On Valentine’s Day, Jio Rodriguez faced a life-changing experience when he was admitted to the operating room for open-heart surgery. Before that day, he had never witnessed his brother, Brian Rodriguez, shed a tear. Up to that point, Jio, a 21-year-old college senior focused on graduation and future employment, had little concern for his health, especially his heart. That evening, he was enjoying a basketball game with friends at Central Connecticut State University while the university’s basketball team, the Blue Devils, battled Saint Francis University in the next arena. Unbeknownst to him, this ordinary night would trigger extraordinary events that ultimately saved his life.
The situation unfolded when police officers were present at the game, which provided immediate medical assistance when a fitness center staff member rushed in, shouting that a young man had collapsed on the court. Initially, the officers, led by Lieutenant Richard Homestead, thought Jio might be having a seizure. However, upon reaching him, they found Jio unresponsive. Their professional training kicked in, preparing them for the critical task of restarting a stopped heart. They used an automated external defibrillator (AED), but despite their efforts, Jio remained pulse-less until they continued CPR, finally detecting a heartbeat.
After being quickly transported to the hospital, Jio regained consciousness three days later, waking up to the sight of his concerned family. The medical team was initially puzzled about the cause of his collapse, considering possibilities like COVID-19 or a stroke. As tests continued, doctors eventually discovered three aneurysms in his heart caused by Kawasaki disease, which leads to inflammation in blood vessels, particularly those responsible for oxygen delivery.
Consequently, Jio underwent triple bypass surgery on February 14, 2024. As he was wheeled towards the operating room, he held his parents’ hands tightly and looked into his brother’s tear-filled eyes. In the weeks following the surgery, he experienced severe chest pain and restless nights but gradually began to improve. To ensure his safety, he received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a device that maintains a regular heartbeat.
As his appetite returned, Jio yearned for his mother’s home-cooked Filipino dishes, which provided him comfort during his recovery. Determined not to let his health setback derail his education, he maintained communication with his professors, completing coursework online for two months before returning to campus. His friends stepped in to support him, carrying his books and providing transportation to school.
Reflecting on his experience, Jio remarked on the profound realization of life’s fragility. “Nothing like having your heart stop to remind you how precious the gift of life is,” he noted, acknowledging the terror of his near-death experience. Nonetheless, he remained focused on the path ahead, attending cardiac rehabilitation sessions and paying careful attention to his diet. His father even gifted him a watch to monitor his heart rate, which he uses faithfully. To add joy to his life, Jio adopted a puppy named Milo, a mix of Labrador and Dalmatian, and consistently takes him for walks.
In May, Jio participated in the American Heart Association’s Greater New Haven Heart Walk, sharing his story of survival for the first time and meeting the officers who had saved his life in an emotional reunion. Shortly afterward, he graduated from college, with Homestead and another officer in attendance to celebrate his achievement. Homestead took pride in Jio’s remarkable recovery, remembering that, throughout his law enforcement career, he had performed CPR several times, with Jio being the first to survive.
This story showcases the inspiring journeys of survivors and advocates in the realm of heart health, emphasizing the importance of awareness and action against heart disease and strokes.
