That being the case, I recall a fantastic editorial written by one of my very favorite writers, Maynard Hershon, who wrote a column for *Velo-News *and *Bicycling *for many years. His little story called “The Blanket” talked about drawing the blanket of close friends and associates who hold the common interest of endurance sports around himself as comfort and safety.
That blanket of friends, the acquantances I make here whom I count as friends even though I’ve never met them or know their real names, was the blanket of friends that I turned to in this story. If you read this, please pay particular attention to the paragraph about the swim at this year’s Ironman. I swam with each one of you, and I thank you for a fine swim.
In large part due to your kind camraderie, I will see you in person at the swim start at SuperSEAL on March 29, my first race back.
Welcome to the club Tom. Not one that you want to be in, but if you are, one to be thankful for. That means you survived to become a member, many have not… I’m coming up on my 8th anniversary this summer of my surgery, and get to go through it again in another year or two. I guess it will be another star on the shoulder if I make it through again…Never catch Welchie though, he must have over a dozen of those stars already…
Hope it did’nt affect maratial relations with that hot wife of yours? (-; Remember, pics or it did’nt happen!!! HA!!!
In 05 my 39 year old sister had a stroke. Her doctors said her “quick” recovery was directly attributable to the fact that she was in great shape. To prove she was back, she wanted to do a half marathon. I joined her for my first. She doesn’t fully appreciate it, but her recovery and the run by her side have been the main inspiration to my foray into longer endurance events.
Her episode, stories like yours and my wife living with cancer really trivialize this hobby of mine. Hard to take this stuff so seriously when real life stories like yours abound. I may not swim, ride and run with the best of them, but I’m damn lucky to do it at all. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for that.
I am very thankful to the Lord that he brought you through this Tom and very thankful that you wrote about it. It was a great read and you brought a tear to this mean old SOBs eye. So thank you…sort of.
You’ve had it closed, so it shouldn’t. That’s the recommended course for suspected PFO caused bends cases. And I don’t think a stroke for which you have no lingering issues is a contraindication for diving. But be honest when you fill out the medical history form But I am not a doctor…
Not that I would have, but I didn’t realize this was going on and didn’t realize it was this recent until I re read the editorial. Wow. Glad everything turned out well under the circumstances
Very nice article and glad you are able to write it first hand instead of us reading a story written by someone else.
I really enjoy these kinds of stories that can help to teach us all about the importance of annual checkups and following up on doctors orders. Of course, on Slowtwitch.com is like preaching to a choir.
Very close family members have gone through horrific and scary health issues…some have come out the other end and some haven’t. We are all deeply changed, somehow, by these occurances.
I often forward these stories to friends and family members to show that there is a “light at the end of the tunnel”. Also to know that there are doctors and available new technology that we expect to be there and do the job when we need it.
Thanks for the input. I’m a recreational diver now so I just like to go to moderate depths to see the fishes and sharks and whatnot. I think it will be fine.
