Meant to Be
BY NICOLE RODRIGUEZ-GASPEROV
I met Ken Pagliaro a few weeks ago for this story. We sat on the strand and chatted (6-feet apart) about the corona virus, life, work and living in Manhattan Beach. It was five years ago when he decided to have a heart screening after hearing about Clint Clausen’s sudden heart attack that took his life.
“If I hadn’t heard the Clausen story or if it didn’t happen so close to home I never would have thought to have a CT scan that early in my life”.
Ken was a healthy 43-year old, with no symptoms and his initial stress test, EKG and blood work came back normal. He had slightly high blood pressure and cholesterol that would be managed with medication. But shockingly his first CT scan showed accelerated calcification in his arteries, putting him in the 90th percentile to have an early fatal heart attack. Eating healthier and exercising became even more of a priority until his next CT scan, three years later.
“I somehow moved into the 99th percentile. My cardiologist isn’t sure why this is other than genetics, but they’ve adjusted my medication to try and slow down the process.”
Ken doesn’t look at this as a curse, but empowerment. He continues to keep his physical health in check, but also his emotional health as well. He appreciates and values every experience now, and is grateful to be here. That passion for life can be felt in his photographs. For 13-years he has been behind the camera as a commercial photographer covering everything from car commercials, to the Oscars and the NFL. But it’s shooting the ocean and surfing that pull at his heartstrings.
“I often tell people that I shoot from the heart, meaning a lot of emotionality goes into pressing that shutter button when I feel the exact moment is right. It’s my interpretation but it’s also a collaboration. Just like life.”
And this is Ken’s latest collaboration with Kori Clausen, 4dfours.com sharing his story and inspiring others to get their heart screening. He’s thankful for Kori’s support and for creating this platform of awareness.
“When someone shows compassion and understanding I feel the healing instantly. The healing goes both ways actually, so I’m happy to pay that forward.”
Paddle Out is an inspiring look at combating life’s familiar struggles, the quest to find those things that can make us better, and how to overcome sudden tragedy when all that we know, all we depend on IS SUDDENLY RIPPED AWAY.
Nicole Rodriguez-Gasperov is an Emmy-nominated news reporter whose media talents have taken her across the country. She got her start on the airwaves at UCLA and never looked back, working as an anchor/reporter for ABC, NBC and CBS network affiliates throughout the West Coast. After having her first child, Nicole took a respite from her news career and moved back home to Manhattan Beach, CA to raise a family. Nicole returned to news as a freelance reporter for Fox-11 News in Los Angeles before starting a venture as a travel writer for JohnnyJet.com. Her creative nature has also led her to launch Manhattan Beach Surplus, a locally designed and handcrafted jewelry and handbag line that she co-owns with her good friend.