FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A patient at the Cardiac Rehab Center at Beaumont Farmington Hills donated $5,000 to purchase a new treadmill after he learned one was broken beyond repair.
Fred Shadko attends cardiac rehab because he developed an irregular heartbeat and needed a pacemaker.
He was surprised to see the rehab center looked more like a gym than a health care facility. Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program that includes exercise, nutrition counseling and stress reduction. Studies have found that patients who complete a cardiac rehab program reduce their risk of dying by more than 50 percent.
"It's keeping me alive," Shadko said.
The new treadmill he donated has been nicknamed the "Fred-mill" in his honor.
Learn more about Fred Shadko and the benefits of cardiac rehab in the video above.
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