Tom here. I don’t even know where to start.

All of you folks who have posted comments have been so kind and supportive. I feel very blessed.  

You friends and relatives have put the wind at my back during this process. It was so helpful and refreshing to read those comments, especially during the first couple of postoperative days when I felt sore and wiped out.  I have new perspective on the goodness that people can exude when someone is in need of encouragement. Your support meant everything to me. I will never forget it.

I also feel so grateful to have received such excellent medical care. The skill and kindness of the doctors, nurses, nurses aids, lab techs, EKG techs, dietary staff, physical therapists and all the other staff who poured their hearts and souls into my well-being was remarkable. St. Cloud is lucky to have them here to care for us.

I’m also so lucky to have had the support of such a great family, the family in which I grew up, their spouses, my in-laws, nieces, and nephews, but also of course my Energizer bunny wife Nancy, Hannah (and boyfriend Jon), Emma, Brian, Grace (and boyfriend Ben), Carl, and our Spanish student, Alvaro, who have dropped everything to visit and encourage me.  Two moments stand out to me. The first was on the day after my bypass when I was feeling pretty rough and Nancy simply squeezed my hand for the longest time as I laid in my hospital bed.  Not a word needed to be spoken.  The second was yesterday when I returned home and was sitting in our family room and just looked around at all the people who mean so much to me who were home for me.  It would have been hard not to get better with all the support I have received!

So, I am grateful and humbled. Thank you to all.

But, of course, I am most grateful to God, who has graciously held me in the palm of His hand during these difficult days.  Not everyone receives a new lease on life like this. With His guidance, I will use my remaining days to serve Him in this world as best I can.

Love to all,

Tom