November 8, 2025 • 40 mins
(00:00:00) From Arrest To Ironman
(00:02:14) Anna's Story and Season Reflections
(00:05:29) Creativity, Crocheting, And New Books
(00:06:43) SV-ONE Conference And Inclusion Plans
(00:07:46) Patron Thanks And Disclaimers
(00:09:53) Meet Elmar Sprink
(00:12:26) Collapse, Diagnosis, And Transplant Path
(00:15:42) Learning To Move Again
(00:18:21) Training Safely Post-Transplant
(00:20:26) Medications And Health Management
(00:24:05) Mindset, Routine, And Resilience
(00:28:18) Purpose And Organ Donation Advocacy
(00:31:09) Gratitude, Perspective, And Small Joys
(00:33:14) Goals: Qualifying For Kona
(00:38:57) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
What does it take to learn to sit again, then stand, then chase the horizon at the Ironman World Championship? We sit down with endurance athlete and keynote speaker Elmar Sprink to trace the steps from sudden cardiac arrest and seven months on ECMO to a disciplined, data‑driven comeback fueled by routine, empathy, and stubborn hope. Elmar opens up about the invisible work of recovery—why he treated hospital life like a training plan, how a visitor spreadsheet kept his spirits up, and the role therapy and humor played when the outcome was uncertain.
We unpack the nuts and bolts of training after a heart transplant: threshold testing to set safe zones, the difference denervated hearts can make to heart rate response, and why indoor cycling and carefully staged swim returns protect against infection while rebuilding fitness. Elmar explains how steady training lowered his blood pressure and reduced medications, and he shares the small, daily wins—like a perfect cappuccino—that kept his motivation alive. Along the way, he reflects on gratitude for his unknown donor and the ritual of honoring that gift at every finish line.
Anna also spotlights creative sparks and community momentum: new children’s stories in the Living with CHD series that portray everyday family life with honesty, plus highlights from the SV-ONE conference where scientists, clinicians, and advocates collaborate for single ventricle care. We share upcoming inclusion goals, from an ASL episode to a new German episode featuring Elmar, and we talk candidly about organ donation advocacy—what messaging moves people, and how real stories can shift culture and save lives.
If you’re navigating CHD, recovery, or any long road back, this conversation offers a clear playbook: start small, be consistent, protect your body, lean on your people, and celebrate the quiet victories. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a lift, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we’d love to hear what small win you’re chasing this week.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support.
(00:02:14) Anna's Story and Season Reflections
(00:05:29) Creativity, Crocheting, And New Books
(00:06:43) SV-ONE Conference And Inclusion Plans
(00:07:46) Patron Thanks And Disclaimers
(00:09:53) Meet Elmar Sprink
(00:12:26) Collapse, Diagnosis, And Transplant Path
(00:15:42) Learning To Move Again
(00:18:21) Training Safely Post-Transplant
(00:20:26) Medications And Health Management
(00:24:05) Mindset, Routine, And Resilience
(00:28:18) Purpose And Organ Donation Advocacy
(00:31:09) Gratitude, Perspective, And Small Joys
(00:33:14) Goals: Qualifying For Kona
(00:38:57) Conclusion and Final Thoughts
What does it take to learn to sit again, then stand, then chase the horizon at the Ironman World Championship? We sit down with endurance athlete and keynote speaker Elmar Sprink to trace the steps from sudden cardiac arrest and seven months on ECMO to a disciplined, data‑driven comeback fueled by routine, empathy, and stubborn hope. Elmar opens up about the invisible work of recovery—why he treated hospital life like a training plan, how a visitor spreadsheet kept his spirits up, and the role therapy and humor played when the outcome was uncertain.
We unpack the nuts and bolts of training after a heart transplant: threshold testing to set safe zones, the difference denervated hearts can make to heart rate response, and why indoor cycling and carefully staged swim returns protect against infection while rebuilding fitness. Elmar explains how steady training lowered his blood pressure and reduced medications, and he shares the small, daily wins—like a perfect cappuccino—that kept his motivation alive. Along the way, he reflects on gratitude for his unknown donor and the ritual of honoring that gift at every finish line.
Anna also spotlights creative sparks and community momentum: new children’s stories in the Living with CHD series that portray everyday family life with honesty, plus highlights from the SV-ONE conference where scientists, clinicians, and advocates collaborate for single ventricle care. We share upcoming inclusion goals, from an ASL episode to a new German episode featuring Elmar, and we talk candidly about organ donation advocacy—what messaging moves people, and how real stories can shift culture and save lives.
If you’re navigating CHD, recovery, or any long road back, this conversation offers a clear playbook: start small, be consistent, protect your body, lean on your people, and celebrate the quiet victories. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a lift, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we’d love to hear what small win you’re chasing this week.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Even it was really bad with toursphreychotic arrest with seven
month in bed, and then two years later I finished
the Ironman World Championship in Avai. This is possible.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to you, Hard to Heart with Dianna, I am
Anna Juworski and Hartman to Hope, my thirty one year old,
amazing daughter. Before we dive into today's powerful interview, I
want to take a few minutes to share what's been
happening behind the scenes and to reflect a little on
how this season has been shaping up. The last couple
(00:36):
of months had been full of transitions, some expected and
some not, but all meaningful. October didn't go exactly as
I planned. I had hoped to release two brand new episodes,
but sometimes life rearranges our schedules for reasons we don't
see until later. Still, it was a full month. I
(00:58):
released a great new episode, so posted our live show
for patrons of volunteers and howd our community Zoom show
for anyone who wanted to join. Those gatherings always remind
me why this work really matters. The October live show
turned out to be very small, just my husband, Frank,
(01:19):
Michael Ebin and me, and it ended up being one
of the best conversations we've ever had. We talked about
transition and life stages, especially how aging changes the way
we see ourselves and our purpose. It reminded me that
transitions can be uncomfortable but also transformative. It was also
(01:42):
interesting to see how the two men viewed their most
difficult transitions versus how I viewed my most difficult transition.
I always enjoyed talking to thoughtful men who aren't afraid
to articulate their feelings. I think that's why I so
enjoyed talking with today's guest, Elmar Sprink. His story is inspiring.
(02:02):
He wasn't afraid to talk about some of the difficult times,
and his transformation made me feel like I need to
be doing more exercise. After all, if Almar could do
what he's done after receiving a heart transplant and being
on ekmel hmm, makes me think I maybe need to
(02:23):
get out and do some more exercise. But Frank and
I did take a short trip to New York just
recently to attend a football game at Ithaca College to
watch our friend he and Mean Murray. This time, I
left my laptop at home on purpose, and I brought
my croucheting. Instead, I finished another Granny elephant for my
(02:46):
upcoming Kickstarter. These elephants always make me smile because they've
become little mascots for me, and I've had so much
fun posing them in different places I visited. Of course,
in true Lego Loss fashion, my furry assistant decided to
get involved behind the scenes. While I was in New York,
(03:08):
he was in Texas and he found a crochet hook
I used to make the baby elephants. Somehow it had
fallen on the floor and he chewed the ergonomic handle
beyond repair. At first, I was frustrated, but later I
laughed because it felt like such a perfect metaphor for
life and creativity. Your plan to makes something beautiful and
(03:32):
then life takes a bite out of it. But I
just find I have to keep creating anyway. While working
on the elephants, I realized something. Even though I've spent
the past two decades creating in other ways, building Heart
to Night, the Globe, launching podcasts, mentoring others, I had
(03:54):
not written a children's book in over twenty years. By
very first, My Brother Needs an Operation came out when
Hope was still little. Since then, I've carried dozens of
story ideas with me, but never had the quiet space
to bring them to life. Not changed this year. Suddenly
(04:14):
the stories I've been carrying started to pour out of me.
