Walt's Journey

My friend Jerry is heavy on my mind this evening. He is going in tomorrow morning for open-heart surgery. Jerry is having an aneurysm removed from his aorta and replaced with a Dacron graft. The area of the aorta that will be repaired is nearly the same area where my damage occurred. Thankfully his aneurysm was discovered before it could cause a dissection.

We did not know each other before his current condition, yet he did know who I was as we both attend the same church and he was one of the many people who prayed for me during my surgery and recovery.

During our first conversation a couple of weeks ago he informed me that he had read Heart Refined, and to both of our amazement, he will have the same surgeon that performed my surgery. I speak very highly of Dr. Patel in the book and Jerry said that this was an encouragement to him. I have said on several occasions that one of my desires for Heart Refined is that it could possibly provide comfort to anyone that may be going through similar circumstances as myself. It has been an incredible experience to not only know that this is currently the case, but I have the privilege of knowing and speaking to one of those people.

I am praying that the Lord will guide and direct Dr. Patel throughout the surgery tomorrow, and that Jerry’s valve can be spared.

Sarah and myself will be making a trip to U of M and I am sure the emotions will be running high as I re-visit the exact area of the hospital where my life changed courses.

Please keep Jerry and his wife Lisa in your prayers.