Father and Son Bike Thousands of Miles Together After Dad's Three Open-Heart Surgeries
"I feel the best that I've felt in 20 years," Donnie told The Today Show
His health journey and their multi-day ride from St. Louis to Chicago features in a documentary Eric directed called Bike VesselSons have been known to join their fathers for a bit of healthy competition during jogs or trips to the gym, but for Donnie Seals and his adult son Eric, cycling together is a lifeline.
On Tuesday, July 1, the pair recounted how they began to bike together during an appearance on the Today Show. Donnie recalled that he was 42 when he first noticed that something was wrong with his body.
"I'm in a meeting and I felt funny," Donnie said. "I felt like I drank too much coffee and I told the guys, 'Hey man, I think I'm going to go to the emergency room.' "
"Next day, I had my first open heart surgery," he continued, before revealing that he went on to have two more surgeries.
Donnie's sister suffered a fatal heart attack during church service and his father died after experiencing a torn aorta, he told the Today Show.
Following his surgeries, Donnie made a conscious decision to improve his health by eating better and in 2016, he bought a bicycle.
"I said, 'Hey, I'm not going out like this.' I've gotta make a change," Donnie told the Today Show.
"The scary part was I thought I was going to ride the bike home from the bike shop and I couldn't make it home," he recalled.
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Before he knew it, Eric had decided to hit the pavement alongside him.
"I'm like, this dude is 65 years old, changing his life around. If I don't make a change, I'm going to be in the same boat that he was," Eric said.
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The pair have now biked thousands of miles together and filmmaker Eric directed a documentary called Bike Vessel. The film, which is available to watch on PBS, features their multi-day ride from St. Louis to Chicago in 2021 and illustrates his father's health journey, including the three open-heart surgeries.
"I feel the best that I've felt in 20 years," Donnie told the Today Show, while emphasizing how the rhythm of riding becomes "very therapeutic."
For those hoping to transform their health the way he has, Donnie said, "Take that first step," before adding, "First step is the hardest - you've got to take it."
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