I wrote you Were Always Loved in Colorado during a
planned visit to see my granddaughter Rowan. It's a deeply
personal story born out of therapy and healing. I also
wrote a story earlier this year for a Society for
Children's Book Writers and Illustrators picture book contest, but I
(04:36):
didn't win and it fell by the wayside. However, something
else popped up that got me thinking about that book again.
I took it out, looked at it, and somehow it
grew into a much larger vision, a series of books
called Living with HD. These news stories don't focus on
(04:57):
scars or on bravery, shots of everyday life and a
family touched by congenital heart disease, hospital visits, overcoming adversity, friendships,
moments of humor and love. They show children and parents
simply living with PhD as part of their world. It's
always been my goal to tell the truth of these
(05:21):
experiences with warmth and honesty, without turning them into either tragedy.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Or heroism.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Now on to the news. October also brought something incredibly inspiring.
I traveled to Indianapolis to attend the SV one Conference,
an extraordinary gathering of scientists, clinicians, and advocates working together
to advance care for people with congenital heart disease and
(05:51):
their families. There will be a spring Virtual SV one
session on May twentieth, twenty twenty six, and mark your calendars.
I filled a tablet with pages of notes, not just
about the science or the research, but about the collaboration.
Everyone there shared the same goal to make life better
(06:11):
for single ventricle families. Also came home with renewed excitement
about inclusion. One of our goals in twenty twenty six
is to produce our first ever episode in American Sign language,
and Heart to Heartwithiana is planning another German episode soon
with our guest host, Judy Aldifer and the guest you're
(06:31):
about to listen to today in English, Elmar Sprink. This
will be my second episode in German and I can't
wait to bring those voices to the network. Before we
move on to Elmar's interview, I want to take a
moment to thank our patrons, your monthly support Keepsie's programs
going from production costs to the outreach that connects families
(06:54):
all over the world. Paid patrons, keep an eye on
your inbox for a special email for me. This week,
I'll be sharing a private YouTube link with some behind
the scenes clips from my conversation with Elmar, a few
candid moments just for you. It's our way of saying
thank you for being part of this journey, and if
you'd like to join our Patreon family, you can learn
(07:17):
more at heartschniteglobe dot org. Every contribution, big or small,
helps us reach more listeners who need to hear that
they are not alone. This content is not intended to
be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The opinions expressed in a podcast are not those of
Hearts to Nite the Globe, but of the hosts and guests,
(07:40):
and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to
congenital heart disease or bereavement. Today, I'm so excited to
have Almar's Sprink in the house. Elmar Sprink was born
in Sauce Cotton, Germany, and he's a passionate endurance athlete
and motivational keynote speaker whose journey from cardiac arrest to
(08:02):
world class competition defies all odds. In July twenty ten,
one week after withdrawing from his seventh Ironman, Almar suffered
sudden cardiac arrest. After months in the hospital, including life
support and the installation of heart pumps, he received a
(08:23):
heart transplant in June twenty twelve. Just months later, he
was walking, cycling, and even snowboarding again. Since then, Almar
has completed over one hundred and fifty endurance events, including
twelve full iron Man's, the Ironman World Competition in Hawaii,
(08:45):
and crueling races like Cape Epic and the Trans Alpine Run.
His story is one of resilience, transformation, and unwavering spirit.
As a global transplant advocate, Elmore inspires others to overcome
setbacks and pursue a healthy, active life. His mission is simple,
(09:06):
stay fit, live fully, and show what's possible with a
second chance. Welcome too Hard to Heart with Anna Elmore.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I'm so happy to be talking to you. My friend
Tracy was so excited to introduce.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You to me. Yeah, agreed, I think we get connected
over Facebook.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
We did we did. Yes, Yes, we did.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
She was so excited to introduce me to you. She said,
oh my goodness, you have to have this man on
your podcast. And I was so happy when you said.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yes, yeah, no problem. You talk a bit about my story.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Good, because it's just completely amazing. Looking back to twenty ten,
did you ever imagine that you would return to racing,
let alone compete in world championships after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Directly after the cardiac arrest. No, one didn't know why
I got the cardiac arrest. So in the beginning, they
did a lot of checkups in the hospital, like the
hard casidra and everything. Then yeah, they sent me back
home and the heart function got almost back to normal,
(10:27):
and at that moment I thought maybe I could go
back to triathlon and back to running, swimming and to
all the other things I did before. But after half
a year I got problems again. And then they installed
the ICD and I still trained a bit, but it
didn't feel like before.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Then.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
In the end, you already mentioned that I got a
hard transplant almost after two years after the cardiac arrest.
Directly after the transplant, I was, not, to be honest,
not really thinking about doing an Ironman again, like a
psychle or trade running events.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I'm sure you were really hurting after that transplant.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Yeah, because I was seven months bed rested. That put
me on different machines like on Ekmo, which is it's
pretty much like a small hard lung machine. So I
had tubes inside, so one tube in my left leg
and then in my upper body, so if I moved
my left leg, I got conscious. It was like a
hard time being in the hospital, but it was a
(11:32):
hard time getting back. I will talk a bit about
that later, but I think it was almost one and
a half years after the transplantation. Then maybe I believe
that I could go do an Ironmen again. So that
was a little bit more than a year after the transplant.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Yeah, I totally believe that because my daughter has not
had a transplant yet, but she had major open heart
surgery and it even included an ablation when she was
in her teens. She told me that after over a
year she felt better than she felt before she had
that open heart surgery. But for a year, no, she
(12:10):
wasn't feeling too great. It takes a body a while
to recover from major trauma and having a transplant is
actually major trauma.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Yeah, that's maybe one of the biggest surgeries you can do.
It's still not real for me because I was lying
there without my own heart inside. That's for a few hours.
That's crazy surgery that it really is.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
What was the most physically or mentally challenging part of
your recovery after the transplant?
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I think I have to say mentally it was harder
before the transplant than after the transplant because at the time, Yeah,
because at the time the doctors didn't know what was
wrong with me, and there's still never really one of
percent figured out why I needed the new heart. It
was not a virus, it was not a heart attack,
(13:02):
no stroke, no genetic defect. So it was hard because
it was all these setbacks, because I was released after
the hospital, and then in the hospital again after the
cardeg arrest. Then I went back to work and then
got problems again, and then I did the reap and
the reabs, they said I can't go back to work anymore.
(13:23):
I was ent of thirty, so I was not forty
years old. And this mentally makes something because then in
the end I was too fit for a heart transplant,
but I was not fit enough to walk around the
house anymore. There was mentally the hardest time in my life,
and then it was mentally easier. It's crazy to say that,
but when I was in the transplant center, it was
(13:45):
clear I need a new heart otherwise I'm not going
out of the hospital anymore. It's like black and white.
It's like there's not really an option. Mentally it was easier.
Even it was a hard time because after I got
the cardigarrest again in the transplant center, I was on
this machines, which I couldn't stay on the machines forever,
but it was clear on the machines, I didn't feel
(14:07):
too bad. I was still lying, I couldn't go to
the restroom, and I had to do everything in my bed,
but still I felt okay. I never felt like I
have to die. The next day, I was aware that
I couldn't live on the egg moo for another three months,
but mentally that was hard. Physically, my body was just
lying there after the transplant, but by the time I
(14:28):
received the new heart, then it was hard to sit
on my own. I was not able to sit, so
I had to learn to sit, I had to learn
to stand up. I had to learn to walk. It
was hard that I had to stay the seven months
in bed, but it was good for the recovery. It
sounds a little bit crazy as well, but I came
(14:49):
from dro to Araban racing again. I started with easy cycling,
and then after half a year I started my first
run with three times five meet and then I add
another five hundred meter every week, five hund meta more,
five hundred met more. After three and a half months
I did the ten k run and so on. Then
it started increasing, and then the heart function got even better.
