Big Herb Tackles a 7-Centimeter Aneurysm

He’s deadlifting 600lbs, training like a machine, and then one day his body hits a wall.  Herb Coleman thought he was just getting older until a routine check uncovered something that could have ended everything without warning: a thoracic aortic aneurysm measuring about seven centimeters, plus a leaking valve.  What happens next moves fast, from echocardiogram to an urgent call back to the hospital to emergency open heart surgery. We sit down with Herb, a former NFL defensive lineman drafted by the San Francisco 49ers who now works as an operating room technician, to talk about both worlds. He shares what it’s like to be in the OR when severe trauma rolls in, how surgical teams stay locked in, and why small moments with nervous patients matter.  Then he walks us through the day he was told he was “a bag of groceries away from dropping,” the reality of getting your chest opened, and the fix that saved his life: a mesh repair on the aorta and a bovine valve replacement. Herb has a strong sense of perseverance and comedy helps him celebrate his wins.  We celebrate Herb with comedian, actress, and writer Marianna Barksdale for the other side of the show’s mission: putting the med in comedy. We get into how comics build material, the art of delivery, crowd work when the room goes sideways, and why Marianna avoids roasts because she thinks she’s “too mean.”  Along the way, we make space for the real takeaways: don’t ignore shortness of breath, chest symptoms, sudden weakness, or a drop in exercise tolerance, and don’t let Google videos replace an actual medical evaluation. If you like true medical stories, healthcare heroes, and funny conversations with real stakes, subscribe to Dr. Ben And Friends, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What’s the biggest health warning sign you’ve ever talked yourself out of? THANKS TO OUR GUESTS: Marianna Barksdale (Comedian, Actor, Writer, Stuntwoman) Instagram: @itsmariannabarksdale https://linktr.ee/mariannabarksdale Herb Coleman (operating room tech, former NFL defensive lineman) DR BEN AND FRIENDS PODCAST: This episode was produced by Angie Debelak with post-production editing by Ben Hill Sound. Thanks for listening to Dr Ben and Friends.  Laughter is the best medicine...unless you're treating bowel or bladder incontinence.  See you next time! Team Dr Ben SUPPORT THE SHOW: Share a message with Dr Ben and Friends! Gut-Brain Therapy | The clinician podcast on gut-brain disorders such as IBS | Nerva Leading gut specialists share how they use gut-brain therapy with their patients. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the show Follow and listen for free on Dr Ben and Friends website, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio! Fan of the show? Record yourself! on Dr Ben's website and YOU could be featured on the next episode! DISCLAIMER: Dr Ben and Friends Podcast Quick heads-up folks: Dr Ben and Friends is your weekly dose of laughs and stories.  We celebrate healthcare heroes and pro comics.   This is infotainment-- think popcorn, not prescriptions or medical advice. If you're feeling funky, see your medical professional.  Your health?  That's on you.  We'll stick to the punchlines.