From a Hospital Bed to a Life of Calm: My Pre-Heart Attack Story (P 1)

True Story

Dear friends at Substack,

Last week, life threw me a curveball: a pre-heart attack landed me in a Texas hospital, hooked up to monitors with my vitals flashing like a neon sign. As a neurocoach and clinical psychophysiologist, I’ve spent years teaching how to lead through crises, and there I was, putting it all to the test. From that hospital bed, I recorded a video to share how I faced this moment with calm, love, and clarity—because that’s how I choose to live, and I want to invite you to do the same.

That morning, I woke up, meditated, and felt a heavy tightness in my chest, radiating to my left arm. My heart was screaming for oxygen, and as a clinician, I knew the signs: time to get to the ER. I gently woke Tis, my wife, my love, my partner in crime, and said, “Amor, change of plans. We’re heading to the hospital.”

We had big plans—graduations, outings, the works—but life had other ideas. No drama, though. We showered, I popped a nitroglycerin under my tongue, and we drove an hour to the hospital, chatting calmly like it was just another day.

Why no panic? Because drama is a cortisol bomb. It triggers rapid breathing, a racing heart, and a flood of stress hormones that weaken your defenses and fuel inflammation. A pre-heart attack happens when a coronary artery is partially blocked, and your heart cells cry out in pain—burning, squeezing pain, in my case.

My response? Breathe slowly: four seconds in, four seconds out. This simple technique, which I teach at the Neuroscience & Coaching Institute, flips on your parasympathetic nervous system, the one that says, “Chill, we’ve got this.” It cuts through the chaos of tachycardia and rapid breathing in minutes.

While waiting for my catheterization—where they slid a stent into my artery to open it up—I kept my mind on what matters: Tis, holding my hand; my kids and grandkids, who melt my heart; and the love that fills my life. We talked, laughed, and even planned for the worst with serenity, because clarity and love go hand in hand.

I’m not saying to bottle up emotions. If I needed to cry, I’d let the tears flow, no shame. But I chose to focus on gratitude and love, not fear, because that’s what keeps me grounded.

I called my grown kids, shared what was happening, and we spoke with calm, mapping out plans just in case. That’s my philosophy: live with a love so big it brings peace, not drama. It’s not just something I teach in masterclasses; it’s how I live, even with wires taped to my chest.

A recent stress test showed my heart is strong, thanks to regular walks with Tis and a careful diet. But my family’s history—four siblings and my grandfather with heart issues—means I carry a genetic load. I don’t control that, but I control my breathing, my thoughts, and my faith.

I don’t let negative news steal my peace. I’d rather read poetry or watch documentaries that lift my spirit. In the hospital, Tis and I were already planning our next steps for the Institute, as if we were in a boardroom, not a ward. She’s our director of logistics, after all!

The real fight isn’t out there; it’s in your mind. Your thoughts shape your emotions, and your emotions drive your actions. Choose thoughts of love, and you’ll find clarity even in chaos.

To my fellow leaders, coaches, and friends: treat others with kindness, not demands. The medical staff were doing their best, and I respected that, asking only for what I needed while fasting without complaint—no daydreams about scrambled eggs or fresh bread, though I was tempted!

My faith carries me. I know I’m in God’s hands, and if this body gives out, I’ll be in a divine place. So I live like a kamikaze—giving my all, fearlessly, alongside Tis and my kids, who share this mindset of love without drama.

What did I learn? Breathe slowly, love deeply, trust fully. Life doesn’t pause, but you can choose how to face it. Have you faced a moment that tested you? Drop your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how you led through it.

A big hug from my newly stented heart,

Luis Gaviria
Director
Neuroscience & Coaching Institute

#Neurocoaching #Resilience #Wellness #Neuroscience #ConsciousLeadership