Proof of Life
Bozeman, Montana
2025
(Photo by Connie Blackwood)
Some of you may be wondering why I quit posting POTDs back in April. One obvious explanation would be that I had kicked the bucket unexpectedly. If you thought that, you were close to being right. I went to Mayo Cinic in Rochester, MN for a two day routine heart checkup. I ended up being admitted to the hospital and staying there for 179 days plus a couple weeks as an outpatient. During that 6+ months I had three open-heart surgeries, two heart attacks and a minor stroke. The last surgery was to get a heart transplant. This photo of me was taken just a few days ago after returning home. I’ve recovered considerably since earlier in the summer when I weighed some 125 pounds or so, looking more like this:
That’s me on the left. 🙂 On the right is Lily a service dog trained to entertain patients. I still have a lot of rehab left to do but notice small improvements almost daily.
Anyway, that’s my story (the short version). I’m not sure when I’ll be in a position to start regular POTDs again, but I’m hoping to once the dust settles around here. So stay tuned.
It’s been forever, but sending my best wishes for your recovery. And more time with Lily as you get stronger. Sorry to hear you’ve been through all of this!
Thanks Janet, and yes it has been forever. I rarely look at Facebook any more but catch a bit of info from your posts now and then. I think you are, or were, living in France. That must be a really great experience for you.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to receive a POTD notification! Was so happy to hear you finally made your way back out west, and was hoping POTDs would make a welcome return. Looking forward to their return soon!
Based on just this proof of life photo, you look like you never left Montana or went through everything you just went through. What a difference between the first and second photos.
Here’s to many, many more POTDs in the future!
Thanks so much Dan. I’m glad I look and feel pretty health in that photo. But phone cameras do have a way of automatically making people look a bit better than they really are. I will be working hard to bring my actual self up to the level of fitness the photo implies.
Welcome home! You’re looking great! I missed POTDs and welcome them whenever you’re up to sending them.
Thanks Carol. I’m hoping the POTDs will be back with some regularity soon.
Today is a good day!!! I look forward to your return to daily POTD’s. You are truly amazing…
Thanks Jodi. And thanks to you, Kurt and Luc for visiting me when you were “in the neighborhood”. It was very special.
You can’t believe how good it was to see POTD in my inbox this morning. You look great in the first picture but that second picture is hard to look at. Thankful you were at Mayo when all of this took place – I would assume you got excellent care there. You – and Connie – have traveled a long road and it’s so good to see you back in action. I look forward to more POTDs. Take care, friend.
Sorry about that second photo. It actually wasn’t the hardest one for me to look at. Mayo took pretty good care of me but I’m not down with them yet. I will have a number of return visits with them for the first year after the transplant. I’m going to try my hardest not to let them get their claws in me and suck me back into inpatient care. 179 days of that is more than enough for a lifetime I think.
Dear Larry, I am so sorry to hear about your heart problems and six plus months in the hospital. It is a amazing to think about a heart transplant as it is such a major thing. I like the first picture of you with the mountains behind you on your way to recovery. How is Connie doing? After two bouts of cancer with my husband I have an understanding of how she must feel. A serious illness can be devasting to both the patient and the family. Please know I will keep both you and Connie in my thoughts and prayers.
All the best, Linda
Thanks Linda, and good to hear from you. Connie is doing well, as far as I can tell anyway. She sat in my hospital room with me 12 hours every day, with few breaks. She is a rock and I don’t think I would have survived without her. Connie herself has had five cancers, but fortunately none required chemo or radiation. She did however have several major surgeries. So we can both relate to what you went through with your husband.
This is my favorite photo you’ve ever posted!!!!!
Well, shucks. It’s hard to believe but I thank you for it.
Whoo hoo – finally! I was very worried about you and missed POTD so much. It is the way I start my day! I am sorry you have been through all of this and wish you the very best recovery time and not too much stress!
Molly
Thanks Molly, it’s nice to be missed. I’m not feeling too urgent a need to get back to the POTDs but I think I’ll get there soon.
I’m so happy to see the return of your POTD posts and to learn a bit more about what you’ve been through these past 6+ months. Recovery will surely be sweeter now that you’re home. I will be curious to see how these events might come through, directly or indirectly, in your work. Much love to you and your rock.
Thanks Janet. I think the return of the POTDs is going to be sparse at best for a while. I’m still trying to catch up with six months of financial and other “chores” around here. You are right though, recovery is sweeter at home. As far as how my experience will come through some way in my work, I don’t feel like it will but you can tell me otherwise if you see something! My rock and I send you love as well. And it was very nice to hear from you.
My first thought when I saw this post was, “That’s the best photo I’ve seen in a long time!” (I saw it soon after you posted, but failed to post my comment.) I was only recently aware of all you’ve been through after Janet tipped me off, but then we still questioned, as it just seemed so unbelievable.
I look forward to seeing more posts in the future & will try to do better communicating!
Hi Connie, good to hear from you. Sorry for not letting you (and Janet) know what was going on way before I got around to posting that POTD. And it was unbelievable and still feels that way even after being home for almost a month. I’d prefer to see it as unbelievable actually, but I’ll get a dose of Mayo Clinic reality when I go back for a routine follow-up visit December 12.