I appreciate all of the positive words, guys! Just sharing my story to remind you guys to live, be happy, and appreciate what you have!
The retired engineer from my previous job called me a couple of weeks ago to see if I had found new employment, and by that time I had accepted the new position. He also told me he had a health scare and was now questioning if he wanted to continue working even one day a week for them. Well I reached out to him this morning and he told me that he'd spare me the ugly details, but he found out that he has cancer and is going to start chemo next week.

So often I see people get severely ill soon after retiring.

I'm pissed for him. I hope he does well. But it's just another sign to enjoy and appreciate life! I once heard a quote that said "Nobody on their deathbed ever wished they had worked more". I know we all need money and have to pay bills, but think of that when you have to decide between working OT and spending time with your family and friends and/or doing what you love!
Thanks!
FUKC!! BRO, IM GLAD YOU'RE STILL WITH US!!! i have tears rolling down my face RN, so glad you still with us!
Awe shucks. Thank you!
Damn Jato, my sincere condolences for the experience sounds like crap... Glad you have the energy to get back in here and keep pushing. I was wondering for you as you were pretty active but I figured the new employment had kept you plenty busy... but wow ... as you can see there is lots of great people around you that care and worry for you and their love and care will help you heal... Take it easy and enjoy all aspects ... as the quote you mentioned .... we only get to do!!! so make the most of it, life is a blessing.
Thank you!
Judas, Tim! And here I thought that you had found the "new" you after wearing that diamond necklace just a bit too long. Figured you had shaved the body hair, joined the trans-circus, and that we'd heard the last of you.
Seriously... I've said it before and again I'll say that you are indeed a trooper of inspirational proportion. I get that it's not as if you've ever asked for these situations nor considered any other alternative than fighting through them but damn, you have truly risen to meet some incredible challenges and beaten some fairly bleak odds.
Sincerely made my morning to see you back on here and being candid enough to share the personal details. Sounds like you've got some genuinely loving and caring people in your corner and I know that support brings about an indescribable level of solace. I'm sure this has been a humbling experience as well, and that absolutely adds character and integrity to a guy that was already "one of the good ones".
Now, don't go doin nothin stupid or crazy anytime soon. Those that appreciate you being here can surely do without the extra anxiety for a while. Take care, brother and thanks for letting us know what's been happening.
Haha! I'll never tranny myself, but I wouldn't have to do much shaving. I have the least amount of body hair I've ever seen on any guy.
Thank you. I sincerely appreciate the kind words. All I know is my life and my point of view. I will tell you that sometimes it's almost easier to be the patient because you aren't on the outside looking in and worrying about a loved one.
That's funny! I'll try to not do anything crazy or stupid, but I don't always use my brain!
Damn, that's wild. You told me you had a health scare and lucky to be here, but reading the story... Holy crap.
I grew up with a nurse for a mom, so I was never one to bother with going to see a doctor about issues that didn't feel that serious. As I get older I'm getting better about considering it might be something serious and not waiting so long to get checked out. I've also found my pain threshold to be pretty high (like when I went to prompt care to check out a stomach ache last June, and a couple hours later I was having surgery to remove a ruptured appendix) so i take that into account now as well.
I'm glad to hear you were in the right place when shit hit the fan. Hopefully you're getting the root issue managed so you don't have another round. Welcome back.
Thank you! And thanks again for checking on me. Yes, I was definitely at the right spot when things when wrong. Had my girlfriend not urged me to go, I may have been at a worse ER and then who knows what would have happened...
Geez man, i started to send you a pm because I noticed you haven't posted in a while, but the site showed you online a few times and just figured you were kinda taking a break again.
Glad you're better. You going to have any long term effects or full recovery expected?
Thank you! I was very fortunate. They do not believe there will be any permanent effects stemming from the heart stoppages. It's crazy that two days after my heart stopped, they were acting like nothing happened. And I'm all worried about it at that time and the one nurse told me that 2-days ago was ancient history in the medical field!

Part of my reason for the 1-month stay was because they ran every test you can think of. Obviously given my transplant history, my heart ages more quickly and they expected to find some coronary artery disease this far out, but they did not. In fact, the doctor kind of snickered because he couldn't believe he was saying it, but my arteries look completely normal! Again, I'm so lucky. The heart is old, but I still live a normal life. The thing to watch now is kidneys which are not 100% because of 25 going on 26 years of anti-rejection meds.