It is with in mind – I record our lives one day at a time –
hence my blog: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
In a little over one year – thanks to my wife Sherry –
I now have a following of 362 plus followers!
Of which I only know four of them!
The rest are from all over the USA and the WORLD!
Screen shot on a normal day – I never though this would happen – but I guess projecting good thoughts – happy family life and adventures of two 70 plus year old’s must appeal to people!
Sherry and Papa – (Tom) living our life one day at a time. Each day I am alive is a blessing! I do not take it for granted.
Sherry is the driving force behind my blog –
” YOU HAVE TO WRITE AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE – A PLACE WE CAN FIND – WHEN YOU ARE GONE”
That is the reality and I am okay with it!
I write for family – I write to record for future generations so they know who I was!
Each day I open the site – answer the comments and push on!
I include lots of pictures – they all tell a story.
Each day I start out not knowing what I will write about
I see a picture I have taken – a event we did – or where a day has taken us.
Then – I start – so far I have scheduled a month ahead in stories –
That way – is we are going someplace – all I have to do is share it to face book!
On here – it is automatically scheduled!
My hope and desire is to bring inner peace to those that read this – and to see – when adversity hits home – when death knocks on your door – there is a life beyond and each day is a blessing – one that had it gone the other way – well – I am happy it didn’t – and that is going to be my legacy – living life doing it my way – blog!
Exactly one year ago today , at 11:30 AM. The call went into the Fire & Rescue ! My co-worker had come out into the warehouse and found me sitting at my desk and asked me if I was okay ? To which I replied “NO” ! I told him to make the call , and then he brought me two baby aspirin.
( This was written over five years ago – in a few months – I will celebrate five years since this was written. Today – I am still here – and my story continues – staying the course – still taking Juice Plus – and still living – )
You see , I had struggled all morning with what I thought was shoulder pain caused by over exertion. The pain would come and go. For four and one half hours this happened! I actually got sick twice going into the men’s room to vomit – but nothing happened. And I would feel okay after that. It wasn’t until I broke into a cold sweat and my arm started to feel like it was in a vice that I KNEW!
I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK ! The ambulance came – and I actually stood up and placed myself on the stretcher. As they wheeled me outside – the only thought I had , was make it stop hurting – my arm was KILLING me no pun intended!
Once inside with the doors open and it just being above freezing – off came my jacket and shirts. They tried to run the EKG! It would not work – they took my pressure – it was high and climbing! Again , the EKG! Not working. They put a port in my left arm and for the third time – tried the EKG! Not working. I listened to them talking – “NO – WE ARE NOT GOING TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL – WE HAVE TO GET HIM TO THE HEART CENTER!!!”
Off we went – sirens on – lights flashing – and then they tried one more time – EKG – IT WORKED !! It showed I was having a heart attack – not your ordinary one – but one that is known as “THE WIDOW MAKER!” I believe GOD was watching over me – the EKG did not work three straight times and after they decided to by pass three other hospitals – to go to the best Heart Unit in the city – well , when we started and then it worked – I really believe it was in God’s hands.
It was a 30 minute drive – and all the way there they were monitoring me – that is when they got out the electrical shock pads. I asked them why ?? Your blood pressure just spiked! How high I asked ?? 280 over 180 as they punctured my right wrist to put the second port in and blood splattered out !
We arrived – the artery was 100 % blocked by a blood clot ! It was just as you see on TV. Doors flung open – shouting of get out of the way – through the doors and down the hall running at full speed. They were waiting all dressed up in their surgery gowns.
Off came my remaining clothes – I was being prepped My arm hurt – and then – it seemed like only minutes – the pain went away and a face appeared over me looking down . How are you feeling he asked? I actually felt normal , no pain , nothing ! So I told him that and he said they had just inserted a stent ! And I never even felt it ! I had survived !
There are three reasons in my mind of why I survived that day . The first and foremost is the life style change my wife installed nine years before. We had actually switched our diets to health & nutrition – doing away with the fast food – sodas – milk – and most dairy & meat – preservatives & dyes – and just generally staying the course. And then we added a supplement called JUICE PLUS of over 30 different fruits – veggies – berries and two grains – that I have faithfully taken for nine years.
