At Friday 13th 2008 I got severe pain in my chest. I called the family doctor and before I knew I was laying in an ambulance driving with screaming sirens to the Saint Antonius Hospital. My wife Tine was sitting next to the ambulance driver and we were holding hands. I received an emergency treatment called percutaneous (balloon) angioplasty. This procedure saved my life. I was lucky I live near the Saint Antonius: the best cardiology specialized hospital in the Netherlands.
I have had a large and severe infarct at the front side of my heart. The blockage was just above a spot where the vein divided into two veins, one turning left and one turning right. So, one blockage blocked two veins and that was bad luck for me. A shortage of oxygen occurred in a large part of the front side of my heart. As a result my heart now has a pumping force of 40%. A healthy human being has a pumping force of 65%. Due to this event I am now suffering from a condition called heart failure (decompensatio cordis).
I have been in the hospital for almost four weeks. The cardiologist was also concerned about the vein that has to feed the right side of my heart with oxygen. This vein also has a blockage. But, at an unknown stage of my life a miracle happened there. My body has once miraculously created a bypass from the left side of my heart to the right side. If this hadn’t happened I wouldn’t have been alive anymore. My cardiologist was afraid this self created bypass was blocked too and did a lot of research to find out if this was the case. After a MRI scan the cardiologist concluded that the supply of oxygen to the right side of my heart was good.
One item of concern remained. Since the infarct I had irregular heartbeat. I have been on the coronary care unit for almost four weeks, so the developments with the irregular heartbeats were monitored carefully. The doctors saw the frequency of these events became less, they became shorter in time and less severe. Therefore the irregular heartbeats are no threath anymore. The cardiologist concluded a bypass operation, percutaneous (balloon) angioplasty and/or pacemaker are not necessary at the moment. (But might be in the future.) That is why I was released from the hospital last Wednesday.
I have to start with a polyclinic process of rehabilitation. I will have to use an enormous amount of medicines the rest of my life. At the moment I am very weak and going through a tough time both physically, mentally and financially. Making a small walk of half an hour is a difficult and tough challenge for me now that completely exhausts me. It is hard to start trusting my body again. I am determined to transform this experience to pure light. Already I learned so much of it.
I want to thank you all for the letters and e-mails I received. You can’t imagine how much your caring and loving words helped me in coping with this ordeal.
Since Friday June 13th I live between heaven and earth. A weird place where I learned that we really have to enjoy and celebrate every second of our life. Only love counts; the rest is bullshit.
Martin
Renate Dartois, about 1 month ago
Dear Martin-I am so glad to hear that you are home again and yes you will turn this experience into pure light this is your nature. However in the meantime healing your body will take all the energy you can spare it will take time and patience…..Take care my friend you were missed I send you love and light….Renate.
alexa70, about 1 month ago
Martin x So happy to hear you are doing well now, i was so shocked to hear that you were not well and was so worried, great to see you are now home with your wife and friends, and wonderful to have you back on redbubble, you were dearly missed, the healing journey has begun now and you sound stronger, wiser and very thankful for such a wonderful life ahead of you, love and light to you martin x fiona ; )
Ozcloggie, about 1 month ago
Ziet er goed uit, zo. Houwe zo dus!
MrJoop, about 1 month ago
P.S.. Makes me wonder about Black Friday, again!!
BLYTHART, about 1 month ago
So wonderful to have you back and I hope and pray you continue to recover at a fast rate. All the very best from Dave and family.
Susan Grissom, about 1 month ago
Martin, I am so glad to hear your doinf better. healing light is all around you. You a real trooper and I know your going to ind a way to live with this and surprise yourself. Looking forward to when your feeling stronger and with us again beaming your delightul light back to us.
Big hug x
shanghaiwu, about 1 month ago
Martin
welcome welcome back
I was so so worried/you had me very worried
shanghaiwu, about 1 month ago
love the last few words especially
marco britti, about 1 month ago
Dear Martin so nice to hear from you again!Hey don`t worry!Slowly but surely you will regain srtenght and confidence.This is a time for you to appreciate what you`ve escaped and that you`ve defeted death and of course much worse of a situation could have been today for your family , relatives and everybdy loves you if things would`ve gone differently! Give us your address Martin!!!
Ciao now take care.
Marco
helene ruiz, about 1 month ago
whew…...U scared the hell out of me…so glad ur back home ! I was so worried about u…..take care of urself please!!!!...Much love t and best wishes to u
maka1967, about 1 month ago
Sorry I only learned this around 6 this morning, but I had to rush out on my way. These days I was so occupied with some project. Glad you are recovering. Do take good care of yourself! There are many articles on the net on how to take care of oneself after such heart attack. Quit smoking… don’t do anything that will increase risk… Life is so valuable and beautiful, it’s our spiritual obligation to take good care of it. So don’t make yourself tired with writing or art. There are plenty of time.
Take care!!
mawaho, about 1 month ago
Yes…take your time and enjoy life. I wish you lots of sunshine!
madvlad, about 1 month ago
some how- i always knew, you knew, what importnant in life,martin, i have missed you dearly,your,life turn came as a shock to me,and it moved me to tears,too. but you seem to have come out, a better soul, you know now, to your core, that life is sweet and too suddenly gone, if you bat an eye,amen there is nothing i can say or wrtie, to say more, then you have learned now,let all of your friends learn from this happening of yours, and may they know hug and kiss your loved ones and never worry about your,nye sayers, god bless you my pal,god bless your wife too,she must have been,sick her self with worry and her own pain of losing you,well you will be in my prayers,martin,may there be ,more mercys and grace in your life love yah pal and now even more, treasure your gift to me of your art, you sent hugz walt
funkyfacestudio, about 1 month ago
I’m so sorry that you had to go through all of that. I’m glad to see that you are up and about and I just hope that things continue to improve :) welcome back Martin !
mare, about 1 month ago
Dear Martin,
Lots of love and good energy to you. You have been in our thoughts here in Katoomba over the last week.
xox Mare
Sorina Williams, about 1 month ago
Welcome back! Lots of love, S
Casey Herman, 29 days ago
Keep enjoying that sunshine, Martin, and quit smoking! (I haven’t had one since last time I told you … but you’ve got a REALLY good excuse to quit. Yeah, nothin’ worse than a reformed b*stard!) You’ll have to take up drinking! No? OK, I’ll have one for ya! Now, hurry up and bloody well get better! Hope you and Tine are fine! Take Perro for a walk, even if it’s only a small one! Make Perro give up smoking too!
artlein, 27 days ago
I’ve been away from RB (on holiday) so was shocked to read your news when I came to see if any new work was added during my absence. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!