(15:12):
The more sport I was doing, the blood brother went
down and I needed less medication. That was physically the
hardest part the half a year after the transplant, but
then from there it was just yeah, doing what I
love the most. So doing sport now, that's.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Just amazing to me. Within half a year you're on
the bike, you're running, and you're increasing your distance a
little bit more, a little bit more. That's amazing to me,
and it felt good.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
It was actually six weeks after the transplant I was
the first time on my bike wowing. Cycling is really
good because you're not carrying your whole weight of your body.
It's the best thing to have your bike indoor and
then do some tough outdoor. But first I started cycling indoor.
(16:03):
But it's very easy. You can just start with forty
five and then the next time you do fifty and
so on. So it's very good training.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Now when you do an iron man, don't you also
have to do swimming?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah? Swimming, yeah yeah, But the problem with swimming is
after that transplant, you are not allowed to swim inside
because of bacteria. So what I did in February, it
was like eight months after the transplant, I flew to Spain.
We just located the coast of Africa, but it belongs
to Spain. And then I went swimming outside because they
(16:36):
are outside tools. So it was the first time I
started swimming again. Oh my god, after a year, you
can actually go to indoor pools without having trouble.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Wow, that's amazing. So you just got on a plane,
went to Spain and swam outdoors. Did you have somebody
there with you?
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah? By my wife was with me at that time. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Wow, that's just amazing to me. It sounds like you
push yourself and push yourself harder and your body said, yes,
I can do this. I can do it.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, yeah, I think I was not really pushing really hard,
but because of less muscles I had at that time,
So I just really improved in little steps and that
was a good thing, I think.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I think so too. You didn't want to overdo it
at the very beginning, So how did you balance pushing
yourself physically while also protecting yourself because, like you said,
you couldn't swim indoors because of the potential for bacteria
or some kind of infection which would be potentially fatal.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
A lot of people ask me they want to do
an iron Man, But the thing is, if you don't
know your limits, you can't push to the limits. So
the first thing I think after seven eight months, I
went to a center where they do threshold test. So
I did the test on the treatment and on the aergometer,
and then I knew these are my limits. And then
(18:13):
I started with proper training. So I had the coach
and I got training plans and then never trained. Like
a heart transplant athletes in some cases is a bit
different because after a heart transplant and they're cutting the
nerves to the heart and in many cases they are
not coming back. So in my case, the doctor thing
(18:34):
that the nerves grew back after one and a half years.
So I have proper heart rate, like a resting heart
rate around fifty or below in the beginning, and then
one hundred eighty or a little bit more maximum heart rate.
So I just trained like a normal person. It just
took a bit longer to increase the heart rate. That's
(18:55):
the only thing which is different than before.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I imagine since you have a transplant that you have a
lot of different medications.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
If I'm not.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Mistaken, I heard you say earlier that you were able
to reduce some of your medications. Is that right.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
The only medications I'm taking every twelve hours is suppression medication.
Otherwise you have rejection of the organ. It doesn't matter
if you have for heart or a liver or a kidney.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
It's like cyclo splorine or something like that.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
In my case is through godh and Supert's. Yeah, that's
what I take, and I take a minimum dose of that,
and I'm still not rejecting my heart. In the beginning,
I had one rejection, but directly after the transpland and
then you get a lot of other stuff like something
against the colors to role and something against the blood
(19:49):
pressure which when really massively up. I never had high
blood pressure before the transplant, but with the training I
did where we'd use all the medications beside the immod
suppression of medication. I'm only taking three periods in the
morning and three in the evening, and I'm taking a
(20:09):
lot of PIDs like oh Me, Gosri, vitamin D and
vitamin B, and so I'm taking more piods which are
good for my buddy than which are bad for my buddy,
I think at the moment.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Heart to Heart with Anna is a presentation of Hearts
Unite the Globe and is part of the hug podcast network.
Hearts Unite the Globe is a nonprofit organization devoted to
providing resources to the congenital heart defect community to uplift, empower,
and enrich the lives of our community members. If you
would like access to free resources pertaining to the HD community,
(20:47):
please visit our website at www. Congenitalheartdefects dot com for
information about HD, the hospitals that treat children with HD,
summer camps for HD survivors, and much much more.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Embark on a heartwarming odyssey with Baby Heart's pressure gateway
to uplifting stories for the CHD community. Introducing the Heart
of a Heart Warrior book series inspiring those born with
heart effects and their loved ones discover the heart of
a mother, the heart of a father, and my brother
needs an operation. Books celebrating strength, love and familiar support.
(21:27):
Visit babyheartspress dot com and be part of our loving
community uplifting hearts one story at a time.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
You are listening to Heart to Heart with Anna. If
you have a question or comment that you would like
to addressed on our show, please send an email to
Anna Jaworski at Anna at Heart to heartwith Anna dot com.
That's Anna at Heart to Heart with Anna dot com.
Now back to Heart to Heart with Anna.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Elmar. What kept you mentally strong during that long hospital stay,
especially since you were on ekmu.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Mentally there are three factors. The first is I saw
it like my training a bit, so my goal was
to get off the hospital life. That was at the
biggest goal. And then I had a long term goal
and I admit and short term goals. Which really helped
was that my father made like an extra sheet and
(22:31):
every day I had visitors. I think during COVID it
was hard for waiting patients, really hard to get through
that time because I were not allowed to have any
people visiting them. So besides of one day there was
like a traffic gem or something someone couldn't make it.
But I had friends and family every day. Another point
(22:52):
is I tried to be as friendly even I had
bad days. I was so friendly to the people which
taken care of me, like the doctors and nurses and everyone.
And I think it was more kind of family because
they started making their lunch break in my room, talking
about their kids, talking about their problems. And that's what
(23:13):
I always tell patients. Even if it's bad to be
in hospital, but no one is responsible for that from
the stuff which is treating you. No one of the
nurses did something wrong that I had to stay in
that hospital bed. So it was not my fault. It
was just I don't know, it was bad luck whatever. Yeah,
(23:36):
so that's really important. Yeah, that was the key factor.
And then they had a lady, she was a psychologist.
She came once a week and then I talked to
her about yeah, my swords and my fears and whatever.
That actually had to get to that period the seven
months of the hospital stay here.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I love it that she decided I'm going to stay
upbeat and I'm going to be the guy everyone wants
to have lunch with. I just love that that's insing.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
But you're so right.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It's not their fault that you were in a hospital,
And it wasn't really your fault that you were in
a hospital.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
It just was because just something. Yeah, because if you
are the guy everyone is afraid to go in the
room because he's not friendly. I didn't want to be
the one, and so I say to myself, if I
have to die, then I die with you more.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I think having the right attitude makes all the difference
in the world.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, having the right attitude is important for athletic training,
for having an exam in college or university, or school
or the job. It's always. I think having the right
attitude is important in many cases in your real life.
That's what I'm talking about. If I have talks or speeches,
(24:54):
if I'm booked by companies, I'm yeah, I'm just I
was just in Brickets, just telling the story, and yeah,
then everyone sees what he can take home for his
own life.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
I love that he's become a global symbol of resilience.
What message do you hope to share with other transplant recipients.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
The waiting period is hard, the waiting period for new
kidney because you are on dialysis in Germany and because
of we haven't the best organ donation law, so it
takes a long time to receive a kidney. For example,
it takes eight years in average. It's really long. It's
(25:40):
really long, and they're not changing anything. They always say
they will change it, and then the government is not
doing it. But that's a completely other story. But I
think to stay alive during the time, even with the
hardest time in the life, it's worth it. So that's
the key message through my story. Even it was really
(26:02):
bad with two or three calic arrest, with seven months
in bed, and then two years later I finished the
Ironman World Championship in Avai. This is possible with work.
