ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — When patients are referred to Trinity Heart Center's Pritikin program at Unity Point, it's to help learn how to make lifestyle changes. The program, one of only four in Illinois, focuses on heart-healthy diets, regular exercise and a healthy mindset. But when two men joined the cardiac rehab program, they found more than just a healthier lifestyle. They found a second chance and a fast friendship too.
Both Bill Elder and Jerry Kristan suffered dangerous blockages in their arteries.
"I was having some chest tightness, and I went to my cardiac doctor," Elder said. "They suggested an angiogram, and I had two arteries that were 25% blocked, and I had one that was 95 to 99% blocked, and it was the widow maker."
Kristan, meanwhile, was previously diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and later learned he also had an artery 98% blocked.
"It was rather shocking, knowing that I hadn't had symptoms and I'd already been on a program to lose weight and get in shape," Kristan said.
Elder was the first of the two to join the Pritikin program. When Kristan later joined, they quickly became friends.
"(I) noticed he kind of took a liking to some of the music they were playing, especially the rock music," Kristan said. "So we kind of got into a competition of being on machines next to each other and trying to name which band was playing that song. And of course, Bill, being my senior, he was a lot better at it than I am. That's kind of how it all got started."
"He made it fun, and the thing is, Jerry came with his wife to the cooking class and they were taking notes," Elder said. "It inspired me too by the questions they asked that they were really, really interested. And it made me get a little more interested about the program, taking it more seriously."
Kristan has lost almost 100 pounds and Elder has lost over 50 pounds.
Even though they've now graduated from the program, their "workout buddy" friendship hasn't ended. Elder and Kristan get together with other friends from the program for breakfast and frequently text each other pictures of healthy recipes and meals.
"We try to encourage each other," Elder said. "Even though for me, I've kind of slid backwards a little bit. And with some of Jerry's comments and his pictures, you know, okay, let's continue. Let's get back on the bus."
Since Trinity Heart Center began offering the Pritikin program in 2018, more than 1,800 patients have graduated from it.