ChesterCountyMedicine Spring 2018 - 26

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The Art of Chester: Second Chances
continued from page 25

Patient's story
BY JOHN MADARASZ

On Jan.19th, 2016 I remember calling my wife from work and
telling her "I think I am having a heart attack." Smart lady that she
is she told me to call 911. Thankfully I did, and the response was
immediate. I remember the ambulance taking me to the emergency room and me being in agony from chest pain.
I saw Dr. Jan for the first time almost immediately on arrival
to the emergency department. He spoke to me and my wife which
had a great calming effect. I remember the whole thing... the intense focus and unreal personalized professionalism by everyone in
the room; it was so inspiring even in the most dire of moments it
gave you the feeling that you had to make it, and that you couldn't
let anyone down.

I hope that my Art and my story can inspire others towards
a higher appreciation of life. I do want to tell the readers that it's
so important that they be diligent about their heart health; that
sometimes it can be too late if you and your loved ones do not see
the cardiologist on time and take steps to protect yourselves.
To read more about the stories behind these sculptures, and my
Art, or to commission any of my works, you can visit my website
www.copperwork.com.

Over the next few days Dr. Jan and his team took me through
recovery, explaining what had transpired. On discharge from the
hospital I attended cardiac rehab at the Fern Hill Medical Campus
and gradually regained my strength and ultimately improved on
my pre-heart attack stamina and strength.
Dr. Jan was very involved in my cardiac care as he was also
very interested in my work as an artist and he particularly liked my
sculpture "No Second Chance"; I made that sculpture in a particular dark time in 2008/2009. It was a time of financial crisis, when
people were losing everything, some people committing suicide,
lives in ruins and global depression. Everyone was touched in one
way or another.
When my heart attack occurred, I was so fortunate that Dr.
Jan and the amazing group of professionals worked together in
concert to save my life. I am so very grateful, and thankful. It was a
powerful and moving experience and changed me forever. In CCU
the next day I knew immediately that I had the inspiration and the
story for "Second Chance-The Cardiologist." This was truly my
second chance and I would do another abstract figurative bronze
and make the sculpture flow where the doctor and patient become
one, that the sculpture would be seamless as the two figures
worked together in an intense moment to a create a second chance
at life and the possibilities that came with it.
I was born and raised locally in Malvern. I lost my father to a
massive heart attack when I was seven and my mother had to raise
five children, which she did amazingly well. My inspiration were
my parents but also a book in the library that lead me to the great
Tuscan sculptor Michelangelo. My wife Libby and I and my beautiful little family are in a great place in life now. I have never been
healthier, or happier. Every day is truly a gift to appreciate. My
only regret is five months after my heart attack I lost my brother to
a heart attack. I wish he could have had the same opportunity that
I had...that Second Chance.
26 CHESTER COUNT Y Medicine | SPRING 2018

The 2 bronze sculptures: "No Second Chance"
...and "Second Chance-The Cardiologist"

http://chestercms.org/index.html http://www.copperwork.com

ChesterCountyMedicine Spring 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ChesterCountyMedicine Spring 2018