It's Happening

When I moved back to Memphis in 2006 I had a dream. I knew that there was a role for heart bypass survivors to play in the recovery of people about to face this life changing surgery. I talked to everyone that would listen. Not many would, but you know how it is when your idea is more of a passion than anything else. Over the past five years I slowly began to meet people who had been through the surgery and felt the same way I did. I finally met the greatest cardiologist in the world, Dr. Stacy Smith. She not only became my Dr., she also became an advocate. Then it all started to really come together when Methodist Hospital began to see the important role former patients could play in the recovery of their current patients. Last night I finally got to see the video which is really a dream come true for me. You can see it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSjVgZrdr08

Complacency

I knew it was coming, and I deserved just what I got. Over the last few months I have put on a few pounds, and yesterday was the day for my annual blood work and check-up with my cardiologist, Dr. Stacy Smith. As I approached the scales I was thinking of what I could take off and still be decent. Wallet, belt, cell phone, keys, they all weigh something and as I stepped on the scales I knew I needed all the help I could get. Those scales don't lie and they were telling me that I had slacked off, that I had become complacent. Then the nurse drew the blood and in a few minutes the numbers were there in black and white. Most were still fine, but my triglycerides were awful. Then Dr. Smith, the coolest cardiologist in the world, started talking. She would tell you that she was real nice, but in the process she let me have it. I have to go back to see her in three months and she expects me to come back lighter, as in 10 pounds lighter. She proceeded to tell me where I was heading and I heard her use the word diabetes. To say that she got my attention is a gross understatement, but to tell the truth I pretty much knew what I had done before I got the word from her. Over the last few months as I began to feel more and more like my old self I started to eat more and more like my old self. I think that one of the biggest struggles bypass survivors have is to make really lasting lifestyle changes. I remember right after my surgery I was ready to eat tuna everyday for the rest of my life. Time passes and it becomes so easy to become lax. I need to remember that I am in the middle of a never ending war with CAD, and the price of letting up could be a lost battle at the least, or worse, I could loose the war. On June 3, I will have to face Dr. Smith again. I will let you know how it turns out.