Michael:
I have been home for only 3 days, but I echo your thoughts about how good I feel! I keep thinking there must be a law against feeling this good...no pain whatsoever, not even taking aspirin...spirits high. Congrats to us...wish everyone could do as well!

Michael - that is so awesome that you are healing so quickly! I asked my surgeon at my appointment this past Wednesday if there was a volume control on my valve because it ticks so loud! He laughed & offered to take it out, and I promptly replied "no!". I too feel not only my incision but my healing sternum when I sneeze. Otherwise I forget I've had open heart surgery (until I hear my valve ticking).
Keep up the good recovery & enjoy your new lease on life! God bless!
Kathy Jamison-Patnode

All we can say is Praise the Lord for his
healing power in your heart. Your uplifting
attitude is an inspiration to all of us and
of course God gets the credit for that too.
May you and your family have a blessed Easter
weekend. Thanks for your daily updates. We
look forward to reading them to see the progress.
Much love
Sam and Shirlee Anderson

Mike it is great to hear how well you are doing! God is good and you have alot of people praying for a speedy recovery.Looks like it is working!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter holiday.
We think about you alot and miss you here at the office. May god bless you always
Teresa

O.K. I have had 3 OPEN HEART surgeries, HAVE ALWAYS been able to fall asleep sitting up, sometimes even standing (especially after becoming a mom), BOTH hands go numb at night (guess cause I fall asleep on them and cut off the circulation) and one night I actually started screaming because one of my "asleep" hands was touching my forehead and I thought someone was trying to kill me! I'm good with sneezing though:) Continue to feel better!
Love ya buddy,
Kristi

P.S. How do you correct typographical errors in this???

From an old typing teacher who didn't proofread like I expected my students to!

Mary F.

Hi, Michael!
Tom and I hope you are doing better each day and that you are doing what you have been told. We're thinking you get up and fix your breakfast just like your father does--perhaps "a chip off the ole block."
Enjoy this nice Spring weather, and we'll stay in touch with your parents and look forward to reading more entries in yor journal.
Happy Easter and blessings to you both, Tom & Mary F.

Hey Mike,hope your recovery is going well and getting much needed rest so you can get back soon so we can enjoy you dry sense of humor.I can't believe you went through all that just to sit around when you did a great job of it at the office.(how do you fake a heart element anyway):) Shoping for books for you to raed like "fossil collecting and habits of sea lions" to speed your recovery.Missing you on the Emory Rd. Speedway.
Jeff Peele

Hi Mike.....Just wanted you to know that I have been asking about you and Debra said I should post you a message. I am so glad to hear as well as read how well you are doing. The Knoxville building misses you and Wayne needs his lunch buddy to return to work. Continue to heal and return soon! Take care..

Shay Pollard

Yes, Michael, it's (very) awesome to remember that your surgery was just a week ago today! I mentioned that to Bob this morning! We are happy/amazed that you are progressing so well. Do keep up the good work (cautiously)!
Love, Barbara & Bob Boone
Greenville, SC

Hi Michael,

Thank you for signing my guestbook. Your recovery seems amazing...I hope it is continuing! Yes, back for seconds...chocolate definitely...but mitral valve re-repair I would not have chosen. :)But, God is in control and we're in this together. Thanks for your well wishes and prayers.
Blessings,
Carla Hansen (PBG FL)

Dear Michael,

Your parents are dear friends and we feel as though we have been through this with you. We are thrilled that everything has gone so well and know that you will continue to improve. You have been in our prayers and we praise God that you are recovering so quickly. By the way, did you REALLY hike up a hill just a few days following the procedure?????

May God continue to bless you and your wonderful family.

Barbara and Jim Brown

Dear Micheal,
Margaret and I were thrilled to see you doing so well at the hospital so soon after your surgery. So glad you are at home and
up and around. You have come through this like a champ! God guided you safely through and will surely help you through your recovery. We have informed all the Harpers of your progress and will continue to pray for you. Take care and let us hear from you soon.

Love,
Carol

Mike,
I am pleased to hear that you are at home and that you are doing so well! My best to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Brent

Hey its great to be able to sign the guestbook with you sitting there all well!! Glad everything is back to ticking and ticking like it should.

Helena and Michael

Mike,

You are the miracle man!! And you know where miracles come from. Thank you, God! Keep it up, but do NOT overdo. Pace yourself and give yourself some time. May you have no setbacks and smooth sailing! Continued prayers.

Duane

Look at you GO! Awesome! Maybe he gave you a bionic heart:). You always had a big one anyway! Congrats on such a successful surgery. It is so wonderful to hear you are doing so well soooo soon after major heart surgery!

Blessings,
Kristi Mathis

Michael,
What a praise! I'm praying for continued upward progress in your complete recovery. My surgery is April 15th in Cleveland..a mitral valve re-repair..we'll leave FL April 11th. Our daughter lives in Knoxville and will be joining us in Cleveland April 14th for a week. I've been fighting a sinus infection for several days so praying I won't have to cancel my surgery.
Blessings,
Carla Hansen (PBG-FL)

I can do all things through Him who strengthen me. Philippians 4:13

We are so delighted and thankful to God for
all He has done in your surgery and now your
strength building.
Take time for yourself and get lots of rest.
God has blessed you beyond measure and I can
tell you know him personally and that makes
all the difference in the world. He will be
using you in mighty ways in the future for His glory and your good.
much love to you,
Sam and Shirlee Anderson

Hi Michael, from your age-mate (01/60) and co-brother to Bill and Linda! Praying for you all the way from Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa!

