Today in 1999, I had open heart surgery. On Feburary 11, 1999, I had the first of several heart stints/stents placed in my heart. Look on the side panel under categories to see a link for Heart Stints where you can read about it and see a photo of my before and after. For more information on heart stints/stents click here.

As Thanksgiving Day approaches (for those in the states) I thought I would share some of the things that I am thankful for. Here goes. I am grateful that I have a personal friend named Jesus who tracks with me as I try to live in his story. I am thankful for my wife Donna, who is truly a helpmate, my son Jason who has a great sense of humor, my daughter Jeramie Joy who loves the Lakers. Some other things that I am thankful for, listed in random order are: a house to have a home in, a car to drive, a computer that works, food to eat, clothes and shoes to wear, breathing, painless moments, a working heart, a bionic one at that, full of heart stints, friends to share life with, books to read, being warm, a great community of faith in which to participate, smiles, you who read my thoughts from time to time, memories that give me stories to tell, and finishing my second doctoral dissertation. Well that’s a start. I trust that you may have a very blessed Thanksgiving.

On Monday November 15, 2004 I entered the hospital for the second of two stints for my heart in the last three weeks. I had two stints about 12 days after my open heart surgery in January 1999. The doctor told me after the procedure that he had done a great job. I have light duty for about a week and then gradually move back toward a full schedule. I am thankful that the procedure went well. Thanks for all of you who prayed for me.

Below I have put two pictures of the inside of my heart that the doctor took. One before the stint (the first one) has an arrow pointing to the 90% blockage and one after the stint (the second one). I was awake for the whole procedure. The “ties” on the left are from my open heart surgery in January 1999. They tied my rib cage back together. The doctor who put in the stints told me which doctor had done the heart surgery by apparently looking at the way he tied off my rib cage. He left his autograph inside my chest.

I am truely bionic.

BEFORE

AFTER

On Sunday, October 24, 2004 about 4:00 pm I began to feel some pain in my back and could not detect if it was from sitting toooooo long in front of my computer. Finally, about 9:30 pm I knew it was not back pain so I called 911.

In January 1999 I had open heart surgery. So any call to 911 is an instant trip to ER. After arriving at the ER they took blood and history of the day. About an hour later one of the heart doctors from the “heart group” that treats me showed up and told me that I was in the process of having a heart attack and that he was going to do a cauterization procedure to see what was going on.

While looking inside my heart they found two “clogged” arteries in the “by pass” arteries and put a stint in one and will put a stint in the other on November 14, 2004.

I am back home on a one week rest routine before returning to a regular routine.

BTW: Put me on your prayer list. I would appreciate it.