An Open Heart

By Bill Rasmussen
Editor, raynoah.com

I recently went through open heart surgery for a double bypass.

I’m sharing these thoughts in the hopes that they will be an encouragement to someone. Two to three years ago I began to feel a lack of energy when I started to do tasks that required exertion. I didn’t think much about the cause other than “maybe it’s because I’m getting older.”

Then two to three weeks ago I began to experience chest pains, otherwise known as “Angina”. Upon a visit to my primary care physician, he immediately referred me to a cardiologist and prescribed nitroglycerin. After a visit to the cardiologist, he informed me that I needed to undergo some additional tests. An echocardiogram was scheduled and it showed some possible blockage of two heart arteries. The pain continued and the “nitro” worked its magic BUT the Doc said the next test would be an angiogram. The angiogram was immediately scheduled at St. Vincent hospital and the results of the angiogram showed 100, 98 & 87% blockages in the main arteries supplying blood to the heart itself. The test was performed on a Wednesday morning and the results given to us immediately with instructions to contact our cardiologist.

Now watch the Lord and his angels swing into action! He takes care of every detail.

Upon returning home from the hospital, I called the cardiologist’s office for an appointment and was told that they could see me in a week. I told the receptionist, I don’t think I can wait that long as there is 100% blockage. She responded with there has been a cancellation today and we can see you at noon. After that visit, the cardiologist called the cardiac surgeon and I was scheduled to visit him the next day at 10am. He had already scheduled surgery for Monday morning after reviewing the test results before I even visited him. At 4pm after the visit with my surgeon, I was scheduled for a visit to the heart unit at the hospital for surgery indoctrination in preparation for Monday morning surgery. Here an angel in the personage of a nurse, told us you don’t have to go home today and wait for surgery over the weekend, we can admit you right now if you ask us to. We agreed and she called the surgeon and they scheduled emergency surgery for Saturday morning at 7am.

Again in the way the Lord works out details, my surgeon was the senior cardiac surgeon, Dr. Storm Floten, from the world renowned “Starr Heart Clinic” and the anesthesiologist was the Director of Anesthesiology at St Vincent Hospital. All for emergency surgery on a Saturday morning. I am so blessed. I woke up some time Saturday night/Sunday morning in CICU and they told me my “rabbi’s” had already been by to see me. Thank you Pastors Ray & Ron. I spent 4 more days in the hospital and then they sent me home. God is so good because even after open heart surgery I have experienced no pain and the healing is coming along nicely. And thank you to everyone who has prayed, visited, or called. Most of all, thank you to Jesus.

I don’t know how close I was to Eternity’s door but there wasn’t much margin with 100% blockage. I have to believe there must be some assignments to still complete and maybe writing this blog is my first assignment since I have never done anything like this before!!!

Two lessons here: First, listen to your body and take good care of it. It is the temple of the Lord.

Secondly, this is a good segue to talking more about an “Open heart”. Let’s look at Ephesians 1:18. In the New International Version, it says,

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”

Jesus has a wonderful plan all laid out for us to benefit from an eternity with him. But we must accept this plan of grace. Confess your sin, tell him you are sorry, ask for forgiveness and accept his grace for your life.

As your brother and friend, I encourage you, just as I accepted the surgeon’s gift of restoring my health by totally putting my life in his hands with open heart surgery, to “OPEN YOUR HEART” to our Living Savior, know the hope to which he has called you, and in effect totally put your life in his hands. You must open your heart and accept his gift. It will be the best decision you will ever make and it is so easy. An open heart and a softened spirit. An eternity with God.

Thank you Pastor Ray, for letting me share my heart with your readers.