News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters fire personnel greeted Troy Eastman and Bob Quick (beard).
Bob Quick should be dead. Instead, he's on his bicycle, rolling across America.
Last week, he and his traveling companion, Troy Easton - a paramedic who helped saved his life - climbed over Santiam Pass and down to Sisters Fire Hall. Not bad for a man with the lower third of his heart dead.
According to his web site, Quick has advanced stages of coronary artery disease, a hereditary heart problem that - combined with a less-than-healthy lifestyle - caused him to have a massive heart attack in September 2004. Bob died and was dead for about 3-1/2 minutes before the paramedics managed to resuscitate him.
"He said, 'Please help me and I'll change my life,'" Easton recalled. "And he did."
Bob Quick's Journey, as his bicycle trek is called, will raise funds through pledges to help autistic children. He's also stopping at community fire stations to say thank you to emergency personnel who save lives like his own.
"It's kinda cool to go across and thank everybody," Quick said.
Easton travels with him, both as a companion and to ensure that Bob is medically fit to ride each day. Some days are better than others, but they consistently reel off 50-milers.
"If he starts hurting too bad, I shut it down," Easton said.
He also closely monitor's what and how much food and fluid Bob is taking in.
"His nutrition has to be on the money," Easton said.
Quick agrees, noting that he has learned a great deal about the importance of nutrition.
"Like the old saying goes, what you eat today is what you are tomorrow," he said.
He also hits the weights to stay strong.
Easton, who also does VO2 max testing for first responders in a program called Fit To Respond, has accompanied Quick on many adventures.
"We saved his rear 12 years ago and we've been supporting his quirky little ass ever since," said Easton with a grin.
The two men banter like old comrades of the road.
"They've got me insured to the max - don't let him B.S. you!" Quirk said.
"You're uninsurable," Easton replied. "We tried."
For all the banter, however, there is serious purpose in Quick's trek. He hopes to inspire others to get fit and strong, no matter what health obstacles they may face.
"I feel great," he said. "Absolutely great. I chose to get up off the couch and go like hell."
Extensive information about Bob Quick's Journey may be found at www.bobquicksjourney.com.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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