Bonus Days

David is a Vice President of a International Manufacturing company and began writing just a few years ago ( At age 50, It’s therapeutic for him & was part of his bucket list) He’s been married to his wife Angela (for 28 years). They live near Dayton OH and have one daughter Marissa (a school teacher). He loves to travel, enjoys concerts and sporting events. David’s humorous, positive and inspiring stories have appeared in a variety of magazines as well as multiple Chicken Soup for the Soul Books. He has had 2 children�s books published as well.

I woke up today, and it was a big deal!! In fact, for the last five years, waking up each day has been a really big deal! The last five years have been full of bonus days for me. I went into full cardiac arrest and was dead for 15 minutes. It�s a miracle I�m typing now. Thanks to the good Lord above, my wife, some fantastic EMTs and many doctors, nurses and more, I still have some time to do good and be a pain in the rump in this world.

With new life, I�ve come to realize each minute, hour, day and year is a bonus!!
In the past five years, I�ve met hundreds of people (some new connections and a few re-connections). I�ve traveled to and explored new cities, states and countries. I�ve tried more than a few new microbrew beers and experienced foods I never had before. I�ve published articles and stories in a variety of publications. (Ironically, I put being a published writer on my bucket list � before prematurely kicking the bucket). I saw my daughter graduate from college, and I saw the Ohio State Buckeyes win a National Championship! I even witnessed something I never saw coming, the freaking Chicago Cubs won the World Series!!

Lucky for me, I met a couple of rock star cardiologists along the way � Dr. Curt Daniels and Dr. Aimee Armstrong. They are kind, compassionate and smart as hell � way smarter than I can even pretend to be. They each contributed their vast knowledge and education, working together to figure out how to help me. That�s not an easy chore � (just ask my wife)! Most people I know say I�m beyond help, roll their eyes and walk away, but not these two doctors. I�m thankful they never gave up!

They saw my pulmonary valve was a mess due to my childhood Tetralogy of Fallot heart surgery. Most adults like myself who had a Tetralogy of Fallot surgery as a kid don�t live past age 50. Thanks to a miracle � or two or three � I�ve made it to 57! I�m not joking � but I did keep a sense of humor (I had to so that I could survive the serious stuff).

The doctors and their teams waited for my heart to get stronger after my cardiac arrest and kept a close eye, and EKGs on me. The doctors discovered and did something I didn�t think would ever be possible � in fact I�m still in disbelief!! They guided a special device (called the Alterra) through my leg and into my heart. Edwards Life Science invented this device, and I was lucky enough to be included in the clinical trial. The device � and the doctors with the expertise to implant it � will likely save many lives.

This meant a valve could be inserted into me without major surgery, which has given me more bonus days! The bonus days and the procedure will be both part of my legacy and a good story to share with a stranger over a microbrew! Did I mention that I love microbrews, and that I really love bonus days?

I�m so grateful for rock star Drs. Daniels and Armstrong. They�ve given me a new lease on life and the inspiration to make the most of it. I�m thankful to them and to their teams. Just like all of my bonus days, they are a really Big Deal!!