Fort Providence (Feb 18/05) - February is Heart Health Month and Johnny Landry appreciates that vital organ now more than ever before.

Last June, at the age of 51, the popular Fort Providence singer felt symptoms only a day before suffering a mild heart attack. After becoming very nauseous, but experiencing no chest pain, a medevac to the hospital in Yellowknife revealed that one of his arteries was 90 per cent clogged. Several days later he underwent an angioplasty procedure in Edmonton, where a tiny balloon was inserted and inflated to open the artery.

"I thought it would never happen to me," he said of the heart attack.

He has consequently changed his diet and exercises more to lose weight.

"You've got to be aware of what you're putting in your body... if it means life and death, you have to (refrain)," he said. "It's like you're given a second chance. I'm starting to feel better now."

His wife, Berna, said that day and the panic it induced remain fresh in her mind.

"It was the scare of my life," she said.

Prior to Johnny's coronary close call, Berna had already started to make changes to their dietary habits. Her participation in a health conference in Edmonton a week earlier had reinforced the need to reduce or eliminate items such as lard, bacon and butter, which she now refers to as "heart attack food."

At the Deh Cho Assembly, just a day before Johnny's heart attack, Berna spoke of the need to improve the health of aboriginal people to ward off obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and arthritis.

"I said, 'What good is a nation if our health is no good?'" she recalled. "And then the next morning it happened to (us). We didn't have a clue what was happening to Johnny."

Berna now reaches for the olive oil, which contains less saturated fat, for most of her cooking and baking.

"It's expensive, but we found that food tastes better with olive oil," she said.

Medical personnel told Johnny that the fact that he's a non-smoker and a non-drinker played in his favour.

He said he remains spiritual and he has also taken on a more positive outlook on life, trying to laugh every day.

Berna added that she and Johnny are extremely grateful to all the people from around the NWT who called to give their support.

"I think the prayers really did help," she said.