Hi - This past Saturday, Stephen Porraro, 2008 Masters DH National Champion and I were on a road ride when he started getting chest pains. He thought he had pulled a muscle at the top of a climb, and being Steve, he wanted to finish the ride. We got to my house and grabbed the car and headed over to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. Before we could get there, he told me he felt faint and then collapsed. I pulled over and called 911, but we were too late.
Steve was back in training to race the DH national championships and also had his eye set on Cyclocross Master World Championships in Louiville next January. Everything was moving in a very positive direction He had even given up his favorite drink 6 weeks ago- Red Bull!
If he had to go, this is the way Steve would have wanted it. We were having a great road ride - he was kicking my ass as usual on all the climbs and it was all well until he complained of burning in his throat and lungs on the descent of the last climb. Then he had chest pains at the top of the next climb. After that his heart rate just dropped lower and and was extremely erratic. He was no longer riding like the Steve we know. We have the data from his Polar heart rate monitor and it just verifies everything that happened. By the time we reached my house he was in a clammy sweat and his left arm was going numb. These are all signs of an impending heart attack. Steve wouldn't call anyone because he didn't have insurance, but I finally convinced him we had to go to the hospital. You know the rest of the story.
Please everyone, take this to heart. Get yourselves checked out with your doctors and be aware of the signs of a heart attack. Listen closer to your bodies! His family is devastated and we are all grieving. Let's not have this happen to anyone else!
An autopsy was performed today and Stephen had suffered a arterial thrombosis - which means a blood clot was blocking oxygen from getting to his heart.
Viewing will take place on Wed., March 9 from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m.
Vander Plaat Funeral Home
257 Godwin Avenue
Wyckoff, NJ 07481
To all who knew Stephen, your support is appreciated and I know he would appreciate all showing for his viewing on Weds. The mountain bike world is much sadder without Stephen.
Kathi
Steve was back in training to race the DH national championships and also had his eye set on Cyclocross Master World Championships in Louiville next January. Everything was moving in a very positive direction He had even given up his favorite drink 6 weeks ago- Red Bull!
If he had to go, this is the way Steve would have wanted it. We were having a great road ride - he was kicking my ass as usual on all the climbs and it was all well until he complained of burning in his throat and lungs on the descent of the last climb. Then he had chest pains at the top of the next climb. After that his heart rate just dropped lower and and was extremely erratic. He was no longer riding like the Steve we know. We have the data from his Polar heart rate monitor and it just verifies everything that happened. By the time we reached my house he was in a clammy sweat and his left arm was going numb. These are all signs of an impending heart attack. Steve wouldn't call anyone because he didn't have insurance, but I finally convinced him we had to go to the hospital. You know the rest of the story.
Please everyone, take this to heart. Get yourselves checked out with your doctors and be aware of the signs of a heart attack. Listen closer to your bodies! His family is devastated and we are all grieving. Let's not have this happen to anyone else!
An autopsy was performed today and Stephen had suffered a arterial thrombosis - which means a blood clot was blocking oxygen from getting to his heart.
Viewing will take place on Wed., March 9 from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m.
Vander Plaat Funeral Home
257 Godwin Avenue
Wyckoff, NJ 07481
To all who knew Stephen, your support is appreciated and I know he would appreciate all showing for his viewing on Weds. The mountain bike world is much sadder without Stephen.
Kathi
