Jan's Story
If you’ve played at the HOP on a Monday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, chances are you’ve met one of our awesome HOP regulars, Jan Pasquale. When you’re on the court with Jan, you’ll notice how much he enjoys the game, and you can’t help but catch his enthusiasm and positivity.
You may have met Jan, but do you know his HOP story? Jan’s story begins with this line :
“Playing pickleball at The House of Pickleball literally saved my life.”
His day started in the regular fashion: pickleball at the HOP followed by his favorite lunch at Chipotle. A little while later, while enjoying a movie at the theater, his day became far from regular:
“Toward the end of the movie I started having recurring cold sweats and an odd feeling – the same symptoms that I had started experiencing the night before. I had no pain, no elephant on the chest, but I felt that something was just not right.”
“I decided to drive myself to the hospital to see if I was having a heart attack. It was confirmed over a number of days that I was having what is known as a “Widow Maker” – with four blocked arteries. “
“The surgeon stated that I would have been dead in a week if I had not come to the hospital. The odd thing was that I could play pickleball with no problem, could climb stairs with no problem, and I was never winded. The question is why did I not suffer from these problems?”
“The answer is …. pickleball.”
“The doctor said that pickleball had saved my life. My heart (the healthy part) and expanded lung capacity enabled me to be active and overcome the blockages.”
Jan attributes the HOP for more than just health benefits; he and his wife, Karen, agree there are social benefits as well.
“The HOP felt like a welcoming community. My wife and I have gotten to meet so many people from various developments and towns. We have met people with different and similar past jobs and life experiences. We have developed many close friendships which have carried on to dining out and visiting each other’s homes. We have found a community that celebrates the highs of life and supports those in more troubling times. What more could one want?”
“As another friend of The HOP (Joann B.) - said … The HOP is like Cheers- a place - Where Everybody Knows Your Name.”
Jan, we’re so glad you’re part of the HOP family and that your story has a happy ending. Thank you for sharing it and for reminding us that pickleball is so more than just a game!
Jan (on left) and some of his pickleball pals.
Jan and Karen Pasquale