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Cliff Russell with his wife Charisa (left) and Dr. Adewunmi Nuga, a cardiologist. (Facebook photo)
Update, 4:45 p.m. Wednesday: Things are much better, radio host Cliff Russell reports today on Facebook:
I’m happy to report that after an emergency visit to the hospital this past Friday night due to chest pains, I am finally back home and feeling much better.
Yesterday, the doctors at the University of Michigan Hospital placed a couple of stents in my heart, opening painful blockages in my arteries.
A huge thank you goes out to all of the people who prayed for me, sent me best wishes, checked on me and showed me love. I will never forget your kindness and concern.
I also want to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at U of M Hospital whose professionalism and expertise saved my life. I am now committed to practicing and promoting healthy living. I’ll have much more to share about this in the future. In the meantime, good health and much love to you all!
Original article, Sept. 3:
Radio personality Cliff Russell, a fixture on Detroit's airwaves for three decades, has a message from a local hospital after a health scare.
Russell, who just turned 60 in August and hosts "The Cliff Russell Show" weekdays from 2-4 p.m. on 910 AM, posts this on Facebook::
I am currently in the hospital and I will be here for the next several days. After going to the emergency room last night, I learned that there is a blockage in my heart, and I will most likely be undergoing a cardiac catheterization in the next few days.
I decided to post this news on Facebook (along with this very unflattering photo) because I am hoping to persuade people, black men in particular, to take much better care of ourselves.
This latest health challenge is the direct result of my less-than-healthy eating habits. Even though I have had heart attacks before, I still was eating way too much junk food. I should know better, and I have no excuse. If the good Lord allows me to come through this ordeal, I am committing myself to practicing and promoting a healthy lifestyle. In the meantime, I ask for your prayers. Thank you.
His social media announcement last Saturday draws nearly 500 comments in 12 hours, many "praying for your speedy recovery," as Terri Goens-Smith posts .
Russell tells Deadline Detroit on Sunday morning that he expects to have the balloon angioplasty procedure Tuesday.
"That's when the rubber hits the road," says the Wayne State broadcast communications graduate..
Then the tough part comes, he says: "Staying away from potato chips and snack cakes."
Russell is married and has three sons, three daughters, two stepsons and seven grandchildren.
