Finding Joy Again: Living With PAD, Surviving an Aneurysm, and Answering the Call to Be Santa

What happens when living with chronic disease leads you to an unexpected calling? On this episode of The Heart of Innovation, cohosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down with Rob, founder of PAD Life Outdoors, who shares his powerful and deeply human journey of living with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) — a condition caused by poor circulation in the legs — while also navigating life after aortic stenting for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Along the way, Rob discovered something surprising. As his beard grew, a pair of spectacles appeared, and strangers began calling him Santa — he realized that spreading joy, hope, and holiday cheer gave him something medicine alone never could. This spring, Rob is taking that calling one step further by enrolling in Santa Claus School to become fully certified. In this heartfelt conversation, Rob opens up about: Living with the physical and emotional weight of PAD Recovering from major vascular disease and intervention How purpose and joy can help quiet the daily burden of chronic illness Why becoming Santa has helped him focus on what he can do — not what PAD has taken away This episode is a reminder that even in the face of debilitating disease, meaning, connection, and joy still matter — and they can be powerful medicine. 📞 Need support or guidance right now? PAD Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS 🌐 Trusted patient resources: https://padhelp.org https://thewaytomyheart.org 👥 Join our patient community: https://padsupportgroup.org (Facebook Support Group) Hashtags (search-optimized): #TheHeartOfInnovation #PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #PADLife #VascularHealth #ChronicIllness #PatientStories #SantaClaus #HolidayJoy #FindingPurpose #AorticAneurysm #HeartHealth #LivingWithPAD #PatientAdvocacy #HealthPodcast #HopeAndHealingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.