CJ's Race to a Healthy Heart

A Thursday night in April was the beginning of a new type of race for CJ Best. A new mountain to climb, a new time to beat, and a new way to think.  When unexpectedly, CJ began experiencing major cardiac pain. When the doctors at the Lakes Region General Hospital’s ICU were baffled by his condition he was transported to the critical care unit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. There a group of more than ten doctors continued to study him in confusion. What they knew was that a young man was in A-Fib fighting through cardiac failure with a heart rate of more than 180 beats per minute for an unknown reason. A healthy heart beats 60 to 100 beats per minute.

The doctors explained to his wife, Kaitlyn, that CJ’s heart was functioning at only 10% capacity and something needed to be done quickly. The doctors determined the next step was to perform a cardiac inversion, a procedure that shocks the heart in order to bring it back to a normal rhythm. Many risks went along with this procedure, but CJ has never let anything stop him or deter him from his goals. CJ, always the competitor, fought through. The procedure was performed and his heart began to improve.

At this point there are still many unanswered questions, along with strict doctors’ orders of rest and rehab.  Although CJ is improving minute by minute, the path of recovery will be long and challenging for both him and his family. He won't be able to to all of the things he used to.  Things he never would have thought twice about doing, like lifting his just 1 year old son.

Anyone who knows CJ knows that he and his family deserve all the help and support we can offer as they face the upcoming challenges of his recovery: and the guaranteed success- we all know CJ will never quit.

We want to provide for CJ and his family, just as he has done for all of us. CJ's main focus should be on getting better, and spending time with his family and friends.

We need your support.  Any amount you can contribute will make a difference and give him the strength and resources for this next marathon. CJ will be out of work while he rehabs his heart, and will require medical devices, along with medication.  We will be updating this site with news and improvements as they come. Though CJ does not know about this ‘Go Fund Me Account’, we are certain he and his family send their sincerest appreciation for your part in helping them to conquer this next race.  Thank you!