Life lesson one: perspective equals reality; perspective is the sum of one’s experience. For cross country coach Wes Kirton, teaching life lessons to his World History classes is just as important as teaching about Western Civilization. In fact, he considers it his purpose. Kirton’s recent medical scare inspired a new perspective on an old life lesson.

As Kirton walked up the stairs at school Thursday Aug. 12, he noticed a slight tightness in his chest. Kirton simply ignored the pain as it went away. Saturday night, he awoke to a sharp pain in his chest.

“Since I have had a history of heartburn, I took some medicine to help that,” Kirton said.

The pain lasted so long he started to think it was walking pneumonia.

After the pain continued and intensified, Kirton decided to consult a medical professional at the Family Medicine Center of Canyon about his strange chest pain. The doctor there told Kirton that his lungs were fine and that he needed a heart check-up. After hearing the news, Kirton’s wife, who works within Amarillo’s medical community, scheduled an appointment with a doctor at Northwest Texas Hospital.

“After a few questions the doctor at Northwest Texas hospital quickly went from cautious to alert and immediately called the Amarillo Heart Group,” Kirton said. “I was able to get an appointment for 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20.”

The doctor told Kirton that he must be living right because an appointment is almost never scheduled that quickly.

“The heart specialist ordered a stress test that day and then tried to get an echo test by the next week,” Kirton said.

Right away, the specialist placed a call for the tests. Kirton sat, waiting for the doctor to hang up and give him the news.

“The heart doctor then turned to me and said that God must be watching out for me,” Kirton said. “I was going straight in to get both tests right then.”

By 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20, Kirton had finished both tests and the results were daunting. The doctor placed an emergency call for a heart cath, and notified Kirton that he would be rushed right over for the procedure.

“I needed a ride within twenty minutes or they were going to get an ambulance to take me,” Kirton said. “He (the heart specialist) would not let me drive by myself he was so nervous.”

During a heart cath, a small tube is sent up the body’s major blood vessels. A dye is released and an x-ray movie of the heart shows working or damaged areas of the heart. Kirton’s left anterior descending artery, also known as the LAD or widow maker, was 90 percent blocked and the cause of the chest pain. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where a stent was inserted to open and support the blocked artery.

Kirton said he believes that by living a healthy lifestyle, he was spared the worst consequence, death. The doctors said they believed the blockage was due to genetics, not lifestyle choices.

“By following Biblical principles, I have found purpose in life,” Kirton said. “I face times like these with a fearless attitude of when my work is through then it will be time for me to go.”

Kirton was able to defy the odds. He said he is thankful for his life and the lessons he has learned from his experience.

“In accordance with the lessons I’m always giving my students in class, this is life lesson 182,” Kirton said. “You have a purpose.”