The key ingredients for grasping a second chance in life

In July, 2006, I was at the hospital for a cardiac catharization where my doctor gave me 4 options; 1) Go home on medications, 2) Heart stent put in, 3) Open heart surgery, or 4) Request a heart transplant. The choice was made quickly and without getting off the cath table the stent was inserted and the blockage eased. It came with a warning. Usually, there is no problem and the patient goes about his life in a normal way. However, occasionally the artery will clog around the stent and must be fixed. Six months later in a December check-up, the news was not good. The stent had clogged and the blockage had reoccurred, but that was not all. Other arteries had collapsed and blood flow was at a minimum through my heart. A week later I was in the hospital for heart bypass surgery.

Six bypasses later, the surgeon reported that he had fixed everything he could get to but would make no promises. Three days in intensive care, four more days on the cardiac floor, and I was on my way home (my earthly home). The risks were high; the surgery was long, and the recovery uncertain because of complications. The doctor kept telling my wife the danger of my not coming off the table, not coming off the heart/lung machine, not getting to the blocked arteries, and other risks along the way. You never know what a second chance is until your life is given back to you. How do you get through the fear of pain, of becoming an invalid, of being unable to do or be what you had been before? I can only share with you what got me through, besides great doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

First, Find the Family.

My youngest daughter, from out of town, brought a photo of my grandchildren and tacked it to the bulletin board at the foot of my bed. My oldest daughter, in town, brought the rest of my grandchildren in person to visit when they could. My wife was by my side, day and night, only going home to rest when one of my daughters would relieve her and stay at the hospital during the critical time. My daughters were there doing whatever was necessary to make my life easier during those days. My bother and niece came from out of state to encourage me during the week. No one can possibly know the importance of having those you love let you know they love you. The first quality needed to succeed when you get a second chance is the closeness and encouragement of the people you love.

Second, Face the Facts.

Whether it is medical, financial, family crisis, or something all together different, there is information that will help give you the hope you need. The staff loaded me down with information pamphlets concerning the procedures, exercises, diet, and recovery expectations that I would encounter. Unrealistic fears will not help us successfully get through “the chance”. Knowledge really is power; so, find the answers to the really tough questions. The advent of the internet makes information gathering much easier than ever before. This alleviates the fear of starting over.

Third, Follow the Faith.

If forced to pick just one quality that gets you, through the chance to start over, it would have to be Faith. My faith in family, my faith in knowledge of the medical personnel to do their jobs, and my faith in a God who loves me sustained me through the ordeal of five weeks.

I was afraid of hurting; I was afraid of being an invalid; I was afraid of being unable to take care of myself. But, I was never afraid of dying. I got a second chance at life and plan on making the most of it. A second chance? It may be a cliche, but that day really was the first day of the rest of my life.