Retirement was rapidly approaching and Hiawatha Harding was making plans to really enjoy it. That started with getting into good shape, so he bought a treadmill and began exercising.“After a year, I was walking a half hour a day,” Hiawatha recalls. “But then I began having shortness of breath... it reached a point I could only walk 5 to 7 minutes. Then, I began having difficultly walking from the parking lot to my job.”

This wasn’t part of Hiawatha’s future retirement plans, so he went to the doctor. He was referred to Bon Secours Heart Institute’s program where he was quickly diagnosed with four clogged arteries in his heart. Hiawatha remembers, “Dr. Dunton explained everything... the procedure, his experience and Bon Secours Heart Institute’s affiliation with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. That really put me at ease.”

Hiawatha chose to have the quadruple bypass surgery that was recommended. “You only have one life... you don’t want to gamble with it.” After his surgery, Hiawatha recalls, “Recovery went fast... I felt fine in about 3 days. The nurses really encouraged me and gave me and my family very personalized care. It’s like a family atmosphere.” After completing his cardiac rehab, Hiawatha is back to work, back on his treadmill and back to looking forward to a much healthier retirement and future.