Heart disease survivor an inspiration to CN Tower climbers
By Tess Finlay, Communications Intern, WWF-Canada
Two days before Christmas in 2010, Dave Connell was told he would have a 50 per cent chance of survival after undergoing open heart surgery. Having been tested many times over, Connell was diagnosed with a rare case of endocartitus- inflammation of the inside lining of the heart and valves- he would need to go in for surgery immediately. With many complications along the way, Connell finally awoke on Christmas morning to find out, that not only was the surgery a success, but that he was a grandfather for a second time. That Christmas, the Connell family had been blessed with two miracles.
It was during the next few weeks of recovery, that Dave had an epiphany. As he looked around his hospital room, at all the photos that family and friends had displayed on the walls, he noticed one of him and his first granddaughter, Abigail, jumping off the dock at the cottage. It was then that Connell realized just how precious life is, and that you have to challenge yourself and live life to the fullest.
He proposed three goals to achieve over the next year and a half:
1. Once again jump off the dock with Abigail – Summer of 2011
2. Play hockey again- September 2011
3. Climb in the 22nd Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb for WWF-Canada- April 2012
Panda at the 2011 CN Tower Climb. (C) Ken Mak, WWF-Canada
On Saturday, April 21st Dave, alongside his three daughters, Abigail, family and friends, will tick off one more goal on his bucket list and climb all 1,776 steps of the CN Tower to conquer his final goal to recovery and support WWF-Canada’s conservation programs.
To sponsor the Connell family and support their climb, visit their team’s fundraising page.
For further information on how to participate in this year’s 22nd Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb for WWF-Canada please check-out www.wwf.ca/cntowerclimb/.