A little something to consider. About 2 weeks ago I started feeling some burning iny chest doing strenuous things. Not always; just every now and then. One night I woke up from a dead sleep with more chest nurn that would subside when i stood up. When I laid Dow it burned again. Not taking any chances I called my daughter who is a cardiac nurse. She drove me to ER wher e a full battery of tests where run. No problems were found but a cardiac stress test was recomennded. Stres test revealed some minor arterial blockage. an angiogram was scheduled. The nurse explained the fairly simple, safe procedure with less then 1% chance of a complication. It was scheduled for last Wednesday and would be done outpatient and would take 30-40 mi tues. we started with a sedative similar to a colonoscopy. I woke up to about a dozen people including paremadics working to save my life. Apparently the doctor severely dissected a main cardiac artery and I was bleeding to death before there eyes. They shocked me 3 seperate times while trying to stop or at least slow the arterial bleed. They called flight for life and I was flown to a trauma center in Las Vegas about 45 minutes away .they did an emergency bypass to save my life. One thing different they had a tremdously difficult time trying to intubate me due to my throat narrowing and trismus. Doc said he was just about ready to give up but finally got the tube in. lots of blanks in my memory bank especially from helicopter to waking up in icu many hours later. With Time to reflect since.. No matter what with OC as unpleasant as it is, there is always time to reflect on and appreciate the people you love and the things you appreciate along with the negative parts. If you should pass without warning there is no time to tell your family ang friends how much you truly loved sharing this speck of time on this planet with them. So here is your chance. Give your loved one a big hug and tell them how much you love them while you still can. Merry Christmas to all who appreciate it and happy holidays if you prefer. Tomo.

Wow Tom - I don't even know how to respond to such a bizarre set of events. Like you, cancer made me think about my life and try to do a better job of telling my loved ones what they mean to me. But, also like you, I always had the element of time on my side as even if cancer causes my death, it won't be today or tomorrow.

And then something like this comes along and upends all our best laid plans. Without a doubt, the most important thing for any of us to say right now is thank goodness you are still with us. Thank goodness Life Flight was available and close enough by to be of assistance. Thank goodness the right doctors and nurses were available in Las Vegas at the minute they were needed. Thank goodness that doctor tried one more time to get the breathing tube down your throat.

So we have things to be thankful for too. Maybe the best Christmas present I bestow this year is to be able to tell you ... Merry Christmas, and you to be able to hear it.

Tony

P.S. I think I might change cardiologists.

Tom! What a terrible ordeal you have been thru!!! You must have been terrified when you woke up to chaos.

After such a horrifying experience it really gives you a fresh outlook on what is top priority in life. Im so sorry you went thru everything you did in the past week. You are so right, say things today as not one of us is guaranteed a tomorrow. My son and I were having a conversation about this just last evening. After what he witnessed in 2009 with my complications and extended hospital stay, it took him years before he could go into a hospital with me without feeling anxious.

You are one lucky man, Tom! Luckily your daughter was right there and knew what to do to help you. Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season spending and many, many more.

Hey Tony, I think my cardiologist might trade me out when HE gets MY bill. Haha. One Important thing of note. The doctor that saved my life told me that the only reason I lived long enough to get to him was like you I am a workout warrior. Averaging (4) 5 mile walks, 2000 push-ups, 2000 Ab reps and 3 gym sessions a week.it paid off. Trying to balance bad genetics cardiowise. Have a wonderful holiday and more importantly many,many more.also thanks for the support and words of encouragement you give everyone.

I understand this 100% When I had my first heart attack, I went out. I was in the ER and in distress. I started getting tunnel vision and it was an "Oh Shit" moment is all. I was thinking "Oh shit... this isn't good". Next thing I remember was waking up with an oxygen mask on and tubes everywhere. Apparently I went into AFIB and they hit me with the paddles to stabilize me.

Your adventure reminds me of that. There's no life flashing before your eyes or drifting off peacefully or seeing yourself from above... it's an "Oh Shit" moment.

So yes... tell your loved ones you love them and appreciate every day as a gift. Remember "Eat. Drink. Enjoy the work you do. Be thankful for the blessings God gives you in this life Live. Love and seek out the things that bring your heart joy. The rest doesn't matter. It's like chasing the wind" King Solomon.

Glad you're doing Ok Tom... Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy New Year!

Positive thoughts

"T"

Tom, what and ordeal! Glad you made it to tell us all about it, and thankful for your daughter and the medical teams that saved your life. Truly a time to reflect, and enjoy the holidays with loved ones.

Someone was on your side!

That's certainly one way to take your mind off of cancer Tom! What an ordeal and what an amazing story. I think the hardest part of this after treatment process is understanding the exercise part. It's not possible for everyone to do the same amount but activity and range of motion does a world of good.

Glad you made it through that.

Ed

Tom, an amazing story. I'm just very very glad you're able to write about it. You surely speak the truth!

It certainly wasn't your time!

Dear Tom,

I have to echo all of the comments above.

Life is so fragile, but yet we as humans can survive amazing feats...chemoradiation, cardiac events, veterans of war, and all things between.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I can only imagine what kind of toll it has taken on you and your loved ones. Like all of us, I am so happy to hear that you are still with us and hope to be here for many more years to come!

You mentioned your trismus. I often think, that If I ever have to be intubated again, I could be in for some real trouble. Firstly, I have a very small mouth, so with the addition of trismus...not good, not to mention to pain. It's funny that I got an email from my SLP and she told me that the Therabite is not covered by my insurance, but I am paying for it myself regardless. I had intended to do so, but reading your recent ordeal, I will be on the phone tomorrow with the company.

Thank you so much. Please take it easy for a while. I'm not sure if this has been mentioned to you, but cardiac rehab can be a great experience for those like you. Not only do you get well, but you make friends such as we have here, who share their stories with people who "get it". Also, I'm not sure where you are in AZ, but please avoid shoveling snow. I have a colleague who has worked in cardiac rehab and he has noticed a trend over his many years of experience...he will see an influx of new patients about a week or two after a major snow storm, and being in the Boston area, we tend to get hit badly!

I wish you all the best in your recovery. Thank you for the reminder to always tell those that you love them how you feel. I learned that long ago. I never get off the phone or leave the house without saying "I love you" to my spouse and my children. I do it with lots of others, too! It only gets easier to say, the more you practice.

So, thank you again for reminding me that the relatively smaller medical issues that going on with my young daughter are not life and death at the moment, but will be taken care of in time.

Best wishes.

Love in OCF,
Kerri