Second is the fast response of my co-workers – one in particular who made the call and brought me the aspirin. Those that stood by and with me during the wait – holding my hand – talking to me!
And third – I believe that God was watching over me – that EKG not working and their taking me to the best place I could be – the heart cardio unit in Fairfax. And then the EKG started working as soon as we pulled out and headed to the unit.
I survived THE WIDOW MAKER and am her to tell about it. The change of lifestyle and the supplements were my insurance – I am sure that had I not done this – it would of been a no brainer – I WOULDN’T BE HERE! So , last week , we attended a conference for THE JUICE PLUS COMPANY in Memphis Tenn.
I celebrated being alive there , and know with out the change in lifestyle – I would not be writing this today !
SURVIVING THE WIDOW MAKER ONE YEAR LATER – THROUGH HEALTH AND NUTRITION !
Surviving the Widow Maker – almost six years – later – #livinglifetotheplus for more info go to http://www.sf.juiceplus.com
Each day I lace them up – double tie my Sketchers – Kucher would be proud of me !
Sherry walking the trail
We have lived in our community for thirteen years – and during that time – as it developed – so have the walking trails – 15 miles of them !
Soon – as other sections open up – an additional 5 to 8 miles will be added.
Storm brewing over the lake
Walking has become a way of life for both of us – each with our own fit bits !
We have many different paths to follow – and can customize them to almost any length we want.
About a 1/2 mile left to home
Our goal is walk walk 10,000 steps each day – depending on the weather, we also walk for different charities.
I have found walking outside – is much more to my liking than a tread mill – I get bored way to easy on them !
Health – is my main reason for walking.
In 2013 – ( see a previous blog ) I suffered a major HEAR ATTACK –
known as the WIDOW MAKER !
I ended up with OPEN HEART surgery – and am still alive ( I take Juice Plus )
My wife – Sherry – certified health coach
My recovery has been amazing –
and I have the best coach I could have – my wife – who has worked so hard and absorbed so much in Healthy living.
Moving – is what my Heart doctor says is the one factor that means the most to me in my post care – along with eating healthy –
no dairy – no processed food – no red meat – no gluten – a little beer once in a while – and if I do have any of the above – it is rare and a small amount.
One of the exercise stations along the way
Maintaining has become a way of life for me – and taking a supplement – you can search the internet –
I stay away from vitamins – as they are mostly selective in my opinion – I choose the WHOLE FOOD way for my self.
Eating as many servings of fruits and vegetables as I can – and that is hard to do !
So – I use a supplement – called Juice Plus – raw fruits – vegetables and berries – juiced – skins and all – and then slowly dried – and left in a powder of nutrients –
that research proves goes immediately into the blood stream.
The path through the woods.
Walking for health – I have to if I want to live longer !
Sometimes –
yes -I do cheat – it is too cold or raining or snowing
( next Winter we are going South ) so we do not walk outside –
but I walk in the house. I have a routine – but that bores me !
So – we head for the Mall !
We have 5 free library stations along the paths.
I also keep my mind sharp as I can –
I find the exercise of writing – forcing myself to think – to create –
( I do not know what I will write each day ) !
My writing is SEEING and then THINKING and then WRITING !
Our Free Library’s offer a pickup and exchange books – you bring one and take one.
I READ all the time – my wife runs the church book club and I have read books that I have never heard of !
It keeps my mind sharp – you have to keep body and mind going !
Tunnels so you do not have to cross in traffic
All lit up day and night
We have tunnels – under the roads –
so we do not have traffic to stop our walks – there are now FIVE of them and I just read where another trail will open and another tunnel will connect us to it !
Multiple bridges and lakes and streams and woods
We have Deer – Turkeys – Bears – Foxes -Geese – Birds – fish – turtles –
although I have never seen a Bear –
I have seen pictures taken of them and home security footage of them with in a couple blocks of our home !
We are reminded about garbage we put out – I have seen Deer running down the street and other wild life.
Almost home from our walk
I hope this helps in your quest for a healthy lifestyle –
ours is healthy eating – a healthy supplement – and walking – and reading
10,000 steps -trying each and every day – #livinglifetotheplus –
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