If you are accessing this web-site, I would like to share with you a couple of things about the man that is looking for a new heart…….

 

Jim is one of 7 children, who, as a young adult, chose to assist his mother with the family upholstery business after his father passed away. Even before that, he was working full-time, while attending high school, at the age of 16 to assist his family. He put his personal goals and plans aside to continue the family business to benefit the younger children in the family. No one has ever asked him what his plans may have been.

 

Since his early 30’s, Jim has suffered, and yet managed to make a life with heart disease.

 

Two children were adopted, and were and are the joys of his life – even during times when teenagers can be just that…..teenagers!

 

When the second child, a daughter, currently 15, was adopted – the court hearing took place with Jim in the hospital, recovering from bypass surgery at the age of 39. His near fatal heart attack took place 5 days prior, and with some adjustments and a day or two court postponement, the adoption took place. If you look through the pictures, you will see a picture of Jim in a hospital bed, with his son, and new baby next too him. Against all odds, the adoption happened.

 

Since the bypass surgery in 1990, there have been many ups and downs – and somehow, through the challenges, he has survived. There have been surgeries, procedures, more heart attacks, medications and medication adjustments, medical tests, monitors, electrical shockings of the heart, a pace-maker put in to keep his heart beating, headaches and heartaches, days when getting out of bed and going to work seemed impossible, attending a son’s hockey game was highly unlikely, enjoying his daughter’s birthday celebration seemed impossible, and many days when just making through the day was considered a success.

 

Imagine a healthy man, non-smoker and non-drinker, who exercised regularly, played tennis, racquetball, ran, and had energy – with his quality of life slipping away for the past 15 years. We have a joke about using the “handicapped” parking sticker that he is forced to use – with him along you can get the best parking spot! And, yet, we all wish we didn’t have to have that blue handicapped sign hanging from the rear view mirror.

 

As his wife, and the person that has navigated through this maze of illness with him – there are many times that my frustration and patience are tested, and many time I don’t do my best to cope with it all. But, when I look back, I see a man that has honored his commitments, and has made the best of all of the challenges put in front of him.

 

To look at him, many people would not see the terrible heart and health problems he has faced and continues to face. As you can imagine, after living with severe illness, and watching Jim attempt to overcome it to work and maintain a level of productivity, I have little patience with people who complain about a cold, sore muscles, or of being tired – they have not seen what I have seen – and watched someone desperately trying to live and make life better.

 

Guess you could say he already has a big heart – he just needs a new one.