Another day, more friends visiting for the holidays.....more joy.
Friends of ours visited for the first time in quite some time from Concord, NC and it was a wonderful time.


We built a fire, made some slow-cooker chili, and watched White Christmas. Just a simple day, with simple food and good friends. I am not sure it really could have been a much better conclusion to the holiday weekend.


Now we need to get back to "reality" tomorrow. The kids return to school for the first time since last Tuesday while Ashley & I return to work. Normally, I would not want to return to "reality", but since last November....since my heart attack....




.........I STILL don't want to return to "reality".


Nope; I'll be honest, I think I have a healthier outlook on life now. You know, little things don't bother me, spilled milk doesn't draw tears. But, let's be real; there is a limit to having a sunny disposition and that limit lies directly at the end of a near perfect holiday weekend.


I would love to tell you that this was another time where I was "just happy to be hear" (remember yesterday's post?). Sadly, I can not use that line this time. While I AM ecstatic that I am still around and alive TO return to work, I just can't tell you that I am sooooo happy to be going back to work, and the pitfalls of "real life".


So, gang, I hope you all don't think less of me, but tonight, I am not sunny, I am not satisfied with just being here, I am not excited to return to reality......I don't want this weekend to end, I am tired and I am not looking forward to waking 3 tired children up in the morning.


That's all I got for ya tonight.....reality.


Good night & God bless.

Okay, okay, okay.....yes....I took the holiday off.
Honestly, I was just enjoying my life too much these last couple of days.




Tuesday was awesome. Wednesday brought me back down to earth a bit, but then Thursday was another wonderful day....Friday & today, I got to spend with my kids. WE had the most AWESOME tickle fight on Friday night & then spent today getting stuff to begin our preparations for Christmas & a ski trip in February.


I am so excited to be celebrating what I consider my first "normal" holiday season since the heart attack. Well, okay, let's not call it normal YET, but it certainly feels more normal that the last one did.


In all honesty, I don't know if ANY Christmas, Thanksgiving, or challenging day will ever pass without someone saying, "At least you are here to celebrate it". I mean, that sentiment even passed a few lips when I was working though my dad's passing in June; "Well, at least he had you here in his final days".


Now, don't get me wrong. Every time someone SAYS those things, they are 100% correct and justified in saying them. It just strikes me that this is yet one more way in which my life is forever changed. That phrase, "at least you are here for it," will forever (or at least for the foreseeable future) be a part of my life. It will be part of the good days and the bad. It is as much a part of me now as the stint they put in, and the need to watch my diet and exercise.


...and you know....




At least I am here to talk about that fact, huh?




<<Anyone not see THAT coming?>>


Well, that is about it for today. Remember to keep an eye out for me on Facebook doing silly variations on the 22 Push-up for 22 Day Challenge. That challenge is in support of Veterans who try to commit suicide and I have 2 days left to do...wonder what it'll be tonight.


Good night & God bless.

Well, as you all know, yesterday was pretty fantastic.
Today started out pretty tough. For me, there were the day to day problems and then a few extra hassles.


For my wife, a tough day doesn't start to describe it.
She found out today that someone she knows from work...someone not out of college yet...died in a car accident. It was a hard story to hear, suffice to say he did not suffer much.


So, while I have ridden a bit of a roller coaster over the last year, no one has had to endure the dramatic drops like Ashley has. A year ago, she had to deal with me; hard enough. Today, she had to go from the high of yesterday's joy, to the sadness of losing someone who is WAY too young to die. TO make matters worse, she heard about it before she even got out of her pajamas this morning.


And yet, Ashley went to work, took care of those kids like no one else can & came home to us.
THAT my dear readers is strength; that is faith.


AS my first year of my new life passes I think of all of the times people tell me how much I have been through, but realize that Ashley & my kids have been through all of that and more...and they didn't have people taking care of THEM for 2 months when this all started.


When you go to bed tonight, if you are so inclined, say a prayer for my wife and kids. Ask God that he give them a year of joy and happiness that makes up for the hell they had to go through over the last year.


Good night & God bless.

Sunday, November 22, 2015...Tuesday, November 22, 2016


Yes, that is EXCATLY ONE YEAR
Or...12 months.
Or...52 weeks.
Or...1 cancer diagnosis.
Or...1 loss of a father.
OR...1 lifetime, my lifetime...........since my REbirthday


However you want to measure it, this has been an eventful 12 months.


My kids have turned 3, 7 and 11.




If you remember, I wanted to do a few things with this blog.




In general, this blog was my way of thanking everyone who helped save me, support me and help me get beyond my heart attack. I also wanted to help, to educate, to bring some inspiration to someone with my words. Finally, I wanted to give the Forsyth County EMS a little bit of payback.






Hopefully, I have somehow done those things by now.




