HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO POPPO

Today we celebrate Dad's 9th (yes, ninth) birthday.
On April 11th, 2000, while undergoing a simple heart catheter procedure at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, he straight-lined on them. His heart ceased to beat when his blood pressure elevated to 220/160 ... AND HE DIED!
Two attempts to shock him back to life with the paddles were in vain, so his cardiologist (Dr. Anthony Cossel) began to administer CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) on him. Dr. Cossel continued unrelentingly for ten minutes ... before his heart began to beat once again.
Within seven minutes a team of surgeons headed by Dr. Arthur Coffey were then assembled and ready to go to work on him. A triple by-pass surgery was performed on his heart. He laid unconscious and unresponding for seven days in the intensive care ward before he opened his eyes to see his family once again. 34 days in the hospital became the way of life for him before he finally came home again.
He died ... and got a second chance on life on April 11th (nine years ago today). So we celebrate his second life (and 9th birthday) today. But more than that, we celebrate God's goodness and grace that he has been given another chance on life.
Once one experiences a life-changing event like this, life can never be the same again. Every day ... every moment ... every second takes on added meaning and importance. We hope that nothing so dramatic has to happen to you before you realize how important every day is in your life.

LOVE -- POPPO

CLIMBING HIGHER

MORE MOUNTAINS CLIMBED ... This past week La Donna climbed the 14 steps (with the aid of her therapist) up to the Bonus Room in our Condo, and then back down again. This was the first time she had been up in the Bonus Room in more than a year (since before her heart attack one year ago in December). What an exciting thing it was to have her call me (I asked her where she was and she said "Up here. Come see me.") We love to see more mountains climbed in her life every so often.

This weekend will be another mountain climbed. We are taking our first trip away from home (just a one day trip) to visit our friends in Bardstown, Kentucky. "Cabin Fever" is being relieved for the both of us. How grateful we are to see the amazing progress she continues to show in her recovery from that devastating stroke. We are grateful to God and to His "Angels of Mercy" (therapists) for the progress we see.

LOVE -- POPPO