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“Except for the grace of God” we say, “there go I.” But what if you were
that I, and God’s grace wasn’t there? Let me take you back two years ago, to an
event we celebrated the two year anniversary of yesterday. June 25th will
always be a special date to me and my family, it was the day I should have died,
but for the grace of God, here I am. We were on vacation riding to Wisconsin,
when I got sick in Durango. After being told my kidneys were functioning less
than 50%, a trip to the ER found I had some serious heart problems, two to be
exact at the time. I had a staph infection that had filled the pericardial sac
with pus, and an aneurism on the back of my aorta. I was life flighted to
Albuquerque, 250 miles away, Theresa not knowing if she would ever see me alive
again. But we were about to find out how amazing His grace truly is. A skin
had formed over the aneurism, think of a tire tube about to bust, with a patch
over it, the grace was already in action. And how God not only knows His plans
for us, but is in full control. When I landed, I was described as the sickest
person they had ever seen who wasn’t dead, and was to come as close to death as
you can without dying. The miracles had already begun.
My heart had been drained, and I was scheduled for aorta repair on the 25th
by Dr. Peter Walinsky. The aorta being the largest artery I your body, the size
of your thumb. Who after researching my symptoms, found only one other recorded
case, and a friend of his from med school had done the surgery. Coincidence?
Not in God’s world. Now either problem is deadly, and later I was told the
success rate for aneurism repair on the aorta is a whopping 3%! But I was about
to make medical history that day, as when Peter opened me up, he found my heart
95% blocked with pus, and backing up into my lungs. And then when he touched my
aorta-it exploded. You are dead in 2 heartbeats then-but here I am-except for
the grace of God there I wouldn’t have been. But after 5 1/2 hours of my heart
being out of my body, a transplant can be done in 4 hours, I was alive, with a
plastic aorta, and my wife being told I should be dead, and he couldn’t promise
I would last 12 hours, maybe the longest 12 hours of our marriage. But again
the grace of God was present, as her sister came out, Christopher came back from
Spain, and Andrew was still recovering from a bad motocross accident at home.
Theresa had many things to deal with....again how amazing grace is.
I would spend a total of 30 days in the hospital, 20 in Cardiac Critical
Care, and 12 in a coma. But God provided, from a home for Theresa and then us
when I got out, a couple we didn’t know had a home and offered it to us free of
charge. The importance of the body of Christ. I was supposed to be in rehab
for 30 days, after 5 days I was discharged, walking out, being told there was no
reason I needed to be there. Can the dead really walk? The infectious disease
clinic gave Theresa their home numbers in case she need help changing my meds,
and cleaning my pic lines. And after having to put up $7000 for the first
month’s meds, when I had a reaction to them, they changed them to a less
expensive one and refunded my money. Another first I’m told, again His grace is
sufficient. And on August 5, 2012, I was totally free from any restrictions.
My last visit to Peter’s office had a simple prayer, that he would have to see
my pic lines and scar to know I had surgery. And when greeted by Jason, when he
saw me, he exclaimed, “wow Mike, if I didn’t see your pic lines, I wouldn’t know
you had surgery.” And after the exam, and finding out that I had healed in days
or weeks instead of months or years, when we left Peter told me it was evident
that God had intervened. And I could write many more pages about the daily
miracles God showed us, and that He continues to show us.
Coincidence some may say, that a cardiologist and a motorcycle shop owner
may be best friends in a city of 650,000, but not to God. I had decided I wasn’t
an invalid, but a miracle, every doctor and nurse I had met, and still meet tell
me I should be dead, and I wanted to be out among the living. So we went by
PJ’s Triumph in Albuquerque, we had known him for years. He was astounded when
he saw me, and when asked what happened, Theresa filled him in. When he asked
the doctor’s name, and she said “Walinsky,” he shouted “Peter! He’s my best
friend. He told me this was the hardest surgery he ever did.” And told me to
stop by anytime to rehab, and when I was released to ride, he would loan me a
bike. And the grace continued....as 7 weeks after surgery, I would ride again.
But God wasn’t done, I had more to share of His grace. On my one year
anniversary, I had an ultrasound done. The doctor who did it told me “if I
hadn’t seen your scar and read your chart, there is no evidence you have a new
aorta. It is seamless, and no scars!” All praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ!
And yesterday was my to year anniversary. My infectious disease doctor
told me months ago my checkups only needed to be yearly, when she first read my
charts, she cried. She calls me “Miracle Mike,” I like that. And seeing my
primary care doctor yesterday, we both rejoiced. He cannot believe what I went
through, and how far God has brought me. Then to my local cardiologist, who
still shakes his head, and tells me I shouldn’t be alive. The same words Peter
greeted me with when I woke up. Dr. Gorwit gave me a thumbs up, and told me to
“quit bothering him, and see him in a year.” My heart is strong, no signs of
any problems-get on with my life! So I had to call Peter, who is very busy. I
knew I had little chance of getting to him, but in the excitement I tried any
way. When I was asked “who should I say was calling?” I told him “just tell him
it is the hardest surgery he ever did.” And when he answered, I was shocked!
And when I asked if he remembered me, he told me he would never forget me. For
it was also his wedding anniversary on June 20th, this was his 20th, and he was
so glad to hear from me. I had made his day, and we agreed to talk again on
every June 20th. I think it is safe to say Mrs. Walinsky will never have to
remind her husband of their anniversary! And this one is really from the
heart!
Today Jesus Christ is still in the miracle business. And I am blessed to
share my story whenever I can. For He tells us in Revelation 1 that John bore
witness to Him, and we should also tell others, bear witness of Him. So I am
thankful to be here, for my wife and sons, for Peter, but most of all Jesus. If
His grace is that amazing here, I cannot wait for heaven. And tomorrow Theresa
and I will leave on an 11 day ride, two years ago we never could have imagined
it. I used to think that as you get older time goes faster, but I find that it
is me getting slower. I am happy to spend whatever time I have with the best
friend and riding partner I could ever have, Theresa. And to still be her
husband, and still be my sons’s father. For grace kept me here so she isn’t a
widow, and they aren’t orphans. And so we ride knowing God’s grace will always
be sufficient. And if you have any questions, I have a scar to prove Jesus was
on my heart, and in my heart, still today. Anniversaries may come and go-Jesus
is forever!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com