Mark Norris

Mark was an espiring film maker. He seemed to be on the verge of really making it in the world of film. He died at 29 of a heart attack. People 29 don't die of heart attacks, but Mark did. Of course his parents are greaf stricken, and everyone else close to him is in shock. I found out that Mark had abnormally high colestrol levels. I am not qualified to speak about what, if anything, could have been done to prevent his death. My father was 69 when he had his bypass surgery. He seemed typical. He smoked until he was sixty and ate a Southern high fat diet. My brother was in his early fifties and was a heavy smoker when he went under the knife. I, on the other hand, was only 46 and a non-smoker when I had quadruple bypass surgery, and now I encounter a truly young man cut down as his career begins to take off. I guess the bottom line is that heart disease is just not a disease that we can not worry about until our retirement years.

Mark Norris 1982-2011

Go Tell Your Story.

On Monday I got a call from the former director of the Memphis area of the Heart Association. When I served on their Advisory Council he was a real help and encouragement to me. He called to inform me that his father-in-law was hours away from heart bypass surgery, and he was nervous and really want to talk to someone who had been through the surgery. As soon as that call ended I made a call and spoke to both his father and mother-in-law. I could tell the call seemed to calm him down, and I knew that I had done some good.

All of you who have had bypass surgery have a gift to give others, and that is the gift of your story. Even if you had complications from your surgery you still have a story that can help others. I clearly remember before my bypass, now nearly six years ago, how much I wanted to talk to people how had been through it. I the years since my surgery I have had numerous opportunities to talk to people who were filled with fear, dread, apprehension, and a host of other feelings. With each one I have noticed the power of story to help them. I am sure to tell them that I am telling my story, and that there's will likely be different from mine. Even so, I watch each time I share my story how it always seems to resonate with each person in some way. This is especially true if I am able to speak with them after the surgery.

Remember. A gift is not a gift unless it is shared. Why not take the time and reach out to someone who could benifit from your story. As I have told my story to others about to go through heart bypass surgery I have been blessed myself. There is great healing power for yourself every time you reach out help another person.

Barbara Walters

Tonight my wife and I watched Barbara Walter's special on the heart. I sat through most of the program just shaking my head up and down in agreement. If you watched it you know that she not only told her own story of heart valve replacement surgery, but also told the stories of several other famous people from David Letterman to President Clinton. Even though I am just a normal person I felt that I would be at ease with each person featured on the special just because there is an almost instant bond between heart survivors. We all have the scar and in a strange kind of way over time you can become almost proud of your scar. It is your badge to the world that you lived through one of the most invasive surgeries there is. There were several things pointed out on the program that I believe need to be shouted from the mountain top.

1. More than one mentioned that after open heart surgery there is no way to describe how much weakness you feel. I remember that in the beginning just getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom was exhausting.

2. Whatever you do don't ignore symptoms. This was something that President Clinton admitted doing and he also admitted that it almost cost him his life.

3. Everyone is different in the way they recover, but I really liked something that David Letterman said. He told Walters that he knew he was recovered when he no longer thought of his surgery. For me that took a long time.

4. More women die from heart disease than men. Everyone women in this country know to get a mammogram but often ignore symptoms of heart disease. I just don't think most women realize that heart disease is a women's disease ever more than it's a man's disease.

5. Tell your story. I am sorry that each one of these people had to undergo such a serious surgery, but I am so thankful that they were all willing to tell their stories. I am always encouraged with I get to tell my story or when I get to hear someone's story. Not surprisingly, Robin Williams was telling jokes about his heart valve replacement surgery just weeks later. It helps to laugh.

To Barbara Walters, I thank you for putting together a special about a topic dear to me. It was excellent and I would love to have copies of it to share with others.

Something to Live for

I know I haven't posted in a long time. I have found that as more time gets between me and my surgery the more it becomes a distant memory. For me this is a good thing. I remember a time when that is about all that occupied my mind. In time I was able to make room in my mind for others, and that was probably the beginning of my real recovery. Since my surgery in 2005 so much has happened. I have faced other surgeries, and found out that there are operations worse than bypass surgery. In 2008 I had a total knee replacement of my right knee, and on December 30th of this year I am scheduled to have my left knee replaced. For me the difference in the pain level between TKR and bypass was tremendous. The knee surgery hurt much worse, but there were no emotional issues with the knee as their was with the heart. I have has so many surgeries that my gall bladder surgery in 2009 doesn't even count. Yes, a great deal has happened since May of 2005, but nothing compares to the birth of two beautiful grandchildren. I think only another grandparent can really understand the impact these little people have on your life. More than anything else they have given me even more reason to live well and take care of myself. Savannah and Caleb need their Pappy and he needs them. If you are about to face something as serious as bypass surgery it sure helps to remember that there are people counting on you. You really do have a lot to live for.

Large McDonald's Mocha Frappe

My wife has always been slim and doesn't mind treating herself to a calorie packed dessert on occasion. Her latest favorite treat is a large McDonald's Mocha Frappe. Last night we went we out and she sad that she wanted to stop and get one and said that I could get one too. I struggle with my weight, but I have been doing well with my diet and I love those things as much as she does. We both got a large one. I knew that it had to have a hefty dose of calories, but I enjoyed every sip, that is, until I got home and actually checked the calorie count. That one drink had almost 700 calories!! I am convinced that most of us don't have a clue just how many calories are packed into the food we eat. This especially a problem when we eat out. Like I said, I knew that the drink had plenty of calories, but had no idea just how many. I try to avoid fast food, but the calorie count problem is sometimes worse at nicer restaurants. I am not a big fan of government telling us what we can eat, but it sure would be nice to know what the calorie count is when it comes to the food we eat.

Five Years Post-Op

This past Thursday my wife and I were sitting on our back porch swing. She got my attention with a little poke in the ribs and ask me if I knew what day it was. In a matter of fact way I told her that it was March 13th and asked her why she wanted to know. After my answer she asked again what day it was and then the lights went off. That day marked the fifth anniversary of my bypass surgery. I couldn't believe it that I had not thought of it once. I was too busy thinking about other things. Don't get me wrong. I still think about it quiet often, but I really do go for pretty good stretches of time when I really don't think about.

I remember well the time when my whole mind was consumed with what had just happened to me. I remember thinking that my world had just fallen in around me, but as it turned out it hadn't, and I would make it. I have no idea how long I will live, but to me the most important is that I am living again. I am not thankful for the surgery instead of feeling resentment for having had to have it in the first place.

I know from reading posts on other sites that there are so many people who have just gone through the surgery and you are convinced that your life is over. Everyone's experience is different, but for most people they can and will get better. I try to enjoy everyday to the fullest. It just takes time and the willingness to take a journey that at times can be awful rough.

Bill Clinton: It Could Happen to You

In Kate Dailey's blog about Bill Clinton's recent heart procedure she made clear something that anyone with coronary artery disease ought to know. Sometimes your arteries can block again no matter what you do. That, of course, doesn't mean it doesn't matter what you eat or whether you take your medicine, but the truth is President Clinton, by all accounts, had changed his lifestyle, was taking good physical care of himself, but he still had another blockage. Let's face it, some of us have heredity working against. The good news is that we are still not helpless and hopeless. I think that that Clinton's story ended well for a very simple reason. He had chest pains and he didn't ignore it. I remember well that when I went in the hospital for my bypass my diagnosis was coronary artery disease and when I was discharged that was still my diagnosis. I wish President Clinton many more years of quality life, but more importantly I wish for all of us dealing with his condition to learn from his actions. It could save our life.