I think this is a very modern word. But in
the end, like some friends, if you are talking about
the story, I couldn't have stayed so long in bed,
I said, what else you could have done? Yeah, yeah,
(26:24):
you didn't have. No, there was no option. That was
like plugging out the EGMO and then someone is plugging
in the eggmo again. So I was not able even
to kill myself in the hospital dead. There was no option.
There was just you can stay there, and all the
times say, oh, I'm the guy, I have to stay here.
Why not another one? And then that's what I told
(26:47):
you before about being friendly to all the people around
you in the situation sucks. But yeah, I think that
I had twenty percent. I was really not in a
good shape, and I was maybe mentally not in a
good shape. But from the seven months, maybe one month
was really bad and six months were okay. But I
(27:08):
tried to make the best out of it. I had
the day started in the morning with a breakfast and
was washing myself and yes, but I had the routine.
It's like a like a training plan and now I
have like training peaks my coaches on Sunday is adding
(27:31):
the trainings for the week. And then I tried to
make some green and it's a safe in the morning,
I did this, and then I did that, and then
lunch and then visit us and then evening. Yeah, it's
just one hundred and eighty times the same.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
I'm just so impressed that your dad created a spreadsheet
for you and you did have that routine. I think
sometimes having that routine it provides a sense of normalcy
in an abnormal situation. It's not normal to be in
a hospital, but you made it normal for yourself.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Yeah. I tried. Because if you are in jail and
if you haven't killed someone, you are not there for
your whole life. But maybe the government caught you. Maybe
you're in jail like for one year. Then you know
you are getting out of the jail after twelve months,
and if you do really good, maybe ten months. But
the problem is if you're waiting for a heart transplant,
(28:28):
you don't know if it's coming and if you are
still alive. So that's a big difference.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
It is a big difference. It's a huge difference.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
So you decided to make the most of every day.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Yeah, yeah, I tried. I couldn't do a lot, but
I was really happy about really small things in life,
really small things. I really love coffee, but I'm not
talking about this black coffee. Would you get in a
meeting or I don't know, but I liked a good
coffee like with steam milk, and I was wonder us.
(29:01):
And once the week he went to the cafeteria and
it was like a great coffee machine, and he bought
me one of this cappuccino. Yeah, the end of his work,
he went to the cafeteria, he came back to my room,
he gave me the coffee, and that was a highlight. Yeah. Yeah,
these are the small things which you are then really
happy about.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
I love that. It is the small things that can
make such a big difference.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I love that. Yeah, But in normal life, I think
there are a lot of small things. Most of ninety
ninety five percent of the people didn't see just a
week ago here the weather is really success. We had
no autumn that directly was I don't know, eight degree
and it rains and it was foggy in the morning,
and I was like always complaining about that, I have
(29:48):
to do a run now and I getting wet. And
then I had an appointment and saw this guy's sleeping
on the street. They have a problem. Yeah, it was
raining and there was a sleeping back in the front
of a supermarket. Yeah, this is a problem. And not
if my path is I think from running or I'm
afraid to go out for doing my exercise, and then
(30:11):
I can have a hot bus, yeah, or go to
Sona and then I see these small things really makes
a difference. I love that.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
You're absolutely right. It gives you a whole new perspective. Yeah,
what do you see your role in raising awareness about
organ donation and transplant.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
To be in the beginning, when I did Iron and
COONa and all that stuff and did the kep Epic,
I was a lot in television and in magazine. But
I wanted to do that because I love exercising and
I love having this challenge. But when I look back,
I saw that if I could save one life by
(30:53):
maybe I convince people by seeing my story and they say, oh,
this is a cool story. I'm filing out this organ
donation pass or I register. I'm not a doctor, I
didn't study medicine, so I can't save a life. If
I can save one through the story, that would be awesome. Yeah,
(31:13):
this is maybe the role in raising awareness of organ donation.
I was invited to the former heads minister in Germany
and we talked about organization. But in the end, seventy
four percent of the people on the street, if you
ask about organizations, they say, oh, that's school, Yeah, let's
do that. And then the law is that your relatives
(31:35):
if they say no, then they don't take your organs.
If you go to Austria or to the Netherlands, or
if you go to Spain, they have forty organ donations
out of one million, and in Germany we have ten,
so it's four times higher in Spain. Not everything is
about better law, but it's about the system in the hospital.
(31:58):
I think in Germany we always have uses why we
don't change the law, and we always struggle with our
own problems, but other countries have that. I don't think
that I can change the law, so at least I
can do some advertising throughout this story with all my sport.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Right, So even though you can't necessarily influence the lawmakers,
what you're doing is more important because you're telling the
public this is what can happen if you donate your
loved ones organs. You can save a life.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Yeah, that's because I started marketing and I studied once
semessage in the US. It's a long time ago, but
if you see it from the marketing perspective, sometimes it's
crazy how bad the advertising for organizations in Germany is.
So it's better to have stories. Yeah, people like me,
we had the word transplant games in Germany this year
(32:54):
and you could take all these stories. Yeah, my stories
may be crazy because I was almost dead just on machines,
and then I did the World Championship of the Iron
Man and KNA. But I think two thirds of all
the people wouldn't be alive if they would have the
German law. This is a crazy There were like two
(33:16):
five hundred people and then over half of the people
weren't be there because of not getting an organ early enough.
They could just tell all the stories if you do marketing,
put people on television, put people on the soccer stadium
in the mid break of the soccer game. Let people
tell the story. Do it in the newspapers. This is
(33:39):
very easier. And then the thing is in Germany, most
of the time there's one person is dying that another
person can live again. But the thing is most of
the people they're always talking about the death. I think
this is a German problem. And my mom died in
March and when we went to the church, and then
(34:03):
who was talking. He was always telling about now she
died and now she's dead. But she lived eighty three
years and did a nice life besides maybe the last
years when she got dementia. But why they're not talking
about the funny stories about that you got two kids
and the nice vacations we did. It's always like they
(34:26):
see it from the other side. This is the same
in Organda Nation. They always see, oh, someone is not
dying because someone needs a new heart, because someone dies
anyway because of an accident.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Oh so yeah, yeah, it's not like the person who's
receiving the organ did something bad to somebody else. Something
bad already happened to somebody else, and now the organ
recipient has a chance for life. So you're right once
it just comes back again to that whole, that whole
(35:01):
frame of mind and attitude that you have toward life.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Yeah, noe of people ask me if that changed my life,
because I think I'm the person I was before. But
the story that I went through these two really bad
years that changed your life. But you are the same
person after the heart transpart It makes nothing with you,
but the story makes something with the heart. That's a muscle,
(35:28):
And yeah, you have to see it like a muscle
or just an organ. Yeah, I'm one of present thankful
for a person who donated it. I didn't know the
person at all. I don't know if it's male or female,
So there's law in Germany you don't know from which
person the organ is. But yeah, happy in different situations.
(35:50):
When I finish the race, I always look in the
sky and then think someone may be sitting there looking
down and see what I'm doing with his heart or
her heart.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yeah, I love that. Giving that recognition to your organ
donor is really beautiful. You've done so much, You've done
the Iron Man, You've done all these competitions. Now you're
public speaking, what goals or dreams are still left on
your list?
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Yeah? If you look back and what do you want
to read about yourself? That's what I always ask myself.
What Professor Mark Kowski from Edmund Canada, he's doing a
lot of research on my story. He always says that
from all the tests and stuff, and there is the
fittest heart transplant on the planet. Yeah. Yeah, but I
(36:47):
can't buy anything. Maybe I can buy something getting some
money off the talk sea. But it's nice to read that,
but it's better to read that maybe I'm the person
who lives the longest with the donor hart and that
would be something nice, and that's my goal, living heresy,
living long, maybe not needing a retransplant or a transplant again.
