At 47 years old, Steve Callahan never expected to find himself facing a life-threatening heart attack.

But several years ago, everything changed.

Steve had a 90 per cent blockage in one of his heart’s most critical arteries, the type of blockage often referred to as the “Widow Maker.”

Suddenly, every second mattered.

In just 6.8 minutes, a surgeon performed the procedure that would give Steve a second chance at life.

For Steve and the people who love him, those few minutes changed everything.

The skill and expertise of his cardiac care team meant Steve was able to recover, return home and begin looking at life through an entirely different lens.

Today, Steve doesn’t take the simple things for granted.

Movement. Breath. Waking up in the morning. Time with family and friends. The opportunity to simply be here.

“Movement is a gift, breath is a gift, and waking up is a gift.”

Just four months after his heart attack, Steve participated in Row4Heart in 2019. It was an opportunity to give back and honour the physicians, nurses and health care professionals whose expertise and dedication give patients like him another chance.

Years later, Steve continues to carry an enormous sense of gratitude for the care that saved his life.

“We all have two birthdays — the day we’re born, and the day we realize why.”

For Steve, his second birthday is a reminder of how quickly life can change, and how extraordinary it is to be given more time.

More time to move.

More time to breathe.

More time with the people who matter most.