Episode #1111: Mark Carpenter

Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Mark Carpenter, who is just two weeks removed from open-heart surgery after discovering he was on a crash course toward what is commonly known as the “Widow Maker” heart attack.Mark opens up about the shocking revelation and how it completely derailed his plans to spend the winter goose hunting in Oklahoma with one of his close friends, “Mags” Kmetz. What was supposed to be a season spent chasing geese quickly became a much different battle as Mark faced a major heart surgery and the long road to recovery.The guys also discuss the mental and emotional battle that comes after open-heart surgery, something Mark says people often don't talk about. He shares the challenges of recovering physically while also dealing with the uncertainty, frustration, and reality of having just gone through a life-changing medical procedure.Mark also talks about some of the unexpected and difficult parts of the surgery and recovery that he never imagined would be part of the experience. It's an honest conversation about heart health, recovery, mental toughness, and the perspective that comes from realizing just how quickly life can change.