(37:08):
And my goal from the athletics side is I just
started by training already for next year again, because I
always tell people you need goals and you need dreams. Yeah,
in twenty fourteen I was the first start once but
ever finished the racing kner, but I was not qualified.
(37:30):
I got a wild card. Next year, I want to
try to qualify in another age group. That's a good
thing on getting old if you are a triathlete or
runner or cyclist, if you're getting allder, getting in a
new age group and then you are the youngest in
the new age group by the time you get in
the new age group. So that's the advantage. Even if
it's hard, I think it's possible. And yeah, it's a
(37:55):
one last time really getting everything out of my body
next year female and male again. COONa is next weekend,
so I already invited some friends and making making some
food and having a drink and then watching the Iron
Man eight nine hours and I hope next year I
didn't have to watch it for my sofa, so sitting
(38:16):
in COONa the day before the race and then racing again.
So that's maybe my supportive dream to do that race again,
because I'll buy something special and I want to feel
it the second time. And I hope it's possible. I
love that.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
That's a great goal. And if anybody can do it, Almar,
I think you can do it.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know, but at least I give it.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
A tryn Absolutely, this has been absolutely amazing. Thank you
so much for coming on the program today.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
A Mark, Yeah, it was a pleasure, and thanks for
having me.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
It was definitely a pleasure for me.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
That's off.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
But this episode of Heart to Heart with Dana listening
to Almar sprink reminds me that gratitude isn't just a feeling,
it's a practice. It's the way we choose to see
our lives even when a path is steep or unpredictable,
(39:19):
Even when it seems almost impossible and you wonder if
tomorrow is even going to come, Almar kept the faith.
Elmar kept moving forward. He's such an inspiration to me,
and I hope you found his story inspiring to So
as we move into this season of Thanksgiving, take a
(39:39):
moment to celebrate your own resilience, your flexibility, and the
community that walks beside you. Whether you're recovering from surgery,
creating something new, or simply finding small joys in the
every day, like Almar with his coffee.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Remember, my friends, you are not alone.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Thank you again for joining us this week. We hope
you have become inspired and empowered to become an advocate
for the congenital heart community. Heart to Heart with Anna
with your host Anna Jaworski can be heard at any
time wherever you get your podcasts. A new episode is
released every Tuesday from noon Eastern time.
Even it was really bad with toursphreychotic arrest with seven
month in bed, and then two years later I finished
the Ironman World Championship in Avai. This is possible.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to you, Hard to Heart with Dianna, I am
Anna Juworski and Hartman to Hope, my thirty one year old,
amazing daughter. Before we dive into today's powerful interview, I
want to take a few minutes to share what's been
happening behind the scenes and to reflect a little on
how this season has been shaping up. The last couple
(00:36):
of months had been full of transitions, some expected and
some not, but all meaningful. October didn't go exactly as
I planned. I had hoped to release two brand new episodes,
but sometimes life rearranges our schedules for reasons we don't
see until later. Still, it was a full month. I
(00:58):
released a great new episode, so posted our live show
for patrons of volunteers and howd our community Zoom show
for anyone who wanted to join. Those gatherings always remind
me why this work really matters. The October live show
turned out to be very small, just my husband, Frank,
(01:19):
Michael Ebin and me, and it ended up being one
of the best conversations we've ever had. We talked about
transition and life stages, especially how aging changes the way
we see ourselves and our purpose. It reminded me that
transitions can be uncomfortable but also transformative. It was also
(01:42):
interesting to see how the two men viewed their most
difficult transitions versus how I viewed my most difficult transition.
I always enjoyed talking to thoughtful men who aren't afraid
to articulate their feelings. I think that's why I so
enjoyed talking with today's guest, Elmar Sprink. His story is inspiring.
(02:02):
He wasn't afraid to talk about some of the difficult times,
and his transformation made me feel like I need to
be doing more exercise. After all, if Almar could do
what he's done after receiving a heart transplant and being
on ekmel hmm, makes me think I maybe need to
(02:23):
get out and do some more exercise. But Frank and
I did take a short trip to New York just
recently to attend a football game at Ithaca College to
watch our friend he and Mean Murray. This time, I
left my laptop at home on purpose, and I brought
my croucheting. Instead, I finished another Granny elephant for my
(02:46):
upcoming Kickstarter. These elephants always make me smile because they've
become little mascots for me, and I've had so much
fun posing them in different places I visited. Of course,
in true Lego Loss fashion, my furry assistant decided to
get involved behind the scenes. While I was in New York,
(03:08):
he was in Texas and he found a crochet hook
I used to make the baby elephants. Somehow it had
fallen on the floor and he chewed the ergonomic handle
beyond repair. At first, I was frustrated, but later I
laughed because it felt like such a perfect metaphor for
life and creativity. Your plan to makes something beautiful and
(03:32):
then life takes a bite out of it. But I
just find I have to keep creating anyway. While working
on the elephants, I realized something. Even though I've spent
the past two decades creating in other ways, building Heart
to Night, the Globe, launching podcasts, mentoring others, I had
(03:54):
not written a children's book in over twenty years. By
very first, My Brother Needs an Operation came out when
Hope was still little. Since then, I've carried dozens of
story ideas with me, but never had the quiet space
to bring them to life. Not changed this year. Suddenly
(04:14):
the stories I've been carrying started to pour out of me.
I wrote you Were Always Loved in Colorado during a
planned visit to see my granddaughter Rowan. It's a deeply
personal story born out of therapy and healing. I also
wrote a story earlier this year for a Society for
Children's Book Writers and Illustrators picture book contest, but I
(04:36):
didn't win and it fell by the wayside. However, something
else popped up that got me thinking about that book again.
I took it out, looked at it, and somehow it
grew into a much larger vision, a series of books
called Living with HD. These news stories don't focus on
(04:57):
scars or on bravery, shots of everyday life and a
family touched by congenital heart disease, hospital visits, overcoming adversity, friendships,
moments of humor and love. They show children and parents
simply living with PhD as part of their world. It's
always been my goal to tell the truth of these
(05:21):
experiences with warmth and honesty, without turning them into either tragedy.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Or heroism.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Now on to the news. October also brought something incredibly inspiring.
I traveled to Indianapolis to attend the SV one Conference,
an extraordinary gathering of scientists, clinicians, and advocates working together
to advance care for people with congenital heart disease and
(05:51):
their families. There will be a spring Virtual SV one
session on May twentieth, twenty twenty six, and mark your calendars.
I filled a tablet with pages of notes, not just
about the science or the research, but about the collaboration.
Everyone there shared the same goal to make life better
(06:11):
for single ventricle families. Also came home with renewed excitement
about inclusion. One of our goals in twenty twenty six
is to produce our first ever episode in American Sign language,
and Heart to Heartwithiana is planning another German episode soon
with our guest host, Judy Aldifer and the guest you're
(06:31):
about to listen to today in English, Elmar Sprink. This
will be my second episode in German and I can't
wait to bring those voices to the network. Before we
move on to Elmar's interview, I want to take a
moment to thank our patrons, your monthly support Keepsie's programs
going from production costs to the outreach that connects families
(06:54):
all over the world. Paid patrons, keep an eye on
your inbox for a special email for me. This week,
I'll be sharing a private YouTube link with some behind
the scenes clips from my conversation with Elmar, a few
candid moments just for you. It's our way of saying
thank you for being part of this journey, and if
you'd like to join our Patreon family, you can learn
(07:17):
more at heartschniteglobe dot org. Every contribution, big or small,
helps us reach more listeners who need to hear that
they are not alone. This content is not intended to
be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The opinions expressed in a podcast are not those of
Hearts to Nite the Globe, but of the hosts and guests,
(07:40):
and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to
congenital heart disease or bereavement. Today, I'm so excited to
have Almar's Sprink in the house. Elmar Sprink was born
in Sauce Cotton, Germany, and he's a passionate endurance athlete
and motivational keynote speaker whose journey from cardiac arrest to
(08:02):
world class competition defies all odds. In July twenty ten,
one week after withdrawing from his seventh Ironman, Almar suffered
sudden cardiac arrest. After months in the hospital, including life
support and the installation of heart pumps, he received a
(08:23):
heart transplant in June twenty twelve. Just months later, he
was walking, cycling, and even snowboarding again. Since then, Almar
has completed over one hundred and fifty endurance events, including
twelve full iron Man's, the Ironman World Competition in Hawaii,
(08:45):
and crueling races like Cape Epic and the Trans Alpine Run.
