Hook1230

Since 2012 my health has been a slow and steady decline. It’s pretty much my heart. While I do have a bone disease that has really destroyed my spine and hips, my heart has been the big issue. In 2012 I went to the hospital for a severe case of the flu. After several tests it was found that I had a “ widow maker” in my heart. Doctors could not put stents in due to location of blockage so I had coronary by-pass surgery. It took the better part of 8 months to a full year to recover. However, that started a whole series of heart issues. I went about 3-4 years and just never felt right, then on Thanksgiving Day I had a “mild” heart attack. The on call Doc said it was truly a mild one. A few days in the hospital and a couple of stents and I was good. However, a few days after I returned home one of the stents occluded and caused a massive heart attack. It was so bad the medical staff pulled my wife into a room and told her only two out of ten survive attacks that bad. She told me that as I was being wheeled to the cath lab. She knew it would anger me, which it did. I made up my mind that I was not going anywhere. I guess this was 2014-2015 or so. After multiple attempts to open the stent back up, doctors decided to let that part of the heart literally “die”. They told us later that an operation to do another by-pass was too risky because I was so weak. That decision had terrible consequences. My kidneys were damaged to the point that I am now in stage 3-4 renal failure. My heart was so damaged that I can’t breathe now. I never smoked anything in my life so that was a saving grace for me. However, my hearts ability to pump newly oxygenated blood is now poor. I am two percentage points away from being able to seek a heart transplant. Since then my heart has actually stopped beating and/or went into irregular rhythms where I had a device implanted in my chest. It’s both a pacemaker and a defibrillator. I’ve been shocked a couple times now due to poor heart rhythm. Add to that the issue of my spine being full of hardware now and due to my bone disease, my left hip replacement failed after 4 months. I can’t get it fixed because my heart is too bad now. So now I can’t walk far and when out in public I either use a power chair or a regular wheelchair.

I took up photography again as a way to focus on something positive. While I have the two most beautiful granddaughters on the planet and my lovely wife of over 33 years. I wanted something special to me on my own. Two years ago I asked my cardiologist straight up how long he thought I had, all kidding and BS aside. He knows I want to hear it straight without going through marshmallow filter. I was told that if I saw 60 years of age it would be a gift, and each day after that would be a gift as well. So I am now 57 1/2 years old. I have never forgotten my faith but I have begun to bring that back more into my life. When I look at nature photos or landscapes or Astro photography I feel I now have a huge appreciation for just the beauty of it all. I can’t watch the news anymore. I like my news in a way where it’s reported on without either a political angle for one side or the other, I want to make up my own mind on things. Seems that news organizations are in the business of putting themselves in as a “political conscience” for us all. So I don’t watch it. I guess that’s why I enjoy everyone’s landscapes and animal photos so much. Even if it’s a soft image, I think that perhaps the photographer wanted it that way. So if I look like I am “Mr. SuperPositive” on here, I guess I am. Has anyone else had things like this come up in their lives? If you have, how have you chosen to deal with it? I realize that this can be very difficult on a personal level for people. So I hope I have not offended anyone. But I am curious.

johnsonsjourneys

I have to say you are such a strong person, going thru all that you have and still are! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. 💜

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I really don't know how you can stand it; I never could.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

wjones8637 Loc: Burleson, TX

Very sorry to learn about your problems! You are inspiring to me, keeping your great encouraging attitude. You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. I looked up your posts and comments and all are uplifting. I would like to see some of your photos, there are many great ones taken out the door or window.

Bill

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

I am a lot older than you and I do admire your courage. SO far I have no problems except Diabetes...........that means I am expected to eat all the stuff I hate and avoid all foods that I enjoy.... stay strong!

krashdragon

Wow! Here's wishing you the best of luck. I get the "don't want to watch news anymore".
I drive a semi, going to work in the office soon, but until I do, I do love just to watch stuff in nature... flowers, trees greening, birds, all the animals... Except for wild boars, they are like news commentators, always ripping shit up.
Take care and enjoy what you see, most people skip the seeing part and have no idea what they're missing.

Hook1230

I am a true hard head. I was taught to fight, plus I love my grandkids so much I just want to see what they become in the world now.

Hook1230

Thanks, words of encouragement mean so much. Some days it’s rough but I refuse to quit.

Hook1230

I really appreciate the words of encouragement on here. As for posting photos, I’ll be honest, I am my own worst critic. None of my work is up to what I believe is acceptable here on UHH. I will see about getting a few together. I have been doing photography since like 2016 at a more serious level. It keeps my mind on positive things.