In fact today, I brought donations to the Forsyth County EMS.
We got to actually meet with the team that saved my life a year ago. How amazing was THAT?


Ashley & I were falling all over ourselves giving thanks to the two wonderful people who are directly responsible for my life. Will & Lauren.....THANK YOU with "my whole heart"!


As we all discussed the day & the events in the ambulance, I was amazed at how much these two strangers could remember about my "run". They knew the series of events, they could remember exactly what equipment and techniques they used.


This picture was taken today during our visit. If you want to read more, go the the Forsyth County EMS Facebook page.

This next picture is the team the keeps me alive; my rehab team of Beverly, Natalie, Theresa and Lieryn . They are simply the best in the business.

To say this has been a wild year would be SO inadequate; there has been some bad, some exciting and a whole lot of good. One of the EMS Directors asked me how my life has changed. I couldn't answer, the list of ways is just too long, too absolute.

I have tried to bring you all along on the ride through this blog. Thanks for joining me.

We only have a few weeks left before this blog has lived out it's life. If you want to see anything particular, or want to hear about any part of the story, let me know.

Good night & God bless.

Well, we are just about 12 hours away....
In just about 12 hours I will be exactly 1 year out form the start of my heart attack.
It is a bit surreal to be honest with you.


I am excited, I get to celebrate.
I am amazed that it has been a year, but I can't believe how long ago it feels....to be a little cliché....it feels like a lifetime ago.


I am also excited because, tomorrow,  I get to talk face to face to some of the folks that helped save my life a year ago. I have not spoken to or seen them since that day. That is so cool. It feels a little like an early Christmas Eve.


Now, Ashley? She has a different view of things.
She is afraid she may not sleep tonight.


Ashley is anxious because tomorrow IS the anniversary of "the event." She is worried frankly that tomorrow will be cursed and that I will have a relapse; that she will be back in the ER to 'celebrate'.


I guess we won't know who is right till tomorrow night. I think that uncertainty is kind of why I am so excited. Tomorrow is either going to be epic, terrible, or it is going to pass like any other day. Six billion people will not notice tomorrow being any different than the day before. For me, for Ashley, tomorrow will be a day to remember.....hopefully we will remember it as a plain old Tuesday.


Thanks to everyone who has been reading this blog & to those of you who have been there for me every step of the way.


Good night & God bless.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving 2015.....
I go to get milk, die, get brought back, spend the night PRAYING someone will take some of the damn tunes out of me.


The Sunday before Thanksgiving 2016....
I go to church, get a coffeeuphemism and hot chocolate with my son, get home to a HUGE surprise, s0end the day celebrating my RE-birthday with some of the most special people in my life.


Amazing what difference a year can make.

As you all know, Tuesday is the one year anniversary of my heart attack. so,today, Ashley threw me a surprise party to celebrate. What a fantastic day it was.

Friends came and went all day; some were people we have known long enough to call "family" and some we have only known a few short months. Each person that stopped by, or sent a message added one more piece to the memory of the day that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Others that I love dearly just couldn't make it. Make no mistake, you all were here in spirit and in my heart.

It was a bit overwhelming to be part of today. So, I am sorry if today's post is a little disjointed, or if I cut it off without properly thanking everyone, but I am exhausted.


So, yeah, a year can make a BIG difference; this one started with a day I wIshmael had never happened, but will never forget, and is ending with a day I will cherish.....and never forget.

Thank you Ashley.

Good night & God bless.

JUST when I thought I was doing something special by running a sub 30 minute 5K run, here comes my son (who has NEVER run a 5K before) running one in 26 1/2 minutes.

No, really....here's the proof. OH, and he ate TWO DOUGHNUTS at the half-way mark!!!

So...if you think I need any more I inspiration than that, think again.
Of course, he wasn't the only one who ran. Ashley ran too, ate doughnuts and finished.


And while I am talking about inspiration, did I mention Ashley lately? Yeah, remember her? That woman who called the EMTs and saved my life?


Well, I'd like to say I had the honor of being the ONLY guy whose life she saved, but alas, I can not. She has saved another heart attack victim. She has been credited with saving the life of a HS football player as well.


If that isn't enough, she has spent countless hours volunteering for the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma....just because they need the help. So, yeah, I guess I have gotten a WEE bit of inspiration from her as well.


My other two kids? What about them? Hell (sorry for the profanity Aunt Sue) they inspire me just by smiling. They simply inspire me to be so much more than I am as a father by being the wonderful kids that THEY are.


I guess my theme tonight is that, while I am trying to inspire others, those closest to me are the true inspirations of the Donahue family.....or maybe I just wanted to brag on my wife and kids and I found a way to make you all listen....


I guess I'll let you all decide which theme you liked better. ;)


Good night & God bless.