On July 3rd, 46-year-old Doug Commons suffered a widowmaker heart attack, pronounced dead at the hospital for 30 minutes. He was in a coma for another 14 days, then by some miracle, woke up.
He is an active runner and cyclist, and just about two months later participated in the Conquer the Coast bike race, training for that in addition to going to rehab weekly for three months. He described all of this as experiencing "firsts" again, but for the first time Friday, he got to do something just as special.
"A lot of y'all recognize me but I don't recognize a lot of y'all so bear with me," said Doug Commons, heart attack survivor. "Dr. Alexander...thank you."
He thanked the doctors who saved his life at Doctor's Regional Hospital by taking a chance with an Impella heart device that worked.
"This is the first celebration of life with this device," said Dr. Thomas Alexander, the cardiologist who saved Doug's life.
Dr. Alexander said Doug's great health and active lifestyle is a reminder that heart attacks can happen to anyone, but Doug said though the experience was eye opening, he's not letting it stop him, He's now training for a half marathon in February.
"All the prayers that everybody in the community worldwide that were said for me, without any of that I wouldn't be here," said Commons.
A thank you six months in the making, but never enough words to express how much it meant to Doug to be able to stand there at all.
Briana Whitney 3 News.