Olympic goalie Jim Craig visits Abbott Northwestern Hospital
MINNEAPOLIS 03/25/2009--It is one of the most indelible and feel-good images in American sports history: U.S. Olympic goaltender Jim Craig skating the ice and looking into the stands, the words "Where's my father?" easily readable on his lips.
Team U.S.A. had just defeated Finland, 4-2, to clinch the Olympic gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid. Two days prior – on Friday evening, February 22 – the Yanks had knocked off the mighty Soviet Union in what is widely considered among the greatest upsets in athletic annals.
About eight years after Lake Placid, Jim Craig's father, Don, 68, entered the hospital to get checked out for pains in his back. What no one knew then was that an abdominal aortic aneurysm – commonly called triple-A – caused the pain. Within a few hours of entering the hospital, Don Craig died suddenly when the aneurysm burst.
On Wednesday morning, March 25, Craig made a stop at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis on his coast to coast tour as a national spokesperson for the Ultimate SAAAVE (Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently). Ultimate SAAAVE is a public awareness campaign sponsored by Gore Medical that encourages those at risk for triple-A – men or women 65 to 75 years old who have ever smoked, or men or women 65 to 75 years old with a family history of vascular disease – to receive a simple and painless ultrasound that can detect the condition.
"People ask me how I first knew that my dad had an abdominal aortic aneurysm," said Craig. "And I know it sounds harsh – but I want everyone to get the message – I first knew that my dad had a triple-A when he was dead. If we had known in time for the triple-A to be repaired, my father could have had so much more time with us. Today a quick and painless ultrasound can detect a triple-A."
At Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Craig delivered a short talk to hospital staff on Ultimate SAAAVE and the work he is doing on the national campaign – and shared reflections on the 1980 Winter Olympics and the gold medal win of the U.S. team. He answered questions and met with hospital staff. Craig then attended an endovascular procedure which was performed by Dr. Timothy Sullivan, a vascular surgeon with the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
"I always love visiting Minneapolis and the Twin Cities area, a place known for world-leading hospitals, healthcare, and hockey," said Craig. "I have played a lot of hockey in this area, and done a lot of business here as well. I have so many friends here. And it is rewarding to return in support of such an important cause."
Ultimate SAAAVE is inspired by the SAAAVE Act, a federal law enacted in February 2006 and which provides for a one-time screening for triple-A to be covered as a Medicare benefit.
"My professional career is devoted to improving vascular health," said Dr. Sullivan. "It is tremendously encouraging to have an Olympic gold medalist providing an assist in this effort – and doing so with a high level of passion, energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge." # # #
Related Links
Minneapolis Heart Institute
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Cardiovascular disease specialists
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