Front row L to R: Shirlene Haslett -VB team captain; Evan Woodring; Gayle Whitener; David Martin; Russ Spangler; Zeke Williams; and Lisa Reiss, RN, Program Coordinator Habersham Medical Center Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab. Middle row: David Irvin; Bob Eager; Hayward Marshall; Frances Welch; Marty Welch; James Byrne. Top row: Jay Kennedy; Robert Nichols; Patti Roy; Kevin Roy; Bobby Scroggs; Bob Waddell.
The volleyball is headed straight for him and he pulls back and “whack,” hits it right over the net. To watch him hit the volleyball with such poise and ease will make anyone envious. David Martin is a regular on the Habersham Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehab volleyball team. Very impressive indeed – especially for an 87 year old. That’s right, Martin celebrated his 87th birthday in December, and he still plays volleyball almost every week.
The Habersham Medical Center Cardiac Rehab volleyball team played this month in the 2016 World Heart Games in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the two-day event (May 20 & 21) the team of 17 cardiac rehab patients won gold and bronze medals.
Habersham Medical Center has had a volleyball team for the past 30 years and their numerous awards are proudly on display in the Cardiac Rehab department.
Other competitions at this year’s games that cardiac and pulmonary rehab patients competed in include table tennis; bocce; golf putting; bowling; prediction walk; jogging; recumbent bike and rowing; swimming; a basketball shooting contest; game of knowledge; tennis; a softball throw; soccer shoot; a golf tournament; and new for 2016 are pickle ball; a bean bag toss/corn hole; and disc golf/Frisbee golf.
Every competitor from HMC brought home a medal – gold, silver or bronze.
Even with their medical histories of heart attacks, open heart surgeries, heart or lung disease, they proved to themselves and others that they are still “young at heart” no matter what their ages or physical conditions.
