretty much nailed anxiety and that I managed my stress levels well.

Perhaps I did but after discharge from the hospital it got really out of my control and I had to learn to practice what I had been preaching to my clients.

Today I am sharing with you 5 different ways of using your breath to improve your stress tolerance, enhance energy, and regulate your emotional and cognitive states.