Editor’s Note: People in the Chenango community perform extraordinary feats under extraordinary circumstances every day. Oftentimes they go unnoticed or unappreciated; this series will put the spotlight on those people whose compelling stories you might not otherwise hear.

In the quiet halls on the lower floor of the Eaton Center, there is an unlimited amount of considerable energy which has been rising since 2001. In an open room with floor mats, barbells, exercise balls and positive messages posted on the walls, there is a woman who knows firsthand how precious life can be and how to preserve it.

A native of the local community, Barb McGuire has been many things – she has had an array of office-type jobs, she is a mother of four, she is a business owner and a survivor.

One afternoon her wake up call about her health came. Barb explains as she was home one day with her children, she began to have chest pains, feel confused, she couldn’t move or barely breathe. After two years of testing and waiting, she was told she had a life-threatening condition in her heart. She was also told it was a miracle she had not died when the sudden attacks would occur.