TodayThis year, I'm thankful for ... a new outlook
A heart attack never even crossed the mind of South Middleton School District Athletic Director Scott Govern.
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Scott Govern pulls a small bottle out of his pocket and places it on his office desk.
A red liquid splashes around inside before settling back down.
“I have to carry this with me at all times now. It’s Nitroglycerin,” said Govern, athletic director at the South Middleton School District. “If I ever start to feel pressure in my chest, I’m supposed to use this spray under my tongue. You can get it in tablets too.”
Just over a month ago, Govern actually had to use the medicine when he felt some discomfort in his chest and didn’t want to take any chances. Nitroglycerin widens blood vessels, which allows more blood to flow to the heart. A trip to Holy Spirit Hospital and a few tests later, it turned out Govern was fine.
As Thanksgiving approaches this week, Govern is checking out the progress of Boiling Springs High School’s athletic complex — the football field is currently being torn up and will be replaced with turf. The makeover will also include brand new lights and bleachers.
“You should have seen this place just a few days ago. It was mounds of dirt,” Govern said. “These guys are moving fast.”
Heart problems
Govern, 41, has gone through a bit of a makeover himself after suffering a heart attack where doctors told him he had 100-percent blockage in his coronary artery on Feb. 11 of this year. Doctors put in two stents and told Govern to change his eating habits. Family history was also a contributing factor, Govern said.
The former Canadian Football League player has shed 40 pounds in the nine months since his heart attack. He’s adjusted to a far more subdued lifestyle.
When a doctor tells you to never overexert yourself, you listen. That could be a tough prescription for someone who worked out constantly and was running a mile in under six minutes – something Govern was doing only days before his heart attack.
It’s all good with the AD, though. He’s just thankful to still be alive. And those changes in his life weren’t too hard to make.
“You have two options: Either you want to be around or you don’t,” Govern said. “I want to be here for my kids. I have three boys, 11, 8 and 6 years old. I had to totally change my diet. I used to eat horribly. Now I’m on a strict low-cholesterol diet. My whole family’s been supportive. They’ve changed their diet too.
“You definitely don’t take things for granted anymore. I see things with different eyes... the way I look at my wife, my kids, my job.”
“I’m so proud of him,” said his wife Karen. “He is the epitome of following what the doctors have told him to do. And he does everything with our boys. The thing is he’s so young. He’s a little bit of a pioneer with something like this because he was in such good shape. Even now I get worried because he will want to go lift weights or run sprints. That’s something we’ve had to talk with different doctors about. We’re all just very thankful because he’s such a great man and great father.”
Something good
It might be hard to imagine anything good can come out of having a heart attack. For Govern, it isn’t just about the change in his own views, but his appreciation for what others did for him while he recovered.
“You never really know how people perceive you until something like this happens,” Govern said. “There was tremendous support from the community. The faculty and kids here were great. I got sent fruits baskets and flowers. An administrator shoveled my driveway and I have a pretty long driveway. I got calls from other athletic directors. I was really impressed with how much support this community gave me.”
Not a day goes by that Govern doesn’t think about his chest. Then he can think about all he’s thankful for because he did make it through. And while the fight won’t stop, it’s a challenge the former defensive end is ready to tackle.
