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Mark Decker was enjoying a very active retirement when a congenital heart condition checked him.
“I was born with an aortic valve that only has two cusps, instead of the normal three,” says Mark, a 70-year-old Grosse Pointe Woods resident, who retired from a healthcare human resources career and now owns two LLC companies, one sports-related and the other HR consulting. “I was aware of this condition but never had any problems. Until January 2025, when it went from a minor league to a major league issue.”
Mark developed several concerning symptoms, including shortness of breath, racing heart, high blood pressure and chest pain, which affected his ability to travel for work. He also couldn’t do some activities without getting tired. Mark sought treatment at another local health system, where he had aortic valve replacement surgery. He started his cardiac rehabilitation there, but it wasn’t a good fit.
First impressions
Instead, Mark did some research and found Henry Ford Health’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program.
“I liked that they had a nationally ranked heart program and relationships with local professional sports teams,” Mark says. “I walked into the Second Avenue facility in Detroit one day, unannounced, and ended up talking to Pam Webert, one of the clinical exercise physiologists, for 40 minutes. I was sold.”
Shortly after that, Mark started his Henry Ford Health Cardiac Rehabilitation program. This closely monitored exercise program is for people who have left the hospital after a heart attack, heart procedure or heart failure. Participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program after a qualifying event is supported by the strongest possible level of evidence. Benefits include significant reductions in cardiovascular complications as well as improvements in quality of life.
The level of engagement that Mark noticed with the cardiac rehabilitation team during his walk-in visit carried over to his first week in the program.
“What impressed me the most is that I was one of several people they were treating,” Mark says. “Everyone was at different levels, but we all received one-on-one attention.”
Getting up to speed
For three days a week, Mark attended 45-minute sessions. After an orientation to discuss what to expect and meet with specialists, including a nutritionist and cardiologist, Mark’s cardiac rehabilitation team reviewed his health history, completed an assessment, developed an initial treatment plan and got him working out on the treadmill, elliptical and stationary bike.
His team was cautious and gradually increased his exercise load and the stress on his heart over time.
“I had an arrhythmia that I didn’t know about before my surgery, and I was being treated for that separately,” Mark says. “So, my team took that into account.”
It wasn’t long before Mark noticed an improvement in his symptoms, but his team still encouraged him to pace himself.
“I’m a pretty active person, so they didn’t want me to overdo it getting back up to speed,” he says. “They had different levels, along a scale of easy, moderate and heavy. After a few months of working through these, I was able to graduate to the weight room for more intense exercise.”
Cardiac rehabilitation specialists measure improvements in aerobic fitness with MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) units. Each 1.0 MET increase during cardiac rehabilitation is associated with a 12-13% reduction in all-cause mortality.
During his time with Henry Ford Cardiac Rehabilitation, Mark improved his aerobic fitness dramatically—by almost 7 METs.
A welcoming environment
After completing his cardiac rehabilitation program, Mark entered Henry Ford Health PREVENT (Prevention through Exercise and Education). This medically supervised exercise program is designed to maintain the benefits that are achieved during cardiac rehabilitation. It’s personalized to the needs of each person, and patients are more independent and have the opportunity to participate in group exercise classes and strength training. PREVENT can help improve health and fitness in a safe and supportive atmosphere.
“They’re open four days a week for more self-directed exercise, but it’s still medically supervised,” he says. “They also have a program for spouses, and my wife will be joining me soon after she recovers from her own surgery.”
Mark’s wife and their two adult children have been a key part of his support network during his heart treatment journey. But he also appreciates the education and other connections he has found through cardiac rehabilitation and PREVENT group exercise classes.
“The beauty is you learn a lot more about your condition, and they give you great information,” he says. “I also met a lot of other patients in my classes, and we developed a camaraderie.”
Kicking it back into overdrive
Mark’s arrhythmia is under control, and he’s now back to his very active lifestyle, which includes golfing and biking. He’s also a lifelong hockey fan and has been a Detroit Red Wings season ticket holder for over 50 years.
In addition, after serving as Make-A-Wish Michigan board chair for six years, he still volunteers when they need him, coaches floor hockey for Special Olympics Michigan (and assists with their bowling and track activities) and is involved with Parkinson’s and autism organizations.
“I’m grateful for my second chance, and I’m not taking it for granted,” he says. “I’m also thankful for Clinical Coordinator Robert Berry and the entire Henry Ford cardiac rehab team. They’re dedicated, knowledgeable and it was always a great experience when I went there. They made me feel like I mattered to them, and I’ve made some friends for life.”