Another Happy New-Birth Day

Well, I'm FOUR years old today! I can't believe how quickly these four years have passed. I'm surprised to find that I don't remember most of it. Part of that may be that I haven't done much in all that time, but it's mostly because of my anoxic brain injury. Hard thing for me to accept, but what choice do I have? That's the way it is... and I live with it, that's all.

It would have been impossible to get this far alone, without a support group.
It is hard to say just what "support" really means. Sometimes, it is like an ocean, at times very rough. A long, wooden board floats on the water. I have my hands on it - sometimes wrapping one arm around it so I can keep my head above water while I sleep - but at least one hand on it, always. It would be a very lonely existence if not for the others, themselves lost at sea, who have taken hold of this same piece of driftwood. And so my life goes on, pretty much without me it seems, but I'm not alone. I have my friends. Some let go, preferring to sink or swim on their own. New ones come along to replace them.

I carve another notch into the wood with my fingernails, the fourth so far, hoping I'll remember. Next year, it will be five notches if the sharks and such don't take me.
Fins, dark and scary, circle around us. Now and then, something heavy under the water bumps hard against my legs. It passes by... rubbing roughly as it goes. I try to remain calm... and be still. I tell myself, "This too shall pass." And it does.
These hungry feeders - chest pains, high blood pressure, tiredness, insomnia, amnesia, unusual heartbeats - they never leave. They just circle round and round. As if they are waiting for their dinner to be ready... al dente.
Worse yet, are the sea birds. They come down and peck away at me without mercy. They steal memories from my head as easily as the shore birds pull worms from the ground. They are relentless.

But, I have my friends. They have their troubles and I have mine. We can't do much for each other except to tell ourselves that "soon it will be better". We're not afraid of the water anymore. It would be easy to just let go, sink, and be done with it. The sharks and birds won't bother us if we sink, but no one wants to let go of the board - not just yet. And so, we hang on...

We ARE the survivors.

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New Group On Facebook - "Surviving Cardiac Arrest"

 I started a new group on Facebook. It is called "Surviving Cardiac Arrest".

It is for survivors of sudden cardiac arrest and/or the loved ones/caregivers of the survivor. Someone left behind by the passing away of a survivor, is always welcome.
 If you would like to join, and you are a Facebook member, then just look up the group and click the "Join Group" button. Or you may email me, or message me, on Facebook and let me know. I will then sign you in. The group is growing quickly - mostly by recommendations from members.
  I wrote a statement describing the group's purpose, and a few ground rules.
Here it is...


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Statement To New Members
  By Bob Turri - Facebook Group, "Surviving Cardiac Arrest"

Hi, [name];

 Thank you for your interest in our group.
A few issues have arisen that make it necessary for me to precede membership with a statement about this group and its purpose. I tend to be long-winded and I apologize for the length of the following statement, but some things just don't fit into "sound-bytes".

About me and this group:

 I am Bob Turri, also known as 'rturri' on Inspire.com and elsewhere. I had a
sudden cardiac arrest on April 6, 2008.
I started this group as a way of allowing open and honest discussions about
health issues relating to the heart - and especially about living with the after
effects of a cardiac arrest; which include medications, medical procedures,
prosthetic devices such as ICDs and pacemakers, and anoxic brain injury.

 The displayed "motto" of this group, at this time, is "Helping One Another To
Help One Another". It is a group of individuals who need to relate on a one to
one basis, with Friends who understand the experience of living every day after a cardiac arrest. For some this seems easy, but for many others it is not. For a few, these groups are the only way to stay in touch with others, and find real friendship.

 Most especially, I want to help SCA survivors to converse with other survivors, but many times they are isolated and lonely. In cases where brain injury has left physical disabilities, they need someone's help to communicate. Let us PLEASE BE PATIENT and help the other to participate, and to be an important part of our group.

 "Survivors" of cardiac arrests and their caregivers/loved ones are welcome in
this group. I am a participating member, and I am available to other members to discuss any private concerns. In addition to a group "chat box", Facebook
provides private chatting and messaging. Of course, members can meet outside of the group through email, etc, so that the few restrictions here should not be a problem for anyone.

This is a "Closed Group":

 Members' posts are not visible to non-members. Members may, at times, reveal medical or personal details about themselves or others, so the privacy of our members is important. This group is a "Closed Group" for that reason.

Purpose:

    Share our knowledge and experience.
    Be respectful of one another.
    Respect and remember the names of members who have passed on due to
    sudden cardiac arrest.

 Anoxic Brain Injury (ABI) is likely to follow a cardiac arrest. It can make
communication difficult and may be very embarrassing. Again, PLEASE BE PATIENT with members for whom this is an issue, and let us all be helpful and
encouraging.
Remember... the next ABI may be your own!

    Restrictions:

    No soliciting
    No marketing
    No recruiting
    No collection of member-data for use outside of this group.
    No selling
    No fund raising
    No posting of videos or web-links, or displaying of logos and organizational
    names, for the purpose of any of the above.

 There is a world full of opportunities for the above activities. This group
will not be one of them. Simply put... NO SPAMMING!

 As for me, I have a special place in my Heart for cardiac arrest victims who
have been, or will be, in emergency rooms, ICUs, and nursing homes - their loved ones fearing the worst in all cases. I have and will continue to befriend the dying and those who are losing someone special. It is in this environment that the reality of cardiac arrest, and death, is painfully clear to everyone.
And it is where the experience of "Surviving Cardiac Arrest" will begin for the
precious few who live on - and for their loved ones. Both are the "Survivors".

 Let me be perfectly clear - being SAVED from a cardiac arrest means much more than simply getting a stopped heart to beat again. One still must live long enough to become a "Survivor".

This group is for those who do.
Please let us never forget those who do not.

 Sincerely,
 Bob Turri

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On My Birthday

 Today, on my birthday, I'd like to give to my friends my best wishes, thoughts and prayers. (You know who you are!)

 I have little else in this world but I have time, and I have some friends. Nothing can be gained that is more worthwhile; and nothing can be lost that is more regretful.

 To my friends, I wish the very best to you and I pray that your needs will be met, your desires fulfilled, and that your Hearts will be filled with happiness.

  As for me, I am grateful for you. Thank you for being my friends.

 Bob