His story is one of resilience, transformation, and unwavering spirit.
As a global transplant advocate, Elmore inspires others to overcome
setbacks and pursue a healthy, active life. His mission is simple,
(09:06):
stay fit, live fully, and show what's possible with a
second chance. Welcome too Hard to Heart with Anna Elmore.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
I'm so happy to be talking to you. My friend
Tracy was so excited to introduce.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You to me. Yeah, agreed, I think we get connected
over Facebook.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
We did we did. Yes, Yes, we did.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
She was so excited to introduce me to you. She said,
oh my goodness, you have to have this man on
your podcast. And I was so happy when you said.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yes, yeah, no problem. You talk a bit about my story.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Good, because it's just completely amazing. Looking back to twenty ten,
did you ever imagine that you would return to racing,
let alone compete in world championships after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Directly after the cardiac arrest. No, one didn't know why
I got the cardiac arrest. So in the beginning, they
did a lot of checkups in the hospital, like the
hard casidra and everything. Then yeah, they sent me back
home and the heart function got almost back to normal,
(10:27):
and at that moment I thought maybe I could go
back to triathlon and back to running, swimming and to
all the other things I did before. But after half
a year I got problems again. And then they installed
the ICD and I still trained a bit, but it
didn't feel like before.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Then.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
In the end, you already mentioned that I got a
hard transplant almost after two years after the cardiac arrest.
Directly after the transplant, I was, not, to be honest,
not really thinking about doing an Ironman again, like a
psychle or trade running events.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I'm sure you were really hurting after that transplant.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Yeah, because I was seven months bed rested. That put
me on different machines like on Ekmo, which is it's
pretty much like a small hard lung machine. So I
had tubes inside, so one tube in my left leg
and then in my upper body, so if I moved
my left leg, I got conscious. It was like a
hard time being in the hospital, but it was a
(11:32):
hard time getting back. I will talk a bit about
that later, but I think it was almost one and
a half years after the transplantation. Then maybe I believe
that I could go do an Ironmen again. So that
was a little bit more than a year after the transplant.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Yeah, I totally believe that because my daughter has not
had a transplant yet, but she had major open heart
surgery and it even included an ablation when she was
in her teens. She told me that after over a
year she felt better than she felt before she had
that open heart surgery. But for a year, no, she
(12:10):
wasn't feeling too great. It takes a body a while
to recover from major trauma and having a transplant is
actually major trauma.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Yeah, that's maybe one of the biggest surgeries you can do.
It's still not real for me because I was lying
there without my own heart inside. That's for a few hours.
That's crazy surgery that it really is.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
What was the most physically or mentally challenging part of
your recovery after the transplant?
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I think I have to say mentally it was harder
before the transplant than after the transplant because at the time, Yeah,
because at the time the doctors didn't know what was
wrong with me, and there's still never really one of
percent figured out why I needed the new heart. It
was not a virus, it was not a heart attack,
(13:02):
no stroke, no genetic defect. So it was hard because
it was all these setbacks, because I was released after
the hospital, and then in the hospital again after the
cardeg arrest. Then I went back to work and then
got problems again, and then I did the reap and
the reabs, they said I can't go back to work anymore.
(13:23):
I was ent of thirty, so I was not forty
years old. And this mentally makes something because then in
the end I was too fit for a heart transplant,
but I was not fit enough to walk around the
house anymore. There was mentally the hardest time in my life,
and then it was mentally easier. It's crazy to say that,
but when I was in the transplant center, it was
(13:45):
clear I need a new heart otherwise I'm not going
out of the hospital anymore. It's like black and white.
It's like there's not really an option. Mentally it was easier.
Even it was a hard time because after I got
the cardigarrest again in the transplant center, I was on
this machines, which I couldn't stay on the machines forever,
but it was clear on the machines, I didn't feel
(14:07):
too bad. I was still lying, I couldn't go to
the restroom, and I had to do everything in my bed,
but still I felt okay. I never felt like I
have to die. The next day, I was aware that
I couldn't live on the egg moo for another three months,
but mentally that was hard. Physically, my body was just
lying there after the transplant, but by the time I
(14:28):
received the new heart, then it was hard to sit
on my own. I was not able to sit, so
I had to learn to sit, I had to learn
to stand up. I had to learn to walk. It
was hard that I had to stay the seven months
in bed, but it was good for the recovery. It
sounds a little bit crazy as well, but I came
(14:49):
from dro to Araban racing again. I started with easy cycling,
and then after half a year I started my first
run with three times five meet and then I add
another five hundred meter every week, five hund meta more,
five hundred met more. After three and a half months
I did the ten k run and so on. Then
it started increasing, and then the heart function got even better.
(15:12):
The more sport I was doing, the blood brother went
down and I needed less medication. That was physically the
hardest part the half a year after the transplant, but
then from there it was just yeah, doing what I
love the most. So doing sport now, that's.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Just amazing to me. Within half a year you're on
the bike, you're running, and you're increasing your distance a
little bit more, a little bit more. That's amazing to me,
and it felt good.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
It was actually six weeks after the transplant I was
the first time on my bike wowing. Cycling is really
good because you're not carrying your whole weight of your body.
It's the best thing to have your bike indoor and
then do some tough outdoor. But first I started cycling indoor.
(16:03):
But it's very easy. You can just start with forty
five and then the next time you do fifty and
so on. So it's very good training.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Now when you do an iron man, don't you also
have to do swimming?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah? Swimming, yeah yeah, But the problem with swimming is
after that transplant, you are not allowed to swim inside
because of bacteria. So what I did in February, it
was like eight months after the transplant, I flew to Spain.
We just located the coast of Africa, but it belongs
to Spain. And then I went swimming outside because they
(16:36):
are outside tools. So it was the first time I
started swimming again. Oh my god, after a year, you
can actually go to indoor pools without having trouble.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Wow, that's amazing. So you just got on a plane,
went to Spain and swam outdoors. Did you have somebody
there with you?
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Yeah? By my wife was with me at that time. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Wow, that's just amazing to me. It sounds like you
push yourself and push yourself harder and your body said, yes,
I can do this. I can do it.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, yeah, I think I was not really pushing really hard,
but because of less muscles I had at that time,
So I just really improved in little steps and that
was a good thing, I think.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I think so too. You didn't want to overdo it
at the very beginning, So how did you balance pushing
yourself physically while also protecting yourself because, like you said,
you couldn't swim indoors because of the potential for bacteria
or some kind of infection which would be potentially fatal.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
A lot of people ask me they want to do
an iron Man, But the thing is, if you don't
know your limits, you can't push to the limits. So
the first thing I think after seven eight months, I
went to a center where they do threshold test. So
I did the test on the treatment and on the aergometer,
and then I knew these are my limits. And then
(18:13):
I started with proper training. So I had the coach
and I got training plans and then never trained. Like
a heart transplant athletes in some cases is a bit
different because after a heart transplant and they're cutting the
nerves to the heart and in many cases they are
not coming back. So in my case, the doctor thing
(18:34):
that the nerves grew back after one and a half years.
