back from the dead

[skills@eurocarsplus]

this is going to be a long story....

rumors have been swirling around about my recent health scare and although it's nobodies business I figure it would be best just to clear it up here and now

I was born with heart issues that although never required any real 'treatment' were there since I dropped out of the chute. The simple fact that I made it to my mid 40's was in itself a miracle.

fast forward to about a couple of months ago. I went for my DOT physical and my blood pressure was a "bit high" but "nothing to be concerned with" as they were going to monitor it

So, I walked out with my medical card and that was that. In the meantime, I decided it was time to drop some weight. At 6'4" and 300 pounds it was time to get my fat ass back on a bike and drop 50-80 pounds so I started to walk about 2.5 miles a day and ride another 2.5 miles a day as well as 100% revamp my diet

To back things up a bit more, I had been going to the chiropractor forever, and started back about 2 years ago for a pain between my shoulder blades....I got snapped and all was well until January of this year when the pain came back... more on this later

Now I have changed my diet, and have been "working out" for 5 miles a day and feeling pretty good. Cut my smoking back to almost nothing and was feeling like I was making some good progress. Did a ton of stuff, pressure washed the house, was up on the roof cleaning gutters etc...

Still had this pain between the shoulder blades that would come on in an odd "wave" and then poof....just vanish. I have to be dead before I'll go see a doctor, let alone go in for some odd pain/ click or rattle. But this was a very odd pain. Like I said, it would come on like a freight train and go away just as fast. Sometimes it would happen just sitting, other times it would happen if I was bending/twisting

Told the wife fuckkit, lets go to the hospital and get it checked out. Ate dinner, took a shower, shaved and went to the ER

Got to the ER and the last thing I remember is the Doctor saying "well, your BP is a little high" and I looked at my wife and said "yep, heard that before" and it was lights out.

Evidently I coded. From what I was told I was literally dead for 18 minutes. No pulse, no breathing, nothing. D-E-A-D. So much so, that they were calling for the priest to give me my last rights. My wife was calling what little family I have left (grandmother and aunt) trying to plan the funeral

They packed me in ice and continued to work on me on the way to Yale where by some stroke of luck I started to come back.

Everyone from the janitor to the cardiologist told me just how lucky I was and I suffered a "widow maker" heart attack and of all of the 'named' heart attacks this one has the lowest survival rate

After every scan... MRI, ECG, CT, etc there had been "no appreciable damage found" and other than losing the last few hours of the day the event happened my mind is fine despite being legally dead for almost 20 minutes.

The point of this post wasn't to hunt for sympathy but to clear up some shit I have been hearing. I'm not dead (yet) so I'm sorry to disappoint and evidently some people are butthurt that I haven't replied to messages....

My phone has been on fire with Dr's calls etc and if you try to text me and my phone isn't in 100% the right spot...I'll never get the text. I literally live in the middle of nowhere. I haven't been ignoring anyone, I just may not have gotten the message.

Other than my rib cage feeling like it was used as a trampoline (I mean, it fucking hurts to breathe, even 2 weeks later) I'm doing ok.

Upon my release the cardiologist said "do whatever you want, just don't sweat and don't lift more than 20 pounds" so I have been trying to keep active doing what I can

I will know next week what life looks like moving forward. I have a bad feeling being a tech may be out of the question, so my days of pulling wrenches may be over. Thankfully since leaving the dealership I was able to make some really good deals and should be financially sound until my ride is over.

So there you have it.

FWIW, dying isn't scary or painful....coming back however is a bit of a challenge....
_________________

[aeromech]

Yeah you snob. You didn’t answer my text from 2 days ago. 😀
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Shonandb]

Good to hear you are still kicking Skills. The Bay Window forum wouldn't be the same without you - read into it the way you want to...
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*******************************
76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[busdaddy]

I find your excuse acceptable, don't let it happen again.



_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[dodger tom]

sounds as though neither the above or below wanted you.

insert smiley face here.

but, you’re one of us.
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1978 Champaign Edition 2 Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Abscate]

We love you right here skills. Glad you pulled through and let us know if we can help in any way
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.ssS!