Wishing you an uneventful recovery,

Douglas W. Boone

Hi Michael! Good deal that you are home! Enjoy your recovery at home and having everyone do stuff for you. God bless!
Kathy Jamison-Patnode

Hi Michael

That is amazing progress and one for the books here on HVJ. Listen to your nurse and behave. Great news.

Cheryl, Ontario

Yay! Congrats on being home! I'm sure you will be much more comfortable and probably will get much more TLC from your nursing staff at home:-). Enjoy being home and take it easy like you have a choice, right?! So glad to hear you are already home!

God Bless,
Kristi

Doing the dance of joy and thanking God for Michael's remarkable progress!! Michael, you take it easy for a while, and that's an order! Being back home is so wonderful for both of you. Continued prayers and all the best!

Duane

Michael,

So glad to hear the good news that you are home. It will feel so good to sleep in your own bed. Hope you and Colleen have a restful night. Keep up the good work.

Love,
Uncle Bob and Aunt Becky

Mike,
It was so good to see you and you looked awesome. So do you, Colleen. I know you will recover quickly. I am praying for you today and everyday and look forward to wittnessing the Lord's provision for you and your family during your recovery. You are so blessed with an awesome family!!!!
Love you guys,
Cousin Margaret

Romans 12:12
"Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Mike, so glad to hear you are doing so well! Our God is an awesome God! Still praying for your speedy recovery. Sounds like you are on your way:). I hope most of your worries are gone now and you can relax now that the surgery is over.
God Bless,
Kristi Mathis

Mike,
Glad to hear everything is going well.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Dana Keen and LOND/407 Team

Mike,
Continue to keep the good spirits. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Robert Almaraz & Team Nashville

MIke - Hope you are feeling better. Glad to hear everything went well, Get well and we look forward to seeing you back at work on future trips.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.


Al Oestriecher

Michael,

Keep up the good work. We are so glad that the surgery is behind you and know that each day you will get stronger and stronger. We appreciate the updates on this journal. What a great idea. We are praying for a quick recovery.

Love, Uncle Bob & Aunt Becky

Wishing you a speedy recovery. You are in our prayers.

Regards,

Sam Woods, HUNT

oops, sorry but I forgot to tell you who the note was from, I am so used to having all my emails pre populated with my signature- the note from your "FedEx family" was me, Jeff Bell

Mike,
Seeing all the "Football" references leads me to believe you are in good spirits and in good hands. I just wanted to take a minute and let you know that your FedEX Ground family is keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. We are all anxiously awaiting your full recovery and your return to work ( not from a work standpoint, but from a Mike at work standpoint). Hang in there, and best of luck to you on a speedy recovery

Mike,
We're all hoping that you will be enjoying better health again soon.
You and your families are in our thoughts and prayers.
Get well and see you up and running soon.

Sugani Leman

Mike,

Very good to hear you are doing good. We will keep you and your family in our prayers.

Hazard FedEx Team,
Craig, Barbara, Shaun, Scott, Walter

Hi Mike,

Your FedEx family in Lawrenceburg is thinking of you and very happy to hear this news. We wish you a speedy recovery and nothing but the best for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Chuck, Greg, and Tommy.

Hey Mike!

Glad to hear you are doing good and the procedure went well. Look forward to having you back at work. Talk to you soon!

John Bell

Hi Michael!

We're very happy to hear that you are doing so well. Keep up the deep breathing exercises! Sounds like you're on a fast track to recovery. We'll continue to keep you (all) in our prayers.
Love, Barbara & Bob (Boone)
P.S. We love getting the updates!

Mike,
Glad to hear everything went well with your procedure. I knew this would not keep you down very long! Keep your head up. We look forward to having you back with your FedEx family soon.

Todd Long

Michael and Colleen!
We are grateful that you have come through the surgery and are able to be up and around almost as soon as it's over. How far we have come in recent years. Take care and follow all directions including those of the "nurse." Your parents love you dearly, and your success during this time of recovery means so much to them! God bless, Tom and Mary Frances

Hi Michael

Just read a terrific report on your post-op. I am praying you continue on your present course of recovery and return to your family and home really soon. How are you enjoying your new best friend - your spirometer?

Cheryl, Ontario

Great news on Michael! He's one tough guy, so I'm not surprised. But successful heart surgery really is a miracle. Will continue praying to God for a smooth recovery. Love, prayers and all the best from central Florida!

Duane

Nothing better than reading about a "Touchdown" in March!

:)

Keep on tickin' Michael!

Adam Pick

So glad to hear Mike is finished his surgery and is safe and sound. While we here all believe we will come through the surgery okay, it's still a very welcome relief to actually know it. Make sure you get your rest as this is a long day for everyone. Prayers. Cheryl, Ontario

Dear Michael,

When your mother called yesterday to tell me about your surgery, I immediately asked our Lord to protect you and make you well. So many prayers are being answered.

I am your mom's cousin (Helen Wright's daughter), and I love your mother and daddy. You look like your dad!!!!! I will be praying for a complete recovery, and I know that you have so much support and love surrounding you.

Much love, Cheryl (Russell)

Have been praying for you today!...whew...now on to recovery mode!
God is good!!!
Carla Hansen (FL)

Excellent to hear!

Keep on tickin!

Adam Pick

Great news! I knew you would do fabulous! I have been thinking and praying for you today. So glad to hear you are doing so well. Keep up the good work!

Love ya,
Kristi Mathis

It IS all amazing, isn't it? Glad to hear Mike is doing so well. Have been praying for you guys all day!

Duane, FL