25 October 2022.
I consider this date a second birthday.
On that day, it truly wasn’t a given that I’d live to see any more days.
By the grace of God, and the fine surgeons who performed my triple bypass surgery, I am still here and in better health and spirits than I have been in a long while.
There are few things that reset a man’s entire outlook like open heart surgery.
I didn’t walk out of Johns Hopkins the same man I was when I walked in the week before. Open heart surgery is as much a life-changing experience as it is a life-saving procedure.
It’s not just the physical pain. It’s the psychological interruption—the moment your mortality moves from concept to confrontation.
And once you’ve been cracked open, kept alive by machines, and stitched back together, you don’t walk back into life the same man who walked into that hospital.
I wanted to take the time to properly post about my experience and how it changes a man’s life. How it changed my life.
1. You Stop Taking Time for Granted
Before surgery, time felt unlimited—something to waste, kill, or fill.
After surgery, you realize:
-Every second is a gift
-Every birthday is a win
-Every quiet moment with your loved ones is sacred
The man who once rushed through life now learns to sit still—and listen.
2. You Rethink What “Strong” Really Means
Strength used to mean pushing through pain, skipping rest, proving toughness.
Now, it means:
-Taking care of your body
-Asking for help
-Knowing when to slow down
-Respecting your limits
Open heart surgery humbles even the toughest men.
Because real strength is surviving with grace—not just fighting with pride.
3. You Learn Who Actually Shows Up
Hospitals have a way of clearing the room.
When you’re lying in a gown, vulnerable and unsure, you find out real quick:
-Who checks in
-Who stays silent
-Who loves you for who you are—not just what you provide
It’s a brutal blessing—but it reveals the true depth of your relationships.
I learned something I already knew. I have an absolute warrior saint as my beloved wife 💙
4. You Stop Delaying What Matters
“I’ll take that trip next year.”
“I’ll start eating better when work slows down.”
“I’ll fix things with my brother… eventually.”
After open heart surgery, eventually becomes unacceptable.
There’s an urgency now—not from fear, but from clarity.
You see that tomorrow isn’t promised—and that’s exactly why today matters more than ever.
5. You Look at Your Family Differently
There’s a moment—sometimes before surgery, sometimes after—where you look at your wife, your kids, your parents, your people… and wonder:
“What if that had been the last time I saw them?”
And suddenly:
-Petty arguments fade
-Forgiveness becomes easier
-Time with them becomes more important than time on your phone
You come back with a softer heart, even if your chest feels like it was hit by a truck.
6. You Start Living With Legacy in Mind
Before surgery, legacy might’ve felt like a lofty idea.
After surgery, it becomes personal.
You start asking:
“What will I leave behind?”
“How will I be remembered by the people I love?”
“What kind of man am I becoming now that I’ve been given more time?”
You realize legacy isn’t about money or monuments.
It’s about memories and meaning.
7. You Let Go of What Doesn’t Matter
The stress, the grudges, the endless need to prove something to people who don’t matter—gone.
You start protecting your peace like your life depends on it.
Because now you know: it just might.
Final Word:
A man doesn’t see life the same after open heart surgery.
He sees it with clearer eyes, a slower pace, and a deeper gratitude.
Not because everything is perfect.
But because he knows it almost wasn’t.
And from that moment forward, life becomes less about noise—and more about what’s real.
I celebrate 25 October with a gratitude I can’t describe. I live every day with purpose. I’m acutely aware of how fragile life is.
And how precious our time is.
-The Rational Ram
The Rational Ram 