Meet Our 2025 Honouree, Andy Kloppenborg – A Story of Survival and Second Chances

Meet Our 2025 Honouree, Andy Kloppenborg – A Story of Survival and Second Chances

In November 2009, what seemed like a routine evening at my men’s league hockey game became a life-altering moment. At just 39 years old, despite working out five days a week and having a background in competitive bodybuilding, I found myself facing a severe heart attack.

The warning signs were there that evening-numbness in my hands and chest tightness that I couldn’t ignore. When paramedics arrived and performed an EKG, their immediate diagnosis confirmed my worst fears. What followed was not just a simple hospital stay, but a harrowing three-month journey that would fundamentally change my perspective on life and health.

While initial treatment with stents addressed my 99% blocked arteries, complications led to weeks in intensive care, including an induced coma and tracheostomy. My family faced several moments where my survival hung in the balance. Through it all, the exceptional cardiac care team at St. Boniface Hospital, led by Dr. Shelly Zieroth, worked tirelessly to save my life.

Looking back, I had ignored critical warning signs, particularly high blood pressure, for years. My early bodybuilding career, though seemingly healthy, had contributed to my heart conditions. Today, I live with an internal cardiac defibrillator/pacemaker that monitors me 24/7 and has prevented multiple subsequent heart attacks. Despite functioning with only 20% heart capacity, I’ve learned to embrace life’s new rhythms

The support of my medical team at St. Boniface Hospital has been invaluable, but it’s my family that gives me strength each day. My wife, who joined my journey a year after my heart attack, has been instrumental in building our beautiful life together with our blended family of four children. We’ve learned to appreciate every moment and always plan for new adventures, keeping a trip on the horizon to look forward to.

My story serves as a reminder that heart disease doesn’t discriminate by age or fitness level. Listen to your body, take warning signs seriously, and never take your heart health for granted. The Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel is more than just a game–it’s a way to support the Heart & Stroke Foundation and save lives. Together, we can make a difference.