Advocate Health Care and Chicago Bears Recognize Heart Patient's Journey at Home Opener

Advocate Health Care heart patient Pat O'Flaherty was honored as the Chicago Bears' special guest during the team's home opener Sept. 20, celebrating his remarkable perseverance through heart disease and unwavering commitment to living life to the fullest.

In partnership with Advocate Health Care, the Chicago Bears invited O'Flaherty, 73, of Downers Grove, onto the field with his son Kent in front of thousands of fans. After participating in pregame festivities, the pair returned to the stands to cheer on the Bears as they faced the Minnesota Vikings.

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O'Flaherty's heart journey began in 2011 when he suffered a heart attack and underwent a quintuple bypass at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. More than a decade later, while preparing for a photography expedition to Arizona, a routine heart monitor revealed an abnormally slow heart rate. His cardiologist, Dr. Gaile Sabaliauskas, referred him to cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Eric Shulman, who helped guide the next chapter of his care.

He received a pacemaker, which eventually detected atrial fibrillation episodes that required a cardioversion later that year before he ultimately underwent a successful ablation in July of this year.

Rather than allowing heart disease to define him, O'Flaherty has continued chasing the adventures that inspire him most. An avid photographer and world traveler, he has spent recent years swimming with humpback whales off the coast of the Dominican Republic, photographing wildlife around the globe and planning future adventures in Ireland and Sicily. A retired dentist, he also dedicates his time to medical mission trips that provide care for children with cleft lip and palate.

Having lost his younger brother to a heart attack and witnessed friends face serious health setbacks, O'Flaherty knows how precious time can be.

"I'm not going to live in fear," O'Flaherty said. "You have to play the cards you're dealt. I dealt with it, took care of it and continue to live my life. I feel grateful that I'm still able to do the things I love. I'd like to do everything I can while I'm able to do it. I'm not letting this stop me."

Today, he remains symptom-free following his ablation and is focused on making the most of every opportunity.

"Pat embodies the mindset we hope to see in every patient facing a heart condition," said Dr. Shulman. "Despite experiencing a heart attack, AFib and multiple cardiac procedures, he's never let those setbacks keep him on the sidelines. Pat approaches every challenge with optimism and determination, and his story is a reminder that with the right care and the right mindset, heart disease doesn't have to stop you from pursuing the things you love."