Jones recalled one patient who had open-heart surgery. As a result of the surgery he had a numb spot just above his heart. Nurses told the man each day that the numbness would eventually wear off. It wasn't until another patient who was further along in the program told the man that the numbness would go away that he quit complaining about it. We talked until we were blue in the face.
Patients notice the atmosphere of wellbeing as well.
Everybody is working on themselves, side by side. No one looks down on anyone else. Everyone is on different levels and we all remember what we were like at that level. Cardiac programs begin slowly with patients, building cardiovascular strength little at a time. Individual programs assure patients get the most benefit from the exercise while assuring they can tolerate it.