Publisher's Synopsis
At age five the doctors told my mother I needed open heart surgery. My mother questioned the doctors' decision. More tests were ordered and after reviewing the results the doctors reluctantly decided to hold off on the surgery and sent me home. I did everything in my power to try to live a normal childhood but was challenged physically and emotionally. My teens started out to be just a challenging. The majority of my classmates did not understand my condition and made fun of me. I felt sad and angry because I was left out of fun physical activities. These feelings eventually motivated me. I decided to fill my mind, body and soul with determination. Miraculous things began to happen. My new normal included playing football, building houses and being looked up to by my peers. I also built a comfortable, somewhat fulfilling life for myself yet knowing someday I would need open heart surgery. At age 58, I was wheeled into the operating room to have my aortic valve replaced with a Saint Jude titanium valve. As scared as I was, after I realized my new life was about to begin.
