Jan. 27--June Daugherty nearly died outside a doctor's office.
Last spring, the Washington State women's basketball coach arrived for an appointment to consult cardiologists on how to alter her lifestyle to ensure a healthy heart and her longevity.
Pulling up to the office, though, Daugherty went into cardiac arrest and slumped over the steering wheel of her Jeep. Her 13-year-old daughter, Breanne, rushed inside, screaming for help.
Fourteen cardiologists rushed out. Seven times they shocked Daugherty's heart. On the last attempt, a normal rhythm resumed.
"I was lucky because I had doctors right there and I survived," Daugherty, 51, recently said on a conference call. "When you're on life support, things change. You view things differently."
Fitted with a pacemaker, Daugherty resumed coaching, saying she never considered quitting. But she did adjust.
"I'm very high-strung, so I knew I had to make changes," she said.
Daugherty said she still stresses during games -- that won't change, she assured. But she takes afternoon naps, eats better, exercises more and delegates more duties to her staff. She also has become an advocate of heart disease awareness, with one very strong message: Pay attention to your body and any warning signs.
"If I can make a difference for someone, then it was all worth it," she said.
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