In 1992 I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure after having experienced a massive heart attack 10 years earlier, followed by two different bypass surgeries. The first was a quadruple bypass, and the second was an emergency surgery when two of the original bypasses failed. In June of that year I was told I would need a heart transplant or I wouldn't see Christmas.

My first guardian angel was Mary, my wife, and still my primary one. She was with me the night of my heart attack and watched over me (along with her guardian angel) making all of the right decisions, starting with calling 911. I don't remember a lot from that night, I kept passing out, but I do remember the look on her face. I saw that same look again when they gave us the news about my transplant. Each time this was followed by a soft glow surrounding her beautiful face, and each time I knew I was going to be safe. I also remember waking up one time and seeing the smiling, reassuring face of our family doctor, Dr. Sam Stephens, looking down at me telling me everything was going to be all right.

< align left> Many of my guardian angels took on the form of nurses and, in some cases, doctors. I remember a couple of special ones while I was in ICU following my heart attack. One was the head nurse there, she had a special aura that surrounded me when she was near. The psych nurse had a similar aura too. They both showed up again when I had the two different bypass surgeries even though several years had passed. Early in 1992 I began to experience the signs of congestive heart failure. My cardiologist sent me for evaluation for a heart transplant and fortunately I was accepted and put on the waiting list. I was admitted to ICU at a local hospital as my condition was getting worse daily. After 2 months in intensive care I was flown by helicopter to Shands' ICU for more intensive care.

I can strongly recommend a teaching hospital, especially Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, for heart care. I have never experienced such dedicated and caring people anywhere else. It's a place that seems to attract special guardian angels. When you go through this experience you become sensitive to those special people who are surrounded by that warming aura. My first contact at Shands turned out to be one of my special Angels. Her aura overwhelmed me immediately & still sweeps over me whenever Susan appears.

Angels aren't all female.
There are other male angels besides the four Archangels.

The morning they came into my room in MICU to tell me they had found THE heart for me, my two male Angels, Dr Roger Mills and Chuck (one of the coordinators) delivered the news (grinning from ear to ear like a couple of Cheshire cats) each bathed in that special glow. The feeling of relief was like suddenly realizing I had been holding my breath for the last 3 months. Since I had already experienced open heart surgery twice before, the transplant surgery was not a big mystery for me. I knew what to expect. However, my body was in such a weakened condition that my recovery was a little difficult. I literally had to learn to walk all over again. My muscles had deteriorated and I had to go through intensive physical therapy. But my wonderful new heart was working like a champ and helped me to a speedy recovery. Mary and I go for a long walk every morning right around sunrise, it's our special time together to refresh our spirits with a healthy dose of nature.

With every breath I say a silent prayer for my Donor and his wonderful family who agreed to allow his organs to be shared. The emotional rollercoaster one experiences with a transplant can only be shared by the recipient and the Donor family. I want my Donor's family to know that their son is my "special" Guardian Angel. It's very difficult to put into words the "Thank You" due every Donor family. But I certainly hope every recipient tries, even though it may take several months to recover enough physically and emotionally to find the right words without them sounding shallow. It's very difficult to express the gratitude through the fog of emotions that surrounds you during this time. Each person is different so the recovery and emotional reaction varies.