Member-only story
My Father Survived
And I’m his daughter
In 1996 my father had a massive heart attack. He lost 90% of his heart and had 7 bypass surgeries performed over 11 hours.
His doctor told my mother to be prepared for the worst.
However, my father told her, before they carted him into the operating room, “Don’t listen to the doctors. I will be fine.”
She was crying, but she believed him.
They were the love of each others’ life. He and Mom are Hindus who believe in reincarnation. He told her they would be together for 7 lifetimes.
He came out of surgery weak, but alive. He got out of his bed and walked a few steps the next day, which amazed the hospital staff.
I was in graduate school at the time, and it was midterms week but I caught a flight to be with my parents. I brought my schoolbooks with me so I could study. My professors told me I could make up the exams when I got back.
It was a few days after Dad’s surgery. My mother visited him in the hospital every day, bringing him containers of home-cooked food since she knew he didn’t care for the hospital’s cuisine. I went with her for the few days I was there.
I sat in his room and studied, keeping him company. He was still very weak and couldn’t talk much anyway. He made…
