I can't quit aikijutsu

“My pictures were taken Jan. 7, 2002, and were available at class two days later. Several people requested copies for various reasons, but one request struck me. The classmate explained that he has been using me as an example to try to cheer up his father. The father is quite worried and depressed since open heart surgery. He feels that his future is severely limited and that his life is about over. So this classmate has been using me to illustrate that there can be life after surgery. He knows that I received five bypasses over 11 years ago, my heart pumps around 85% of normal, my knees need replacements, etc. But, I still regularly participate in aikijutsu, do strenuous workouts, swim over two miles, do mtn. backpacking, work 33 to 36 hours per week, etc, at the current age of 69 So now I can't quit. I pray, "If it is possible for me be used an an example or inspiration to others, please let me continue."

My 18-year old, college daughter, after veiwing the pictures, emailed, "WOW, Daddy, go!" I will continue to go!

If you have any messages of cheer or stories for this man, please post them or email them and I will see that he receives them.”

“My Dad had cardiomyapathy (spelling?) which caused him to have 25-30% use of his heart. They gave him a few years to live without a heart transplant. Said he would never work again...which upset him because he enjoyed working. Well here is over 10 years later and the Doctors have told him he has done the impossible. He is working again after 10 years of not being able to. He has increased his heart capability to 75% I believe...
He did this through a change of lifestyle, excercise, and Issynru (spelling?) He is now a black belt in Issynru, a form of martial arts. He used his time away from working to volunteer for causes he felt warented his attention. Believe me it wasn't all a bed of roses at first. I think being in your 30's and having a heart failure and being told you have only a few years to live kind of puts most people for a loop. He never did get the heart transplant either.

Have Faith! Fight Back! Don't give up hope!!!!”

“I will try to keep this short, but beating the odds is one of my favorite subjects. First short story, Greg Lemond American Cyclist won the Tour de France (2,000+ miles on a bike in about 3 weeks), was considered one of the best. During an off-season he was shot (with a shot-gun) in the chest (hunting accident) his prognosis was bad, but he pulled through. He still has shotgun pellets in his heart walls today. After rehab he decided to race again, many people felt he should give up there was NO WAY this man who was so close to death will finish. Greg Lemond went on to win the TDF TWICE after the accident.

Lance Armstrong - started racing while Lemond was ending his career. After a short while he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread all over, his chance for survival was under %50. He did survive, he too decided to race again. He has been dominant at the Tour de France ever since

there are books about both of these individuals”