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
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1 comment:
Hey, Nelson, ... what's it feel like to be a nine-year old - but OLD - baby in Christ?
And I write this on my birthday too, my 26th in Christ. It was on Apr. 13th, 1983 that I died to self and in a brief moment of confession, repentence, and faith, by God's grace was reborn in Him forever.
So from one reborn Christian to a revived one ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! And blessings always to your wonderful family as we've just celebrated Christ's REBIRTHDAY yesterday.
<'BB>< ... Bill
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