“I remember it like it was yesterday” Doctor shares personal loss to inspire others to prioritize their heart health
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” said Kenneth Furlough, MD, a third year orthopaedic resident at University Health who’s pursuing a career in spinal surgery for fellowship.
May 13, 2005. Dr. Furlough, then just 12-years-old, knew something was wrong when he came home from school and noticed his father’s keys in the door of their Southside Chicago home. He stepped inside and found his father, 38-year old Stan Furlough, on the floor. “I screamed his name and he wasn’t answering me,” said Dr. Furlough. His dad, his tireless provider and protector, had died of a heart attack.
With February being American Heart Month, and in honor of his father, Dr. Furlough has agreed to share his story in the hopes of encouraging others to take ones health to heart.
Stan Furlough didn’t have a formal education, but it didn’t stand in his way of success. He worked nights at a steel mill. A smart entrepreneur, he was one of the first contractors to install direct television satellites in Chicago. “When you’re working that much there’s not really time to think about your overall health,” said Dr. Furlough. Adding, “Men are often like, ‘if there’s nothing bleeding, then I’m good. ’”
It wasn’t just work that filled Dr. Furlough’s father’s time. Stan was a force in the neighborhood. You could often find him at the local baseball field playing with his only child, and anyone else who wanted to join. “All the kids within a half mile radius of my house, they might not have known my father’s name,” Dr. Furlough said. “But they knew what he was about.”
Dr. Furlough said in the weeks before his father’s passing, his dad complained about being hot. He wore sandals and shorts even though the weather wasn’t warm. He was also suffering from stomach issues. In fact, Stan did go to the doctor to be tested for an intestinal issue. Phyllis, Dr. Furlough’s mother, said her late husband never complained of chest pain or numbness in his arm. She now knows those aren’t the only signs of heart attack.
To help other children avoid the pain of losing a father, Dr. Furlough is reminding men that it doesn’t need to be complicated to prioritize your health. “We make it so much harder than what it is. People get wrapped up in the details,” he said. He offers three simple suggests to make your health a priority:
- Visit your primary care physician annually
- Go to your dentist twice a year
- Get your eyes checked once a year
Dr. Furlough said you’d be surprised by how much you can learn about a person’s health by checking their eyes and teeth.
Phyllis added that women are often reminded to go to the doctor. “We get a mammogram, and our yearly pap smear. Getting annual exams was instilled in us,” she said. In contrast, many men aren’t hearing the message about prioritizing their health.
For people of color, says Dr. Furlough, it’s a lack of trust that keeps them from going to the doctor. He suggests that you look for a doctor who sees you as a whole person, not just your ailment.
In the years since he lost his father, Dr. Furlough earned his bachelor’s degree at Georgetown University, graduated from medical school, completed residency and started his orthopaedic surgery fellowship program at University Health. Even after all that success, his mother still lovingly reminds him to take care of himself.