Read the last one first! - Epilog

If you read my last blog entry, you might have realized how precious life is and how it can change in a heart beat! Most of the time adverse events are a blessing in disguise, as you can prosper and learn from them.  Many things have happened since what I called "The Adventure of all Adventures."

First and probably foremost is that I have been given a second life, and I don't take that lightly.  I appreciate things everyday now that in the past maybe were taken for granted. For example my wife, my family, my friends, and having an attitude of gratitude for all the things that we enjoy.

Recently I graduated from a six week cardiac therapy course that consisted of eighteen ninety minute sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  They were held at our local Banner hospital, only minutes from our home. The class was made up of five people with different heart ailments. On check in we would put on a heart monitor, have our temperature checked and blood pressure taken.

We would exercise on a treadmill and an elliptical trainer for twenty minutes each and thirty minutes each on Wednesday.  Then it was on to exercising with weights, then stretching.  This usually followed with a movie on different facets of health and a discussion lead by the nurse and questions and comments from fellow classmates.

The exercises were important because it would help build a habit that would continue for a lifetime.  The health lectures, with take home handouts, I considered to be of utmost importance because we learned the importance of proper diet and exercise among many other health issues.  I made the comment several times in class that I wished I would have been aware of proper diet when we were much younger, but the usual response was "would we have paid attention?" Probably not. When we're thirty we think we're bulletproof, then when we get older we learn the downfalls of things we should have been practicing all those years. 

We learned the importance of reading food labels.  If you're on a diet you look for "calories," if you're diabetic you become aware of "sugar," if you recuperating from heart problems you look for "sodium." In our lectures we discussed many things pertaining to "A happy and healthy life."  One of the big lessons was everyone should cut down on sugar and salt!  

Lastly, I want to thank the Banner hospital staffers who greeted us each time with a smile and enthusiasm. Those three persons were Marina, JoAnne, and Chelsea. Nurses have that unique quality of compassion, caring, and kindness and I thank them for that! On my last day I presented them with a photo that they allowed me to take.  Thank you for being you.   (Click on Photo)


AND NOW IT'S FUN IN 21!