Comments on: A Day of Remembering

By: Scot Phelps

Scot Phelps — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:05:24 +0000

James,
Great story. I was a paramedic in NYC for 20 years, so I have seen (not lived) most of what you’ve been through and I’m glad you are feeling better now.

Just as an aside, you are right on about the glucose, although my dad had a blood glucose of 1200 and was still conscious (although wacked out of his mind….) Lots of tough people out there, including you.

Regards,
Scot Phelps

By: James Kendrick

James Kendrick — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:51:16 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts, they mean a lot to me. This was a major event in my life and I find comfort in sharing it every year at this time.

I should point out something- when I wrote this in 2004 I mentioned how I heard how good a surgeon Dr. Gerald Lawrie is. Recent proof of that he is the surgeon chosen to do Barbara Bush’s recent heart surgery. He is the best and I am so lucky.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:21:25 +0000

James,

I could not stop reading your story. It made me think how dramatically health issues can change our lives, and that we need to cherish the our loved ones and the time we have with them. My wife is going through some serious health issues right now so your story really hit home for me.

I am glad you are doing well and love your site. Keep up the good work.

Mark

By: Andre

Andre — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:10:50 +0000

Thank You for posting James
Incredible story -

By: Dutchman

Dutchman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:08:28 +0000

Hello James,

I almost never react on articles, but i felt that i must do now. Every day, since a guess 3 years, looking on jkontherun gives a lot of information but also a “good feeling” of how it is written down. It is in a style i like to read. When i first saw “Remembering 9/11″ i thought what to do with it. I followed this week a lot of documentary and movies about 9/11, but it’s for us in Europe (specific The Netherlands) still different than in your own country. But i decided to give attention to the article and now some 30 till 40 minutes later it felt good to have read it. Why ? Because i read a story of a tech-man with a lot of emotions, the human-side of life. Thanks James and Good Luck.

By: Eddie (Paul)

Eddie (Paul) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:21:54 +0000

I am mad at you for posting this! But not for the reason(s) you may think… I stopped to check the site real quick and unfortunately started reading this posting. Now I love to read and I am not slow about but, you made me late for a date because I couldn’t stop. *sigh* Hope she understands…

Hope all is still well with you.

By: Luscious

Luscious — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:41:13 +0000

It’s incredible the story that you have shared James, but it does indeed illustrate what real life is. Not only that, but you have documented it so well – the value of human life is sometimes forgotten by us.

As for French companies, I too worked for one back in 2002. While I wouldn’t exactly call them “scum of the earth”, I’m glad I’m no longer there. Good on you to have them pick up the tab. :)

Keep up the great work James! You and Kevin make this fine blog what it is.

By: bluespapa

bluespapa — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:29:35 +0000

Amazing account in so many ways. Thank you for sharing this. Very deeply moving, riveting account.

I think this is one of the best sentences I’ve ever read:

“You are confronted with your own vitality and mortality at the same time when you are actually looking at your own heart.”

And like you, I read a lot. I also thought the line about the morbidity of the metaphor, the light at the end of the tunnel, was stunning.

Makes one think hard about counting one’s blessings.

Thank you, James. Glad you made it to this season of your life. Long life to you, my friend.

Steve

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:24:29 +0000

James

What a touching and informative story. I have been
reading your story to my wife who is currently in a rehab center recovering from knee replacement surgery. It sure puts things in their proper perspective and also reminds us how important it is to get regular medical checkups.

sssssssssssssssssssssss

By: David Chereb

David Chereb — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:49:15 +0000

Thank you for sharing the details of your story. I had a similar experience and can attest to the excellence of the medical care I received. What made it bearable was the love of my wife and putting my faith in the doctors, nurses and God. And thank you for writing this blog, I stop by every day to see what’s new in the world of portable computing and communications.

By: DaveTN

DaveTN — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:22:57 +0000

James,
Thank you for sharing your story with us and I hope that it may save someones life. I work in Critical care as a Respiratory Therapist and hope to start physician assistnat school next year. My specialty will be cardiothoracic surgery.
I see all too often your situation and sometimes worse…people that wait too long to seek help. They are usually rushed into the ER with a tube in their throat and chest compressions in progress. At that point the survivability drops off considerably. Early warning signs are so very important but most people brushe them off saying “its nothing” or “I’ll just end up bothering the doctor”. I have seen too many people that have done that and have not lived to tell about it.
Another thing that I consider very important is to always tell you spouse and you family that you love them. No matter what my frame of mind is in the morning as I’m leaving for work, I still tell my wife I love her and she does the same for me. I never know if it will be the last time. I see that often in my line of work and its a terrible thing to endure.
All the best to you and I’m glad you lived to write about it.

David Arpino

By: david

david — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:35:25 +0000

Thank you for your posting!