Training for a 5k isn't easy for anyone, but Arnold Smyth faced more obstacles than most as he prepared to participate in this year's Rock the Parkway 5k and half marathon.
“I got really sick in 2014," he said. "I was about to start training for Kansas City’s half marathon, and I had a stroke."
While he was in the hospital, doctors discovered Smyth had multiple heart problems stemming from familial heart disease.
“From there it just kind of dropped off a cliff, and by April of that year I could hardly function,” said Smyth.
It was clear Smyth needed a new heart. He was placed on a waiting list in February 2015.
“One of the biggest problem’s for anyone is, there’s always a wait when you know you need an organ,” said Smyth. “You have to get sicker and sicker and sicker before you get to the top of the list.”
Smyth’s health declined so rapidly that four months later Smyth had his heart transplant operation.
“It was really scary because when he first told me I was really sad,” said Smyth’s daughter Megan. “Then I was kind of happy that he was able to get a heart because then he wouldn’t have been able to live if he didn’t get one.”
Fast forward 10 months after the surgery: Smyth has gone from being able to walk less than 40 steps to running 3.1 miles with support from across the globe. Friends and family in Ireland ran 5 kilometers at the same time Smyth was running in Kansas City.
Midrun update
Posted by John O Sullivan on Saturday, April 9, 2016
“So I ran the whole 5k, and I did it in about 36 minutes so I was pleased,” said Smyth.
Wearing a bib on his back that reads “I am Heart Transplant #663,” Smyth said he could hear some Rock the Parkway runner’s realizing their struggle may pale in comparison.
My goodness. I think he just became my inspiration to run. If he can do it.. @RockTheParkway #organdonation pic.twitter.com/7CtBFX2ZCp
— Brian Abel (@BrianAbelTV) April 9, 2016
“I heard a couple of ladies behind me at one point go ‘’Oh, we better stop [complaining]’ because they read what was on the back, so yeah it was fun,” said Smyth. “For me, the goal in all of this is to raise awareness about organ donation.”
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
