Bob Odenkirk's Inspiring Journey: Overcoming Memory Loss After Heart Attack

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Even Bob Odenkirk is surprised by how quickly he bounced back after his heart attack in July 2021.

The actor, who is 60 years old, revealed to Yahoo! Life on Monday, October 9, that surprisingly, the situation didn't have a significant impact on him for an extended period. Following the incident, he experienced a peculiar form of positive energy, which persisted on a daily basis. Odenkirk attributed this upbeat attitude to his nightly memory loss, stating that it was akin to having his mind completely erased.

The actor suffered a collapse during the shooting of the last season of Better Call Saul in July 2021. On the set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he underwent CPR and was defibrillated three times before being quickly transported to a nearby hospital.

Odenkirk revealed on Monday that his cognitive function was impaired, making it difficult for him to process the events that had occurred. He relied on firsthand accounts from those present and hoped for his brain to return to its usual state.

"It's on my mind daily," he added.

The Breaking Bad actor first discussed his health scare with Sunday Today in March 2022. Odenkirk shared, "It was a life-threatening situation with my widow-maker artery fully blocked. That's why it's called the widow-maker, because it's fatal when that occurs. Thankfully, I collapsed but was fortunate enough to have Rhea Seehorn and Patrick Fabian, my co-stars, close by. They quickly came to my aid and triggered the alarm, screaming for help."

He acknowledged that the incident left his cast and crew deeply affected. "I wasn't there to witness it," he admitted. "But I've been told it was an incredibly distressing day on set. It was a traumatic experience for all my co-stars, crew members, and beloved individuals who have always supported and stood by me, even accompanying me to the hospital."

With Odenkirk's heart attack, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the simultaneous Hollywood strikes (the Writers Guild of America ratified their contract on Monday, while the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is still striking), the actor has had ample time to reflect on his desires and aspirations in life.

He is concerned about "overworking when returning to work," but is making efforts to avoid excessive workload. "I don't think I'll ever do it," he stated to Yahoo on Monday. "I will never agree to work as much as I did for so many years. I will never do it. If I sense it approaching, I will steer clear. When you are constantly hustling from one project to another, without being able to create lasting memories, the joy in your work diminishes and it becomes not worth it. Life is finite. It will come to an end. And for it to truly mean something, you need the time to savor it."

This is one of the reasons why his latest endeavor is a family affair. He has authored a children's book called "Zilot & Other Important Poems," a revised compilation of poems he composed with his children during their childhood. His daughter, Erin Odenkirk, provided illustrations for the picture book, which will be released on Tuesday, October 10. (He shares Erin and his 24-year-old son, Nate, with his wife, Naomi Odenkirk.) The book came to life when his adult children moved back home during the pandemic.

"We made an effort to maximize the potential within the confines of the limitations and the challenging circumstances. However, it was undoubtedly a difficult period for every individual in the country," stated Odenkirk during his conversation with AP on Tuesday. "In spite of that, I had the mindset of getting actively engaged in writing the book."