Rod Carew considered himself the picture of health for someone his age before a heart attack nearly took his life last fall. But now he's truly a medical marvel.
The Hall of Famer made his first public appearance since his ordeal Saturday at TwinsFest, speaking to an adoring crowd while wearing a battery-powered device he now wears 24 hours a day to ensure his heart functions properly.
“I’m living a bionic life," Carew said, via the Star Tribune. "Wherever I go, this bag has to go with me. This is what runs my heart."
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Carew, 70, said doctors twice had to revive him after his heart stopped completely. He spent three months in five different hospitals and lost a significant amount of weight, but he vowed Saturday to take part in his usual duties at Twins spring training next month.
Shortly after opening day in April, Carew is hoping to be placed on a heart transplant list.
“I’ve spoken to some of the guys who have had heart transplants, and they’re living normal lives and really enjoying themselves,” Carew said. “So I’m really looking forward to it.”
An All-Star 18 times in 19 big-league seasons, Carew was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
