I found this picture after reading and article today about a surgeon who had performed a three heart valve surgery on a patient. The patient was only 44 years of age. After reading the article, I researched the surgeon, Dr. David Jayakar, MD and found his website. I really and truly believe that these surgeons, who literally have the ability with the help of Jesus Christ at their side to determine our fate as to a chance to continue on living or literally, having Jesus there to say.... "It's time for he/she to come home" and I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when Dr. James Brevig was doing my surgery, Jesus was there helping him along with all the prayer requests coming in asking him to guide the surgeons hand in the delicate surgery. I truly believe that our surgeons are some of the best people we have on this earth. 
I received a call this Sunday morning from a man, speaking of miracles, who was giving a toast at his families Thanksgiving dinner. It was then, while standing a sharp stabbing pain hit him like a mac truck and he was sent to the hospital. He just happened to live 5 minutes from Columbia University Hospital. And, the really big miracle was that Dr. Allen Stewart just happened to be there that Thanksgiving evening checking on a patient when this gentlemen of 70+ arrived. Dr. Stewart replaced his valve with a "calf" valve and his entire aorta with a dacron tube. All this without any kidney or other issues. That's a miracle... A true miracle in which Dr. Stewart's hands worked through Jesus Christ to keep this man alive and bring him through the surgery to be able to say those perhaps forgotten, "I love you's" or items her had perhaps neglected to have done.. but now was giving a new appreciation for life.
I am so thankful for my life, my family, my friend and hopefully my new job (this Wednesday is my final interview) and really am so blessed. Many people don't make it. Many people are in the right place and the right time.. Or is it that Jesus is there with them and the surgeons? I think it's your faith and belief that your life is not controlled by you, and that the GOOD LORD is your ONLY choice as to when you will see him face to face or you will be allowed to continue to live a few more years on the earth until you are called home. These surgeons, and although extremely well trained, need that helping hand to guide them and so do you!
Brian
Well, today is my 5 year anniversary or birthday since my aortic dissection back on 8/22/2008. I remember it as if it were just yesterday. I had started out the day still trying to negotiate this "semi-wrecked" motorcycle and how much I was going to pay for this site unseen bike from my customer who happened to work at Microsoft. Then, I was also trying to line up a truck to pick it up with as well. I had planned to use my other friend at Microsoft (my former customer) truck. On top of that, I was also going to play tennis that next morning at 0700am as well. I was also playing tennis on 8/22/2003 (Friday - most AD's happen on a this day!) at 4:00pm with my usual buddy Jack. In the meantime, I had went to get some teriyaki lunch (high in sodium) and I know my blood pressure was high as this motorcycle negotiation was consuming my day. Not to mention, I was late for my 4pm tennis match and realized I had forgot my shoes, so I had to return home and grab them and hustle back. I stepped out on the court, played about 2 games and "wham" that's when my life changed forever. That's when you realize that you are not immortal and that the GOOD LORD has a plan for your life and can take you out when he's ready for you. I remember that GOD had to be looking over me as my survival was a miracle. My first miracle was that I did not take my partner's advice and have him drive me to the ER department at 5pm on a Friday afternoon in rush hour traffic. Not to mention, in and AD situation like mine, (Type A), you don't have time on your side. Had I gone that route, I could have been held up in the ER check in process and waiting in the lobby for all I know. Furthermore, when you ride with the paramedics, they get you through traffic quicker and get you right into a room - at least that's what happened to me. My second major 
miracle I would find out 3 years later was that in this same ER department, and the same ER doctor would see a man 54 years of age come through with similar symptoms exactly 40 days before I arrived there and get "miss-diagnosed" for an anxiety attack and essentially die in the ER room from an Type A aortic dissection. They (ER Department) flat out missed the diagnosis. Did they have that heavy on their minds when I arrived? I was 40 years old and in pretty darn good shape and healthy. I heard the 54 year old man was in good shape as well. What I would later find out is that apparently the last thing that they did was a blood test (possibly a d-dimer) that came back high for a pulmonary imbolism and that's when I remember being shot down this tube -completely inside it and they were taking pictures of my heart. I just wanted out of there! Next thing, a tall man, my surgeon, Dr. James Brevig would be telling me that I had a 50/50 chance of living due to my aortic dissection and needed surgery right away.
Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. Hebrews 11:1. It's amazing what Faith can do for you and how we don't even know how much it goes on in our daily lives. As many of you know, I was laid off on 5/2/2008 and have been looking for a job since 5/3/2008. Up until a few days ago, I was at my wits end and really thinking that I was going to get this job with TWTelecom.com and was told that I was one of the final candidates. I was also told I would hear by Monday of last week that the decision would be made. As of 8/17/2008, I still have not been told. About a week ago, I got an email from a friend of my wife who had sent her something about things women at 45 years of age should not be doing. Anyway, I had my wife send me the email and I saw on the email header a name of a gal that my wife had played on a soccer team with a few years ago. I had actually remember meeting her and speaking with her as we both had worked on the same account, Microsoft. Well, when I got the email from my wife, I decided to email this gal and tell her what happened to me and ask her to send my resume around. On Saturday, the 16th of August, while out on the boat (my sister in laws) on Lake Entiact, I got a call froma recruiter about an opening for their Seattle market. I would have never heard about this opportunity had I not sent this gal an email about asking for help and hoping (faith) that something might become of it. It turns out that after speaking with the recruiter, they think I am perfect for the job and I have one more interview to go! I am supposed to hear from the hiring manager on Monday.
I am hoping tomorrow that I find out if I am going to be able to get my life back on track and start working again. Since being laid off on 5/2/2008, I have been kind of "off track" in that I am feeling like I have no real purpose in life without being able to work and feel like I got something accomplished. Don't get me wrong... I love being home with my family during this summer, but... after searching and searching, I am at the cusp of finally getting the job I really want - a job that a friend told me about out of the blue. 
through a few of them lately and feel more confident after each one. I was lucky enough to have a friend on the "inside" help me with a few tips and I am feeling really best prepared and ready to sell myself and my skill set as to why I am the best candidate for the job.
I published this post yesterday about a press release that I received about a possible detection of a genetic link to diagnosing an "acute aortic dissection" and after further review and checking around with some of my very well known experts - I am not so sure this isn't just a bunch of BS! This has been underway here in the US for a few years and led by one of the top genetics's 