So I have proper heart rate, like a resting heart
rate around fifty or below in the beginning, and then
one hundred eighty or a little bit more maximum heart rate.
So I just trained like a normal person. It just
took a bit longer to increase the heart rate. That's
(18:55):
the only thing which is different than before.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I imagine since you have a transplant that you have a
lot of different medications.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
If I'm not.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Mistaken, I heard you say earlier that you were able
to reduce some of your medications. Is that right.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
The only medications I'm taking every twelve hours is suppression medication.
Otherwise you have rejection of the organ. It doesn't matter
if you have for heart or a liver or a kidney.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
It's like cyclo splorine or something like that.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
In my case is through godh and Supert's. Yeah, that's
what I take, and I take a minimum dose of that,
and I'm still not rejecting my heart. In the beginning,
I had one rejection, but directly after the transpland and
then you get a lot of other stuff like something
against the colors to role and something against the blood
(19:49):
pressure which when really massively up. I never had high
blood pressure before the transplant, but with the training I
did where we'd use all the medications beside the immod
suppression of medication. I'm only taking three periods in the
morning and three in the evening, and I'm taking a
(20:09):
lot of PIDs like oh Me, Gosri, vitamin D and
vitamin B, and so I'm taking more piods which are
good for my buddy than which are bad for my buddy,
I think at the moment.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Heart to Heart with Anna is a presentation of Hearts
Unite the Globe and is part of the hug podcast network.
Hearts Unite the Globe is a nonprofit organization devoted to
providing resources to the congenital heart defect community to uplift, empower,
and enrich the lives of our community members. If you
would like access to free resources pertaining to the HD community,
(20:47):
please visit our website at www. Congenitalheartdefects dot com for
information about HD, the hospitals that treat children with HD,
summer camps for HD survivors, and much much more.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
Embark on a heartwarming odyssey with Baby Heart's pressure gateway
to uplifting stories for the CHD community. Introducing the Heart
of a Heart Warrior book series inspiring those born with
heart effects and their loved ones discover the heart of
a mother, the heart of a father, and my brother
needs an operation. Books celebrating strength, love and familiar support.
(21:27):
Visit babyheartspress dot com and be part of our loving
community uplifting hearts one story at a time.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
You are listening to Heart to Heart with Anna. If
you have a question or comment that you would like
to addressed on our show, please send an email to
Anna Jaworski at Anna at Heart to heartwith Anna dot com.
That's Anna at Heart to Heart with Anna dot com.
Now back to Heart to Heart with Anna.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Elmar. What kept you mentally strong during that long hospital stay,
especially since you were on ekmu.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Mentally there are three factors. The first is I saw
it like my training a bit, so my goal was
to get off the hospital life. That was at the
biggest goal. And then I had a long term goal
and I admit and short term goals. Which really helped
was that my father made like an extra sheet and
(22:31):
every day I had visitors. I think during COVID it
was hard for waiting patients, really hard to get through
that time because I were not allowed to have any
people visiting them. So besides of one day there was
like a traffic gem or something someone couldn't make it.
But I had friends and family every day. Another point
(22:52):
is I tried to be as friendly even I had
bad days. I was so friendly to the people which
taken care of me, like the doctors and nurses and everyone.
And I think it was more kind of family because
they started making their lunch break in my room, talking
about their kids, talking about their problems. And that's what
(23:13):
I always tell patients. Even if it's bad to be
in hospital, but no one is responsible for that from
the stuff which is treating you. No one of the
nurses did something wrong that I had to stay in
that hospital bed. So it was not my fault. It
was just I don't know, it was bad luck whatever. Yeah,
(23:36):
so that's really important. Yeah, that was the key factor.
And then they had a lady, she was a psychologist.
She came once a week and then I talked to
her about yeah, my swords and my fears and whatever.
That actually had to get to that period the seven
months of the hospital stay here.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I love it that she decided I'm going to stay
upbeat and I'm going to be the guy everyone wants
to have lunch with. I just love that that's insing.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
But you're so right.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It's not their fault that you were in a hospital,
And it wasn't really your fault that you were in
a hospital.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
It just was because just something. Yeah, because if you
are the guy everyone is afraid to go in the
room because he's not friendly. I didn't want to be
the one, and so I say to myself, if I
have to die, then I die with you more.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I think having the right attitude makes all the difference
in the world.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, having the right attitude is important for athletic training,
for having an exam in college or university, or school
or the job. It's always. I think having the right
attitude is important in many cases in your real life.
That's what I'm talking about. If I have talks or speeches,
(24:54):
if I'm booked by companies, I'm yeah, I'm just I
was just in Brickets, just telling the story, and yeah,
then everyone sees what he can take home for his
own life.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
I love that he's become a global symbol of resilience.
What message do you hope to share with other transplant recipients.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
The waiting period is hard, the waiting period for new
kidney because you are on dialysis in Germany and because
of we haven't the best organ donation law, so it
takes a long time to receive a kidney. For example,
it takes eight years in average. It's really long. It's
(25:40):
really long, and they're not changing anything. They always say
they will change it, and then the government is not
doing it. But that's a completely other story. But I
think to stay alive during the time, even with the
hardest time in the life, it's worth it. So that's
the key message through my story. Even it was really
(26:02):
bad with two or three calic arrest, with seven months
in bed, and then two years later I finished the
Ironman World Championship in Avai. This is possible with work.
I think this is a very modern word. But in
the end, like some friends, if you are talking about
the story, I couldn't have stayed so long in bed,
I said, what else you could have done? Yeah, yeah,
(26:24):
you didn't have. No, there was no option. That was
like plugging out the EGMO and then someone is plugging
in the eggmo again. So I was not able even
to kill myself in the hospital dead. There was no option.
There was just you can stay there, and all the
times say, oh, I'm the guy, I have to stay here.
Why not another one? And then that's what I told
(26:47):
you before about being friendly to all the people around
you in the situation sucks. But yeah, I think that
I had twenty percent. I was really not in a
good shape, and I was maybe mentally not in a
good shape. But from the seven months, maybe one month
was really bad and six months were okay. But I
(27:08):
tried to make the best out of it. I had
the day started in the morning with a breakfast and
was washing myself and yes, but I had the routine.
It's like a like a training plan and now I
have like training peaks my coaches on Sunday is adding
(27:31):
the trainings for the week. And then I tried to
make some green and it's a safe in the morning,
I did this, and then I did that, and then
lunch and then visit us and then evening. Yeah, it's
just one hundred and eighty times the same.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
I'm just so impressed that your dad created a spreadsheet
for you and you did have that routine. I think
sometimes having that routine it provides a sense of normalcy
in an abnormal situation. It's not normal to be in
a hospital, but you made it normal for yourself.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Yeah. I tried. Because if you are in jail and
if you haven't killed someone, you are not there for
your whole life. But maybe the government caught you. Maybe
you're in jail like for one year. Then you know
you are getting out of the jail after twelve months,
and if you do really good, maybe ten months. But
the problem is if you're waiting for a heart transplant,
(28:28):
you don't know if it's coming and if you are
still alive. So that's a big difference.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
It is a big difference. It's a huge difference.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
So you decided to make the most of every day.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Yeah, yeah, I tried. I couldn't do a lot, but
I was really happy about really small things in life,
really small things. I really love coffee, but I'm not
talking about this black coffee. Would you get in a
meeting or I don't know, but I liked a good
coffee like with steam milk, and I was wonder us.
