OSTERVILLE — The sunlight is peeking out all around midday Wednesday when a female walking with a minor lady at Dowses Beach front spots former Barnstable Significant School principal Patrick Clark and waves.
Clark mentioned he will get that a large amount — individuals stopping him at the grocery retail store, seeking to know how he is carrying out.
Numerous Cape inhabitants are acquainted with the story of how he collapsed Sept. 27 on a morning bike trip proper here at Dowses Seashore, two days immediately after being placed on compensated administrative depart by Barnstable Schools Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown through a tumultuous reopening of university in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clark, who experienced medical procedures Dec. 31 to exchange an aortic valve, wishes men and women to know he is content, healthful and all set to transfer on to the upcoming stage of his existence.
“There is truly no great rationale not to have a beneficial outlook. It’s the way I have lived my life,” stated Clark, who has recovered adequate to resume bicycling and operating.
“I experience terrific and take into account myself fortunate.”
A runner with 50 marathons to his title — the very last was the Boston Marathon in 2016 — Clark knew he’d eventually have to substitute a faulty heart valve.
But he expected the surgical procedures to be scheduled in his 50s or 60s, not at age 48.
Enter the COVID-19 pandemic, and the stress it imposed on college officers who had to pivot to remote learning on an crisis basis in March and plan for a risk-free way to resume courses in the slide.
Clark, a fingers-on principal acknowledged for attending as numerous online games and scholar performances as he could match into a day’s timetable, said he labored seven days a 7 days from March to September.
“If I was awake, I was working,” Clark claimed.
He helmed the substantial faculty up to Sept. 25, a Friday, when Mayo-Brown suspended him. The adhering to Monday, the high college welcomed students back again in person on a remote program.
Clark, who resigned in December following 10 several years on the job, stated he is not in a situation to examine the events of his suspension — nor does he would like to.
“I’m not 1 to dangle on to matters emotionally,” Clark said.
“I was conscious there was neighborhood help,” he explained, and he was flattered by buddies and allies who peppered lawns with “Support Pat Clark” indicators.
“My focus at that time seriously essential to be on my health and effectively-currently being,” he mentioned.
Collapsed at Dowses Beach front
That’s since two times following his suspension, Clark collapsed during a relaxation crack at Dowses Beach front during his frequent Sunday early morning bike journey.
As he cycled down Seaview Avenue, he recollects, “I began to experience a minimal gentle-headed, a tiny off.”
He dismounted by the fish pier at the close of the parking ton, commenced to sit and felt compelled to lie down, resting his head in the sand.
“It was variety of like a desire point out,” Clark claimed.
The initially people today to collect around bundled Dan Somes, a New Bedford educator who was previously the assistant principal at Barnstable Intermediate University, and Barnstable Higher Faculty source officer Dennis Stampfl, who was a member of Clark’s Pan-Mass Obstacle biking workforce.
“They explained to me to sit however, ‘We’re likely to phone an ambulance,’” Clark reported. “It appeared the ambulance was here as before long as I blinked.”
The Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills emergency crew customers “were quick,” he said.
“They had been economical. They were exceptional.”
He remembered the crew starting off an IV and administering medication. “Whatever they imagined was a very good idea, they gave me,” Clark explained.
Clark reported he spent three times at Cape Cod Medical center, in which he also gained superb treatment from the cardiology section.
Defective bicuspid aortic valve
For yrs, he knew he had a faulty bicuspid aortic valve that ultimately would will need to be replaced. Health care experts 1st recognized the challenge 12 decades ago right after hearing a “whoosh” sound in his coronary heart, Clark reported.
The valve allowed blood that was supposed to be propelled forward to movement backward, operating like a barroom door in its place of a reliable kitchen area door, Clark stated.
“There’s really no doubt” that the strain of administering the Cape’s major superior faculty during the pandemic performed a role, he reported.
At his cardiologist’s suggestion, he consulted with heart professionals at Massachusetts General Clinic in Boston in Oct.
On Dec. 31, Clark underwent three-hour, open-coronary heart surgery at MGH and acquired a mechanical aortic valve manufactured of titanium.
“I mainly have a new transmission,” Clark said.
He was in the healthcare facility in Boston for five days before returning property to West Barnstable, the place he life with his spouse, Amy, a fifth-quality instructor in Barnstable, and a few children ages 19, 17 and 13.
Nearby was his mom, two brothers, his mom-in-legislation, who is a retired nurse, and his sister-in-legislation, a working towards nurse.
“We’re a close group,” Clark claimed.
He embarked on a regimen of walking 3 periods a day — at very first, just to the mailbox — and carrying his cellular phone with him at all occasions.
It was critical to adhere to the progressive work out plan with no rushing it, Clark reported.
“I took that really seriously.”
A pleasant prolonged walk
He also took his propensity to take in nutritiously even further more by chopping down on red meat.
Now capable to undertake 4- to 5-mile street operates, Clark has shocked his good friends by also discovering to love a great extended wander.
“I love Eagle Pond in Cotuit, Hathaway’s Pond in Hyannis and Sandy Neck,” Clark claimed. “Long Seaside Road was the first objective. I just take edge of the wonderful normal surroundings here.”
Barnstable City Councilor Nikolas Atsalis, who has acknowledged Clark considering that their childhood on Cape Cod — Clark is a 1990 graduate of Barnstable Superior — explained he teases his previous mate about his slower tempo.
“‘Welcome to the club. Now you know what it is like for those of us who used to run and now stroll,”’ Atsalis stated he tells Clark.
It is component of area legend that Clark celebrated his management appointment at Barnstable Large School with a operate from Wareham Superior Faculty, wherever he previously served as principal, to the substantial faculty on West Main Street in Hyannis.
The news about Clark’s cardiac event in September threw good friends and supporters into a frenzy of worry, specifically looking at the nerve-racking instances.
“If you have been likely to guess on anyone obtaining by means of it, it undoubtedly would be Pat,” Atsalis stated.
“He’s usually been extremely good, even in the experience of scenarios that would knock most persons down mentally and physically,” he explained.
“He just has a excellent mind-set.”
Clark, who said he expects to announce new options inside of a thirty day period or two, said he treats lifetime like a marathon alternatively of a dash.
Displaying appreciation beats bitterness any day, in accordance to Clark, who praised the “fabulous” lecturers and pupils in the Barnstable general public universities.
“I surely would like Barnstable Significant University and the public colleges properly,” Clark reported. “I hope points go on to development and grow for Barnstable Superior College.”
Get hold of Cynthia McCormick at [email protected] Adhere to her on Twitter: @Cmccormickcct.
