From the Publisher
In early 2023 I was dutiful and received my pneumonia and shingles shots at the same time.
The next day while doing the speed walk I normally do three times per week, I noticed a very slight pressure in my chest and a tiny bit of shortness of breath, which I logically discerned was a by-product of the vaccines I had just received.
This seemed like a reasonable assumption at the time. Except I was wrong.
And I was almost dead wrong.
The symptoms weren’t going away, and after almost a month of small upticks of severity, I decided to go to the ER and find out what was the matter, and if indeed these occurrences were heart related.
I wasn’t worried since I regularly see my doctor and cardiologist, and always walked away with a clean bill of health.
This time the bill was payable on demand. I was diagnosed with 2 major arteries in my heart clogged at 100%, one more at 99%, and another at 60%.
So, I was admitted to the hospital and was told the remedy was a quadruple bypass. This was sobering news as I recalled the struggles my father had as a 59-year-old man who suffered a heart attack and had a triple bypass at that age.
So, I pen this column to you from my hospital bed as I await the surgery, not really sure what the future holds.
But this much I do know… I’m grateful.
I’m grateful for a wife and four daughters and family who truly love me. I’m grateful for a successful business. I’m grateful for the hundreds of texts, emails, calls and visits from friends and associates who obviously care and are concerned for me.
And trust me, I will be grateful to have this column published…while hoping for the chance to write another.
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P.S. I am now four weeks post-surgery, and I am told I am doing quite well. Looks like the JerseyMan/PhillyMan will be around a while longer… and I plan to make the most of it.
My advice to all is to treat every day like the next one is not guaranteed. You will be amazed at the perspective it gives you.
