Heart Surgery
From: Robert Gamble, D.Min.
I am having heart surgery. My ascending aorta has enlarged to the limit and must be replaced. It's not a sudden crisis. I've known about this issue and have been monitoring it for years. But now it's time. On October 5th, I will have the operation done at the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute in Morristown, NJ. It must be done as an "open heart procedure."
Several people have told me that patients have a change of personality following "open heart" surgery. They get "kinder." I will let you know. I imagine it will have a sobering effect, the scar my reminder of mortality. I've had some experience with this. With every air raid siren in Ukraine, I am reminded of my mortality.
What worries me most is recovery: 6-8 weeks. How does one move around after having their chest sawed open? We will not be able to travel this fall. I am sorry about that. For years, I have been traveling across the States every spring and fall.
What I have found, however, in facing this surgery is that my feelings of responsibility to you, to the churches supporting our work in Ukraine, and to our families in Ukraine are more than matched by my feelings of gratitude. You cheer us on with emails, notes, and funds. And our Ukrainians have been quick to share encouragement and love. As one woman wrote, "You are so much more to us than a person who helps Ukraine. You are our Robert — someone who is deeply loved and whom we want to have with us for many, many more years. We are giving you the biggest, warmest hugs."
Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers. I will send news during my recovery.
Robert Gamble
Meanwhile, some news:
Our student Kostia plays football for Menaul High School. Recently, they won a game with a score of 80 to 6. Here he is being interviewed by local ESPN in Albuquerque, NM.
We have started a new project in the city of Izmail: veterinary care.
Roman Taranukhin, is a 32-year-old volunteer who lives in Izmail, Ukraine.
Roman works as a coach at a children’s sports school. But in his free time, he saves abandoned, sick, and injured animals.
When someone finds an animal in trouble, they text Roman. And he goes.
He takes injured dogs and cats to the vet, pays for treatment, cares for them, and then searches for loving families.
He has already saved hundreds of animals.
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