Al North of New Orleans, Louisiana age 51 married 28 years to Pam one daughter, Tiffany - 25 one son, Joshua - 21 3 dogs: Toby (Chocolate Lab), Cimmy (Lhasa apso), Shadow (Pomeranian)

I was born in South Carolina. Joined the US Navy to stay out of Vietnam. Last year in regular navy, I served shore duty in Vietnam. Traveled throughout many cities, villages and rivers in South Vietnam - a beautiful country that was war torn. After marriage (my wife is from Mississippi), we lived in South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina and have lived here in Louisiana since 1981. I lived in New York City, midtown Manhattan, for one year in 1994 for a job and flew home to my family once a month.
     Since college I worked for Barnett Banks, Wachovia Bank and Hibernia Bank. I started out in banking as computer programmer and worked to end up as systems development manager (mainframe not pc skills). In 1992 we outsourced our computer work to IBM. At that time I became an IBM Banking Consultant and that's when I started traveling from project to project (city to city). I enjoyed this job more than any other job I had. It's easier to say this is what you should do and leave -- rather than having to have the headaches and heart aches of implementing.

My Health

I was diagnosed in 1986 with Cardiomyopathy. Other than the diagnosis, I knew little about it until the last year. I was given blood pressure medicine, diuretics, potassium tablets and was told I would be on these for the remainder of my life. I watched my father die with CHF, diabeties, kidney failure and 3 strokes. He dropped from 230 lbs to 102 lbs. My mother has an implanted difibrilator and is now leading a wonderful life thanks to that device and wonder drugs.

My CHF

In late April 1996, I was back in the hospital with CHF. After several tests, I was told that my EF was 19%, class 4 (end stage) cardiomyopathy, that I should stop work immediately and get to know the transplant team. In October, 1996, I returned to work (traveling) and was able to do almost anything. Slowly I regressed until I decided I could not make it. In May, 1997, I applied for Social Security benefits and after 2 refusalsand the administrative judge process, I was awarded my benefits.

My Meds

My Interests

My main interests are my family, Bible study and computers. I am interested in Electronic Commerce over the Internet. My last project at work was with 3 large national banks, Federal Reserve, US Treasury, US Defense Department and their vendors, large and small computer companies, to pilot e- checks over the Internet using either a smart card or pcmcia technology as a check book.

Current Endeavors

I manage our home while my lovely wife works. Since becoming ill, my faith has become much stronger. I have had my faith since childhood but was fearful of wearing it on my sleeve, as some would say. During all the testing of the past several years, God has given me the opportunity to reflect on my life without Him and my life with Him. Now, hopefully I try to keep thoughts and actions as pure as possible. It is a daily struggle. Since I enjoy the Internet so much, my browser startup page is set to Promises - A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living at www.ccci.org/cgi-bin/promises.cgi. Starting the day off correctly works for me, even if I get up on the wrong side of the bed.

Update Update Update Update

June 4, 2000 - In March, 2000, the time had arrived for me to have stents put in - 4 of those expensive suckers - 2 on the right and 2 diagonal or so I'm told.

Al -- August 16, 1997

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jon C.