[richparker]

Dang, 6’4” and 300. You’re 2 of me…
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__________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[orwell84]

Guess you were just too lazy to weld your own stents. Amateur.

Seems like you haven’t been enough of an asshole to take your front seat in hell yet. You’ll have to work on that one too.

I’m really glad you made it. I wish you a speedy recovery and long life. Would never be the same here without you.

[crownline]

Wow, glad it came out green side up. You definitely need to stick around. You are the self proclaimed Samba peckerhead after all.
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1972 Bus 1700 cc Single Carb. But not a progressive.
Barelymuvin
Wish I still had the ones I got rid of.

"It"s got some dings and dents and neither of us is going to SEMA."(Update, I went to SEMA in 2019 but the Bus stayed home)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-8446.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[sjbartnik]

Damn dude, welcome back from the dead.

I guess if you're gonna have a massive heart attack the ER is the place to do it.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[wcfvw69]

Don, like I told you on the phone last week, I'm glad you pulled through and rejoined the world! You need to buy a damn lottery ticket! Widowmaker heart attacks are almost always fatal. My paramedic son goes on lots of heart attack calls and he says it's very depressing as most patients don't make it.

I'm hoping you get some good news in the coming weeks from your doctors. And, with your lifestyle changes can get some wrenches back in your hands soon!
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[oscarsnapkin]

I read the subject “Back From the Dead” and I thought I was going to be reading about someone resurrecting a barn-find Westy. Sorry to hear you went through this, but I’m sure you’ve come out better because of it. Take care of yourself.
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- 1977 CEI Sunroof Bus 2.0L F.I. Hydraulic Lifters
- 1973 Thing

"It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind."

[aeromech]

aeromech wrote:
Yeah you snob. You didn’t answer my text from 2 days ago. 😀


I just looked, it wasn't there. Unless my phone is propped up on the window sill in the shop, it's rare that I will get a text


Too bad, I sent you the winning lottery number. Oh wait, you already won
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Xevin]

Damn dude. Sorry you and the family has to go through that. Scary stuff for all.
Put the Newports down


Link

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Keep on Busin'

[mikewire]

Crazy story and very glad you're OK. How's that for timing, I guess if it's gonna happen, there's no better place to be than at the hospital ER!

Take it easy and don't push yourself. Maybe there's someone who could come help in the shop, you have a lot of things you could teach and pass along your knowledge and expertise.
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-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[OB Bus]

I did not have a heart attack, but did have an aortic valve replaced nine years ago. A congenital abnormality. Open heart surgery.
So glad you came out of this alive. It is a miracle.
So did they do stents? Are you waiting a determination about other medical procedures? Just curious what you might be facing.
If you think your chest hurts now, I assume from CPR, just wait till you have the experience of having your chest split. I hope you don’t have that delightful experience.
You’ve been given an extension. I know you just said you have no fear of death but I’m pretty sure you have good reasons to continue living.
Hope you have a fine and long “rest of your life”.
Peace.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.

[Vangabonders]

god wasn't ready for another angel
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73 tintop to poptop westfalia (Frankenbus)

[creative native]

How fortunate that you have returned, Skills. The left anterior descending artery blockage/widow maker survival rate is somewhere around 6%. It is amazing that you've returned.

The back pain you wrote of could have been a sign. My spouse is a doctor and once told me that men over 6', over 200 lbs. and over 40 most always have back pain. If you want any advice about recovery & diet, feel free to PM me.

I won't philosophize about spirituality or worldview, but I feel it could easily be believed that you have returned for a reason; perhaps your work here in the material world is not yet complete. I am glad that you're still with us.
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"The holy land is everywhere." ~ Black Elk
1979 Westfalia P27, California FI emissions spec. 100% VW fleet: '79 Westfalia, 2013 Touareg Lux (Toffee Brown/Cornsilk Beige), 2005 Passat GLX.

[aeromech]

perhaps your work here in the material world is not yet complete.

Oh yeah, his bitchin is just getting started as we welcome a new keyboard warrior
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound