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DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — With a little less fanfare than a high school graduation, a Danville man graduated from his cardiac rehab recently, making him the oldest ever to accomplish the feat at the local facility.
For 91-year-old Artie Porter, it was a pretty exciting event.
"This is the first time I graduated from anything," said Porter, smiling as he finished his last and final visit at the cardiac rehab facility at the Ephraim McDowell Heart and Vascular Institute.
A native of Lebanon, Porter moved to Danville about 65 years ago for work. And he worked wholeheartedly until he retired, his daughters said.
"We never went without," said Arnetta Myers, one of Porter's daughters.
Sometimes, providing for his family meant working two jobs and for about 20 years, Porter did just that: he worked at American Greetings for about 22 years and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for about 35 years.
His daughters said his work ethic is something they can't forget.
"He instilled that in us," Mildred Taylor said.
These days, they said, Porter remains pretty independent.
"I try to do everything on my own," he said. His daughters said he also manages to stay young at heart and keeps them laughing all the time.
Denna Long, one of the therapists in the cardiac rehab facility at the institute, agreed, saying he's been a lot of fun to have around.
"We're really going to miss him," Long said.
Porter said he's kept the ladies busy during his visits.
"They'll be happy to see me go! I'm always saying, 'Help me!'"
Despite his original apprehension, Porter said going through the program was a good thing for him.
"I dreaded the first time," Porter said. "I'm glad I'm here. It's done me so much good."
His favorite activity these days is working outside, in his yard. In fact, the day Porter suffered his heart attack, he was working outside, washing and waxing his car. It was Aug. 27, his daughters said.
"I was waxing my car and started sweating," Porter said, explaining that he got hot and started feeling sick. He went inside to sit down for while, because he knew something was wrong. A short time later, one of his daughters stopped by and wanted him to go to the hospital.
He said he easily agreed.
Porter said he's feeling a lot better now.
He continues to keep his humor about him. Porter, who still attends Sts. Peter and Paul, joked that he makes the place look even better when he shows up in his necktie and Sunday best.
And his daughters join him. Every Sunday, at least one daughter takes him to church and they join him for coffee and donuts. Besides Myers and Taylor, Porter has two other daughters, Sheila Kavanaugh and Mary Jane Dunn, who lives in Louisville. He also had a son, the late Artie Porter Jr.
Porter is also a widower, as his wife Christine passed away in 2006, after 59 years of marriage. His daughters expressed how grateful they were for his girlfriend, Louise Young, who helps take him everywhere, and made sure he made it to his therapy visits.
He's also "adopted" her children and grandchildren as his own, adding to the 11 biological grandchildren and "numerous" great-grandchildren he already has, his daughters said.
"I've been blessed," Porter said. "I've got my family, my health and a roof over my head."
He said he even knows the secret to a long life.
"Just take it one day at a time," Porter said with a smile.
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Information from: The (Danville, Ky.) Advocate-Messenger, http://www.centralkynews.com/amnews
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