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Art "Goldstar" D bigdog@usol.com the Michigan "thumb" age 53 3 children: married 33 years to Nancy (who is only 37) Christopher, Michael and Sheri (now deceased) 2 grandchildren: Killian, just turned 2 and Joshua, born on my birthday 7 years ago one Mastiff named Charlie |
I am a Police officer; presently Undersheriff of a 65 person department and 60 inmates. We are building a new 150 person jail to open in April of 1998. My daughter Sheri was born in 1972 but passed away on November 24, 1982 and is with God now. Of my sons, Christopher was born in 1966 and Michael in 1968.
Christopher was in the Marine Corps for several years. He was assigned to the Presidential Detail (HMX). During Reagan's and Bush's terms when you saw the helicopter Marine 1 land and the side door opened and the Marine got out and then the president got out, well the Marine was my son! He was the Crew Chief and bodyguard as well on the ground. We are very proud parents. Chris even got me a present of a pen and pencil set with a hand written letter congragulating me on one of my promotions from President Reagan. Chris is married to Natalie.
Mike works for Champion Motors as a troubleshooter. He goes all over the USA fixing motorhomes, buses and other thngs that nobody else can fix. He is also into diving big time. He teaches tri-mix deep diving, where you go really deep with scuba gear that uses 3 different gases mixed so you don't kill yourself. Mike is married to Connie.
Sheri: Sheri was the most loving child anyone on this earth could have wshed for. She loved life, people and even caterpillars; not a person didn't love her. She was special, you know, Daddy's little girl. We called her "Shimmy" because she would shimmy accross the floor when she was learning to walk. I don't know of a sick day she ever had and one day in 1981 when getting ready for school, she was a little dizzy on her feet, we took her to the doctor. He sent her to a Children's Hospital, they ran a couple of tests and said Sheri was going to die because she had an inoperable brain stem tumor. Sheri fought the chemo and the radiation, hair loss and all, the sickness that went along with it and never cried uncle. She always had a smile for everyone and still loved everything and everyone. Please allow me to reprint a poem that Sheri felt important for people to remember. Please remember this is written by a 10 year old special little girl that understood what was happening to her:
| When you are in the hospital |
| It really seems like a drag |
| But people think about you |
| Like "This isn't your bag" |
| But you have to stand up |
| And take what happens |
| And take it with all the "wrappins" |
| Sometimes you might feel down or mad |
| But you shouldn't feel sad |
| For when you look around |
| There's tons of people who care a pound! |
Now, tell me there isn't a ton of wisdom in this little 10 year old girl, maybe even a little for us CHFers to reflect on because there is always someone else worse off and people really do care. My life will be complete when I can play with my "angel" who is waiting for me on one of those clouds.
I had my first heart attack in 1993 and was told I had mild CHF. I had my second heart attack in 1994. I have had 3 heart caths, 2 through the groin and one through the arm at the elbow. The diagnosis is CHF, essential hypertension, renal failure, coronary artery disease, chronic lung obstruction, hyponemia, hyperlipilomia and sleep disorder syncope, whatever all that is! I became insulin dependent in January of 1999.
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I also sleep with a CPAP mask for the sleep apnea and that works really well. Well, I gave ya a ton and thanks for the offer of help! I hope maybe my daughter's poem helps someone when they are feeling down!
Art D -- March 17, 1998
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.