Heart attack puts life in perspective for business reporter

Crain’s Chicago Business reporter Chad Livengood suffered a heart attack last year that changed his perspective, reports AHealthierMichigan.org.

The story states, “After a four-day stay in the hospital, he entered a ‘new normal’ phase of life. New medications, a new diet and cardiac therapy sessions, as well as restrictions on how much weight he could pick up and a directive to cut back on his fast-paced work life were all part of the deal. His doctors didn’t want him to attend the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, a gathering of prominent state newsmakers and lawmakers, mixed with a frenzied pool of reporters trying to break stories from the island.

“‘I was somewhat depressed about being sidelined,’ he said.

“The reporter tapped to take his place had been working the rumored sale of Michigan Central Station to Ford Motor Co. Livengood kept working on that story while his colleagues were up north and broke the news, which proved to be a bit of a salve on the experience. He’s since learned he must let some stories go, for the sake of his health.

“‘I work in a fairly stressful industry and profession, particularly one that’s strained, but I have definitely slowed down. I do not sweat little things like I used to anymore and I’ve just learned to work smarter and swing for bigger stories and not try to swing at everything,’ he said.”

Read more here.