Taking a leave of absence....
 

Hello all, some of you might remember the guy I told you about that had a heart so big that I will never meet another person like him. He was on the hunting trip last year with us, and he's also the one who you might remember as buying me that Kawasaki drill. Well three weeks ago he flew back by himself to Chicago, and was prepared to live there for up to 2 years waiting for his heart transplant. He had open heart surgery when he was 7, and they told them then that eventually he would need a different heart. He's now 36 and what could have taken up to 2 years suddenly turned into Tuesday night, and he had the transplant. At first the new heart started to beat on its own, but stopped a short time after, they have him on a heart/lung machine and he can actually tell people are in the room, his 12 year old son and his wife and mom and dad and sister are all there now. They said the new heart sometimes after surgery needs to rest after the trauma of being cut on. Its not too uncommon. The doctor has done 600 heart transplants and is the best in the country. The problem is that Danny is tired from all of the time spent with a bad heart, and also I just heard that when the doctor took out his old heart, it just fell apart in his hands, so he said that he wouldn't have lived for 2 more days anyway.

Anyway, I will probably not be on much for a while, and realistically I will never be the same after this. I have only known him for 7 years, but I would trade my life in a second if I could. Please nobody say anything like God needed another angel in heaven, because not only is that not accurate according to the bible, it gives no comfort to those left behind. We all have the hope of seeing him again, not in heaven, but on earth. That's right the bible speaks of a time when all those we care about that have fallen asleep in death will be resurrected to a perfect life on earth, and that is my hope. Death is the fabric that we all have in common, and when I think about all of the petty arguments there have been on this forum, and all the other small things that come up from time to time, it all becomes as if it never happened compared to this. All other interests, all other problems and anything else that seems to be important really becomes so insignificant that you can't even measure it.

Sorry for this, but I guess its all part of the grieving process. And as I sat here at my desk this morning hearing that things are not looking good, I broke down and cried, I guess it finally hit me, and really I'm not sad for him, although I will miss him until then, but its always the people left behind that we grieve for. His wife and his 12 year old son, his mom and dad, his other brother and his sister that will be completely destroyed by all of this. The last time I cried this much was when my Step dad, who was my best friend passed away with Cancer in 1985. Maybe we need a good cry once in a while to make us realize what we have, and to not ever take anything or anyone for granted.

Its just not fair, and its not the way it was meant to be in the beginning. Anyway, sorry for this long post, I try and not ask selfishly that he is going to be OK, but that is how we are made up. If not for me then certainly for his family. We are all so close, as if we are all related, and in some ways even more so that real families. We want to keep those around us close to us. There is nothing wrong with that. I really hope that if all you get out of reading this is that you take the time right now, today to go up to someone you care about and give them a hug, and let them know how you feel, then I didn't waste my time typing all of this. If you can do that for me, then knowing that will help in some way, as weird as that sounds. They might look at you like there is something wrong, but just share why and let them know that you care. That's all.:(

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I love you man.

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Sorry to hear the news Deej. I am going to pray for him, and for you and all of the people that love your friend.

-Rick

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I will keep him in my prayers and his family as well and you Deej.
-Claudio

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As i was reading it i said a prayer for him and his family and friends bro.

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Sorry to hear man...... I wasnt sure, did he pass? or is he still here? sorry it wasnt clear.

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Sorry Deej. [:o]

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Thats sad deej, life is short and fragile. Most of us do not really appreciate what we have and how quickly it can be gone or destroyed.

Best wishes..... I hope he heals...and quickly.

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sorry about your buddy Deej[&o] hope it all works out for the best[8D]

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Sorry about your friend, Deej. I hope he pulls through.

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sorry to hear about your news deej. will be here for ya, though.

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We'll be here for you, deej.

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my prayers go to him, you and your families.

one day at a time bro.. be strong for him. he can hear you when ya talk to him... trust me..

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Sorry to hear this Bro. I am hoping that the new heart will start beating, and he will be able to go trail riding and camping with you again. I am not religious in the normal sense but I will pray in my own way that your friend will pull through and all will be happy again.
If nothing else, he is a fortunate man to have a friend as loyal as you.
Love ya Bro!..........take care

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Thank you all for your words. I sent Kathy a message letting her know that all of the support here in this forum, even though I will probably never meet most of you has been tremendous. And it doesn't matter if you are a religious person or not. We all feel the pain of circumstances like this. We got the call this morning that he passed away. The Doctors said the surgery went perfect, and even they are besides themselves. I was tell Kathy that doctors and nurses are supposed to not get personally attached to their patients, but in Danny's case he infected everyone that came in contact with his personality. Even the Doctors and nurses cried with the family. Anyway its going to be the hardest weeks and months to come, but we have this family of Brothers and Sisters that is not unlike what we have here in this forum, all across the globe. Its called an international Brotherhood. Its almost unbelievable to those outside it. But no matter where we go, be it the next state over, the country or anywhere in the world, we have this network ofalmost7 million best friends that we can lean on. Anyway I just wanted to tell you all that every kind word in here for me personally is adding upto help in my own process. I was telling some of the friends, that the painful feeling of not knowing, of uncertainty, and the feeling of not being in control ofthis situation brought back some real bad feelings from when my first wife left me and I didn't know why, or where she was or what she was doing. That same sick almost debilitating feeling swept over me this week but after we got the call this morning, I sat there in bed thinking about all the awesome times I had with this guy, and what a privilege it was to know him, suddenly that feeling started to leave me. I guess itis the first step in the process. Anyway, thanks again all of you that wrote, and even for those of you that might not have written because its hard to know exactly what to say. Its OK, you all are great people. And as I said before, take the time to tell people how you feel, and not only with words, but actions. Younever know what tomorrow brings. The bible says,"time andunforeseen occurrences befall us all." And what that means is don't take anything for granted. I hope you all take this experience of mine or your own experiences and use it to remember what you have. Thanks again.

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celebrate his awsome life he had, dont think about him being gone....


Im so sorry deej, these things always get to me, i can go to a funeral and not even know the person and i see the family and friends so upset that i have to hold back tears.... Im sorry man. We are here for ya.

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I am really sorry about your friend Deej, we are here for you

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Deej,

The way you described this guy, he would not want you to be sad for long, that's the way good friends feel. I know if anything ever happens to me, I want people to celebrate my life and not my death. The best way to keep friends alive after their gone is through your memories. Just ride to the top of a mountain, and remember all the good times you had with him, and he will be there with you and you will know it.
Even death cannot seperate good friends...............I promise. When I go to the place where I scattered my best friends ashes, I can feel his presence and I talk to him. And when I leave, I feel as though I got to see him and I dont miss him as bad. And when I ride his Harley, it seems like he's there. Good friends live on in your soul and your memories.
Keep your chin up my brother.

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deej: That the same pic of your bud like maybe two yrs ago? Tough losing a friend. Hope that the family is doing ok.

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hang in there dee, were here when you need us.

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My heart goes out to ya bro, celebrate his life.