"I Heart CrossFit"

Approximately one year post-op, I bumped into a friend of mine - Lindsay Berra - at a social event. What's up, how are you, what's new with you type of talk soon turned into a good ten.. fifteen.. half an hour+ conversation about heart surgery, CrossFit, finding others out there 'like me' throughout the process. Lindsay, an awesome writer (and fun to workout alongside of), was interested in learning more about the private FB group I am a member of, the type of people there, the stories, the connections, and potentially writing about it. Connected her with D.J. Forsyth, got her in the group, answered a few interview questions, and a few months later saw THIS article pop up online and in newsstands c/o The Box. 

What started as less than a handful of us bloomed into a story about eight of us, and soon grew to over 100+ as the years have progressed. 

Thank you, Lindsay, for taking the time to connect with us and share our stories. More importantly, thank you for helping build a bridge to connect with others "like us" out there. 

If you, or someone you know is facing issues of the heart, please reach out!
Click the "Contact" button above, say hello.
CrossFit saves lives, and you're not alone.
We're here for you, with you. 

Lights.. Camera.. Listen.

On February 13th, 2018, I had the honor and opportunity to record a podcast at CrossFit HQ. Questions were awesome, honest, and conversations that resulted traveled inside outside upside down.
Spoiler alert... Fact: CrossFit (before + after unexpected heart surgery) saved my life.

Listen here

Watch here

Heartfelt thanks to CrossFit HQ, Sevan Mattosian, Matt Bischel, Cara Hipskind, and Eric Maciel for taking the time to sit with me and talk about the ticker.

The scar carved down my chest is a reminder to stay true to myself in my path to find others out there facing the unknown, no matter what the challenge at hand (or in-heart).

If you are someone, or know someone who is facing adventures of the heart, please reach out and connect with me. Know that you're not alone, and that there is a community of us over 150+ from all around the globe who have been there before, and know the way out.

There is hope. Take heart.

Same

It's the same.

It won't be.

What are you going to do?

It (sounds) the same.

It won't be.

What are you going to do?

It (looks) the same.

It won't be.

What are you going to do?

It (feels) the same.

It won't be.

What are you going to do?

It will never be the same.

It's up to you.

What are you going to do?

Words in progress

Cue the sound of pickaxes, saws and tinkering.
Cut to the "Under Construction" sign flipped at the entrance, with newspapers covering up the windows.
For now, let it beat below the surface, and let these words hint to what's ahead.

"Take heart", an expression to take courage, be encouraged, find confidence, prepare for action, be brave, paradigm shift to engage with intention, brace with all your might, face the roar of the storm, and most importantly to hold onto hope with the inferred (or explicit) knowledge of that something that will anchor you.

This is a site meant to shed light for those who are facing challenges with their heart. 
This site will share real life experiences of real people. Some posts might be abstract, or hover over a theme in a creative light. Might feel random, might not always follow a straight line, but it will be honest to the person and the topic posted.
No matter the subject, person, or flow, the common theme will weave true: We all have faced, or face challenges that are heart-related.
Some of us faced it firsthand. Some are mothers of children who are facing an issue, or recently were operated on. Some had open heart surgery, and others non-invasive alternatives. You'll read about bicuspid aortic valves, mitral valve replacements, aortic aneurisms and other cardiac complications. There will be ups. There will be downs. You'll learn about how each person faced them, what procedures they underwent, and how they fare today.

About me? I am Paul Farmiga, and I am one of many. The scar carved down my chest is one of many in a community of people counting over 150+ strong. Scars, lines of latitude and longitude around the globe. United in the story of our heartbeats. Many have been under the knife, and we've made it under that barbell (or bounced back up from that burpee), again.

If you are facing a heart-related challenge of your own, and think that you're the only one out there in the world that is dealing with it.. this site is here to encourage you to take heart, today. Reach out. Let's connect (click the "Contact" area above) here or on social media. You are living a life with a beautiful story, and we are here for you, with you.

All that said, this is not a medical website. This is not a site meant to replace the expertise of a doctor. In today's world it's sad that I even have to type out a mini disclaimer of sorts, but for real, this isn't a site meant for anything other than encouraging, and potentially connecting your story to others who have faced similar. It might share the awesomeness of CrossFit and how it helped save our lives, or be a reference point to connect your "he just doesn't get it" cardiologist to friends, gymnasts, coaches, trainers, weightlifters and functionally fit athletes who are living healthy happy lives in spite of whatever medical diagnosis or procedure we've encountered.

We are here for you. With you.

When life holds a hand up, see through it with an open heart.

Take heart. Today.