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There were so many of you that shared your good wishes and thoughts through me to my dad that I thought you might want to read this note he sent out earlier today.  To everyone who kept him in your prayers, thoughts and offered to help in any way, from the bottom of my heart thank you.

Dear Family & Friends ~As everyone has probably heard by now, I was released from the hospital and came home this past Friday.

Charlene took me to the cardiologist yesterday for my first post-op check-up. It went very well. The doctor is very kind and patient. He took almost 45 minutes with us and answered our many questions. Basically, my lungs are clear with good breath sounds, blood pressure is normal – and I’ve already lost some weight. I’m off until July 6th. (Monday following the 4th July weekend.) When I go back, I’ll be limited to not lifting, pulling or pushing more than 20 pounds. Right now – it’s 5 lbs. I do not have any special bandages or stockings. Just a LOT of prescriptions!

For the next 2-3 months, no driving. I can ride in an automobile with a small pillow between my chest and the seatbelt. Oh, I also managed yesterday afternoon to go out into the garage. Charlene lifted the garage door and I started Thelma~Lou, the Model A! I let her run for about five minutes. I needed my fix. I was afraid the battery might get a little low. But, no – she fired right up and ran smooth.
I’m having a lot of trouble sleeping at night. Debbie had Nicholas bring over Nick’s reclining chair. With that and taking a pain pill before turning in – last night I at least got about 6 hours.

Things are steadily improving but at a very slow pace. I have to exercise by taking walks through the neighborhood. Charlene is as good as any of the nurses I’ve had. She’s adjusting us to my/our new diet, shopping and reading all the labels, etc. She’s a great walking companion, too! I also have to do breathing exercises into a plastic machine with a yellow piston that needs to rise. This is 10 times each hour. It is suppose to increase my lung capacity. As soon as I’m breathing and sleeping better, I know I’ll feel like things are on the mend.

After receiving the surgery one of the surgeons told me that I was like a time bomb waiting to go off. I could have had a heart attack at any moment. One of my arteries was 99% blocked! Glad I didn’t know!

I received a double bypass. #1 is where they unhooked one end of my mammary artery (already in the left chest) and rerouted it into the damaged area of the blockage. #2 is where they took a small artery from the inside of my upper right leg and took care of a second area that was not yet blocked – but, in the same general area and they thought it would be a good time to do preventative work. (Me Too!)

The night before the surgery, I spent many hours in deep prayer and thinking about every single family member and friend one by one. I have to tell you, I couldn’t have been more ready and was totally at peace when they came for me. I can’t begin to thank everyone for all the calls, texts, cards and especially your prayers. Each one of you is very special to me and I thank God for you all. You each have helped carry me through this ordeal with your love.

Thank you again and God Bless you all!

Jimmie