(29:01):
And once the week he went to the cafeteria and
it was like a great coffee machine, and he bought
me one of this cappuccino. Yeah, the end of his work,
he went to the cafeteria, he came back to my room,
he gave me the coffee, and that was a highlight. Yeah. Yeah,
these are the small things which you are then really
happy about.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
I love that. It is the small things that can
make such a big difference.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I love that. Yeah, But in normal life, I think
there are a lot of small things. Most of ninety
ninety five percent of the people didn't see just a
week ago here the weather is really success. We had
no autumn that directly was I don't know, eight degree
and it rains and it was foggy in the morning,
and I was like always complaining about that, I have
(29:48):
to do a run now and I getting wet. And
then I had an appointment and saw this guy's sleeping
on the street. They have a problem. Yeah, it was
raining and there was a sleeping back in the front
of a supermarket. Yeah, this is a problem. And not
if my path is I think from running or I'm
afraid to go out for doing my exercise, and then
(30:11):
I can have a hot bus, yeah, or go to
Sona and then I see these small things really makes
a difference. I love that.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
You're absolutely right. It gives you a whole new perspective. Yeah,
what do you see your role in raising awareness about
organ donation and transplant.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
To be in the beginning, when I did Iron and
COONa and all that stuff and did the kep Epic,
I was a lot in television and in magazine. But
I wanted to do that because I love exercising and
I love having this challenge. But when I look back,
I saw that if I could save one life by
(30:53):
maybe I convince people by seeing my story and they say, oh,
this is a cool story. I'm filing out this organ
donation pass or I register. I'm not a doctor, I
didn't study medicine, so I can't save a life. If
I can save one through the story, that would be awesome. Yeah,
(31:13):
this is maybe the role in raising awareness of organ donation.
I was invited to the former heads minister in Germany
and we talked about organization. But in the end, seventy
four percent of the people on the street, if you
ask about organizations, they say, oh, that's school, Yeah, let's
do that. And then the law is that your relatives
(31:35):
if they say no, then they don't take your organs.
If you go to Austria or to the Netherlands, or
if you go to Spain, they have forty organ donations
out of one million, and in Germany we have ten,
so it's four times higher in Spain. Not everything is
about better law, but it's about the system in the hospital.
(31:58):
I think in Germany we always have uses why we
don't change the law, and we always struggle with our
own problems, but other countries have that. I don't think
that I can change the law, so at least I
can do some advertising throughout this story with all my sport.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Right, So even though you can't necessarily influence the lawmakers,
what you're doing is more important because you're telling the
public this is what can happen if you donate your
loved ones organs. You can save a life.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Yeah, that's because I started marketing and I studied once
semessage in the US. It's a long time ago, but
if you see it from the marketing perspective, sometimes it's
crazy how bad the advertising for organizations in Germany is.
So it's better to have stories. Yeah, people like me,
we had the word transplant games in Germany this year
(32:54):
and you could take all these stories. Yeah, my stories
may be crazy because I was almost dead just on machines,
and then I did the World Championship of the Iron
Man and KNA. But I think two thirds of all
the people wouldn't be alive if they would have the
German law. This is a crazy There were like two
(33:16):
five hundred people and then over half of the people
weren't be there because of not getting an organ early enough.
They could just tell all the stories if you do marketing,
put people on television, put people on the soccer stadium
in the mid break of the soccer game. Let people
tell the story. Do it in the newspapers. This is
(33:39):
very easier. And then the thing is in Germany, most
of the time there's one person is dying that another
person can live again. But the thing is most of
the people they're always talking about the death. I think
this is a German problem. And my mom died in
March and when we went to the church, and then
(34:03):
who was talking. He was always telling about now she
died and now she's dead. But she lived eighty three
years and did a nice life besides maybe the last
years when she got dementia. But why they're not talking
about the funny stories about that you got two kids
and the nice vacations we did. It's always like they
(34:26):
see it from the other side. This is the same
in Organda Nation. They always see, oh, someone is not
dying because someone needs a new heart, because someone dies
anyway because of an accident.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Oh so yeah, yeah, it's not like the person who's
receiving the organ did something bad to somebody else. Something
bad already happened to somebody else, and now the organ
recipient has a chance for life. So you're right once
it just comes back again to that whole, that whole
(35:01):
frame of mind and attitude that you have toward life.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Yeah, noe of people ask me if that changed my life,
because I think I'm the person I was before. But
the story that I went through these two really bad
years that changed your life. But you are the same
person after the heart transpart It makes nothing with you,
but the story makes something with the heart. That's a muscle,
(35:28):
And yeah, you have to see it like a muscle
or just an organ. Yeah, I'm one of present thankful
for a person who donated it. I didn't know the
person at all. I don't know if it's male or female,
So there's law in Germany you don't know from which
person the organ is. But yeah, happy in different situations.
(35:50):
When I finish the race, I always look in the
sky and then think someone may be sitting there looking
down and see what I'm doing with his heart or
her heart.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yeah, I love that. Giving that recognition to your organ
donor is really beautiful. You've done so much, You've done
the Iron Man, You've done all these competitions. Now you're
public speaking, what goals or dreams are still left on
your list?
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Yeah? If you look back and what do you want
to read about yourself? That's what I always ask myself.
What Professor Mark Kowski from Edmund Canada, he's doing a
lot of research on my story. He always says that
from all the tests and stuff, and there is the
fittest heart transplant on the planet. Yeah. Yeah, but I
(36:47):
can't buy anything. Maybe I can buy something getting some
money off the talk sea. But it's nice to read that,
but it's better to read that maybe I'm the person
who lives the longest with the donor hart and that
would be something nice, and that's my goal, living heresy,
living long, maybe not needing a retransplant or a transplant again.
(37:08):
And my goal from the athletics side is I just
started by training already for next year again, because I
always tell people you need goals and you need dreams. Yeah,
in twenty fourteen I was the first start once but
ever finished the racing kner, but I was not qualified.
(37:30):
I got a wild card. Next year, I want to
try to qualify in another age group. That's a good
thing on getting old if you are a triathlete or
runner or cyclist, if you're getting allder, getting in a
new age group and then you are the youngest in
the new age group by the time you get in
the new age group. So that's the advantage. Even if
it's hard, I think it's possible. And yeah, it's a
(37:55):
one last time really getting everything out of my body
next year female and male again. COONa is next weekend,
so I already invited some friends and making making some
food and having a drink and then watching the Iron
Man eight nine hours and I hope next year I
didn't have to watch it for my sofa, so sitting
(38:16):
in COONa the day before the race and then racing again.
So that's maybe my supportive dream to do that race again,
because I'll buy something special and I want to feel
it the second time. And I hope it's possible. I
love that.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
That's a great goal. And if anybody can do it, Almar,
I think you can do it.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know, but at least I give it.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
A tryn Absolutely, this has been absolutely amazing. Thank you
so much for coming on the program today.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
A Mark, Yeah, it was a pleasure, and thanks for
having me.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
It was definitely a pleasure for me.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
That's off.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
But this episode of Heart to Heart with Dana listening
to Almar sprink reminds me that gratitude isn't just a feeling,
it's a practice. It's the way we choose to see
our lives even when a path is steep or unpredictable,
(39:19):
Even when it seems almost impossible and you wonder if
tomorrow is even going to come, Almar kept the faith.
Elmar kept moving forward. He's such an inspiration to me,
and I hope you found his story inspiring to So
as we move into this season of Thanksgiving, take a
(39:39):
moment to celebrate your own resilience, your flexibility, and the
community that walks beside you. Whether you're recovering from surgery,
creating something new, or simply finding small joys in the
every day, like Almar with his coffee.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Remember, my friends, you are not alone.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Thank you again for joining us this week. We hope
you have become inspired and empowered to become an advocate
for the congenital heart community. Heart to Heart with Anna
with your host Anna Jaworski can be heard at any
time wherever you get your podcasts. A new episode is
released every Tuesday from noon Eastern time.
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