1 year ago today (August 17, 2009), my heart was stopped for 48 minutes as I underwent open heart surgery. 1 year later and I can say life is great...
For those of you who don't know, 1 year ago today I went under the knife for open heart surgery. 1 year later I can truly say that life is great. Since then, a new love, new friends, new experiences and a renewed vigor for life. A new found passion for doing the things I love and a desire to do new and exciting things I haven't done.
Unexpected news telling you that something is wrong with your heart and that heart failure is a possibility makes you stop and think for a bit. Some longer than others and I assume some not as much. I was the latter. I've always known that I have a large heart. I'm the type of person that will give the shirt off my back to a stranger in need or stop to help someone change a flat on the side of the road, but to find out you literally have an enlarged heart is not what I was expecting.
I asked what my options were and was given two scenarios. One was a minimally evasive procedure with a high percentage success rate or the other was open heart surgery which was old school but proven. I'm a mechanic at heart and old school, so I opted for the surgery route. I was like "Let's do this!". When it came to my surgery, I never had second thoughts about my decision or any of the risk involved. I'm a man of faith, have a great family and the best friends anyone could ask for.
I guess I've never really been the philosophical type but I do enjoy deep thoughts from time to time. The type of thoughts were you reflect on past and present, the road you're on, and perhaps the road you'd like to be on. I've always been one to take the road less traveled, to follow my passion and just go for things regardless of the risk or consequences. Not everyone is like this but everyone is indeed their own unique persona.
I've always said I've going to be a grumpy old man. Perhaps that grumpy old man sitting on a park bench mumbling about rugrats skateboarding too fast on the sidewalk or the kids laughing too loud on the playground. I still think this is the case, but I want to be sitting on the park bench knowing that I lived life to its fullest and have no regrets.
Every day you wake up remember to thank god. Give thanks for the friends and family in your life, the opportunities you have and the new experiences which will be upcoming. Pray for strength through difficult times and for those in need. Respect those of different faith or beliefs.
Just remember, life is a gift and everyone has the opportunity to make an impact on someone else's life.