FYW: A Story For The Heart

I spent a lot of time at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles with my older daughter when she was little. Doctor consultations ahead of surgical procedures and the yearly checkups made for a day’s adventure. And for my daughter, an immersion into a world with kids of every race and nationality, all there to find some support for myriad conditions. I loved watching the kids become fast friends - watching the videos on the television, sharing coloring supplies or, as she aged, my daughter holding court and reading to the younger kids. It was a community of folks, all anxious about what that day’s news would be, but finding a moment of peace in the laughter of the little ones. 

So, on some small level, I feel the connection to the family of former NFL tight end and new FOX Sports NFL analyst Greg Olsen. His son TJ was born with a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The short of it is that the left side of the heart does not form correctly.

(You can Learn More About Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome here.)

According to Olsen, eight-year old TJ had undergone three open heart surgeries and lived with a modified heart. This past week, TJ received a heart transplant. The journey, and his family’s wave of emotions, was chronicled in short form for People Magazine. And, this sweet video post-surgery that brings you back to basics: 

TJ Says Thank You

I can’t wait to see the updates on TJ’s story. Tales of hope and positivity speak to our humanity and bond us all. I speak of the power of that communal energy found in concerts and sports and theater, and energy akin to that felt in prayer services. And like those moments in the waiting room at Children’s. 

EOD: June 7th

 There are some days when everything crashes around you. I’ve long had the ability, propensity and let’s face it, stupidity, to grind days until I had nothing left. You think you’re helping in the moment to get things done and, as I’ve always said, “to keep the line moving.” But, at some point, you hit the swing into negative returns and cause some frustration and pain to those around you. 

And, you find your own health compromised. The more elaborate tales of this ilk will arrive in book form sometime in the future. 

Suffice to say, the first win of Monday is simple ... nap. Nap for 15 minutes. Stretch it out to an hour if you can. Mine felt like a second half to a night’s sleep, leading to a rally for the day.

What else happened?

1. Nice long walks with the dog. Put on some tunes and just get the body moving. I carry a wide array of songs and artist in my playlist, a collection termed “The Devil’s Jukebox” long ago. So, Monday’s journeys included some Gutter Twins, Elton John deep cuts, Warren Zevon, Roger Waters and a block of Jethro Tull. 

One of the songs at the start of the walk was a Gutter Twins cover  of Jose Gonzalez’s “Down The Line.” 

I always forget the surroundings or, more likely, don’t much care and start singing along: 

“Don’t let the darkness eat you up!”

Check out the original here. 

Gonzalez’s “Down The Line”

2. I finally finished the draft for my Will. Psychologically damning and that recognition of age and how spread out your money can get. Diversification is a good thing. Just make sure you’ve got your spreadsheet of sites and logins handy. I do need to add one or two instructional lines — think Shawshank Redemption, and to produce the latest in the farewell playlist. Oh, and to procure a lot of mini-bottles of booze for the global toast. 

3. Finally, the FSR show on Monday had its twists and turns. The band “Jimmy Eat World” became part of the soundtrack because of the band’s appearance at halftime of the Suns-Nuggets game. We argued about the ongoing Aaron Rodgers saga, chronicled two blowouts in the NBA and celebrated Kevin Durant and the resurgent Blake Griffin.