Vietnam Vet Beats Heart Attack, Cancer and Atrial Fibrillation with Watchman

If you are going to keep up with your regular checkups, you must first develop trust with your doctor.

THV11’s Craig O'Neill found a man who is a perfect example of how that happens.

Chuck Lange loves motorcycles. He loves riding around his home in northwest Arkansas. Or used to, before physical problems set in.

He's been to a number of doctors’ offices. He's survived a heart attack, cancer, complications from smoking and even Agent Orange from a stint in Vietnam.

But it's his doctor that has given him a new lease on life.

“So I'm a cardio electro physiologist,” said Dr. Tom Wallace.

Think of him as an electrician for the heart. Chuck Lange was suffering from atrial fibrillation, which is a major problem.

“They're at risk of having a stroke and they should be on a blood thinner but they're at risk for bleeding if they're on the blood thinner.”

"I've taken myself off my motorcycle,” Chuck said.

This meant no motorcycle riding for three years. He could only be near it not on it.

“But believe it or not last three years I'll go out in the garage, unwrap it, wash it and put it back up again.”

But in this room, Chuck became one of the first in the state to get a new heart device called a Watchman designed to keep clots from forming.

“I trust them and whatever they tell me to do, I'm going to do.”

Regular doctors' appointments have built the most valuable of all doctor patient relationships: trust.

Now Chuck is dialed in and spreading the word of regular doctor's visits

“For goodness sakes go please go. Your family is worth it your kids are worth it. My grandkids gosh let me have one more day with my grandkids. One more day. So there you are.”

Because of the Watchman device, Chuck will no longer need blood thinners. He will soon be able to get back on the motorcycle, he's hoping by the end of the month.

As for the grandkids, they'll get to see more of their Poppy because ‘Real Men Wear Gowns.’