When I meet people these days and they find out about my surgery, pretty much everyone says the same thing….’Wow, what a lousy way to start the year!” My response is exactly the opposite…”What a great way to start the year…. I’m alive!”

Well here we are months after the operation as I start to put my thoughts together for my story. It’s meant to be something that I can look back on and go “Wow!” but also I believe if I can talk about it this way it might help or inspire or bring a smile to someone’s face or hope and optimism when they are going through similar pain and emotional stress. 

So the 3 elements of the story are:

1. I survived one heart attack, then another before the subsequent hospital emergency visit and operation and feel obliged to tell the story because God gave me a second chance at life. I am grateful for that gift and feel I might be able to make some small contribution to help people in similar situations through their pain and recovery.
2. I want to tell my experience, funny and not, about being in Hartford Hospital for 8 days. There were funny days believe it or not when humor won out over pain. There were awful days when you just wished someone would end it right there, but once you get past that (and you do), you learn a lot about yourself and why it’s so important to fight through it.  
3. Last but not least this is a testament to the staff of Hartford Hospital. The care, compassion and consideration of everyone, from the people checking you in to the ER to the valet parking guy and every nurse, doctor and everyone I came into contact with over the 8 day visit. The follow up was exemplary including the cardiac rehab nurses who prodded you along safely to getting back in shape. To say they were exceptional people would be a gross understatement. Thank you all for saving my life! I would also like to thank all my friends and family for all of their support too especially Beth, my wife who was so helpful and supportive, caring and loving as I went through this awful journey. I love her more than she will ever know...thanks bugs! 

I am writing this ready for the website to be published on a warm August morning. The last visit to my cardiologist was exemplary. I am down 20 pounds,working out every day and my cholesterol is down over 100 points. If you review the Mobility and Meals tabs you will get an idea of why and why it's so important to keep up the effort to stay healthy. I do not want to go through the whole process again so would encourage everyone to follow my course of rehabilitation....I feel great.

So thank you for taking the time to visit my website. As we move forward with the blogs & we will be updating progress as we go along. I hope you find encouragement and help from my endeavors and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Much love.

John