Letters

Letters to the editor for March 12, 2010

Life and death

My name is Mike Wilson and I am alive. My purpose in writing this letter for the Sun’s readers to see is to give proper credit for why I am still alive (60 years old today) and to encourage each of you to take action for yourself if you face a similar circumstance. On the night of Feb. 9, I experienced what I would later learn to be an aortic artery dissection (tear). Since I am such a tough guy I told my wife that I was sure it would pass and there was no need to go to the hospital. Well, after about 15 minutes, and with her strong encouragement, we are off to the SJMH ER. I was efficiently triaged by the staff and they then proceeded to run a number of tests. The one that told us the story was a CT scan. They immediately put into motion my transfer to Methodist – Houston through the Hermann Life Flight helicopter we have right here in Baytown (what a great asset!). I was operated on at 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, and not a minute too soon (only 20 percent survive this kind of event).

I had the perfect storm of help to survive which is where the credit goes and I wanted you to know who they were – God, first and foremost, my wonderful wife, DiAnne, SJMH ER, Life Flight, Methodist Hospital OR, an incredibly talented surgeon and nurses, Methodist ICU, and Methodist 9th floor west. Thank you to one and all. I am committed to using the rest of my grace of God given years to serve my Lord, my family, my church, and my town. Thanks to everyone who prayed for me – family, friends, co-workers, neighbors. Your prayers worked!

I used to joke with my older friends as to how we would look at the obituaries each day in the Sun to be sure we were not there. That exercise has whole new meaning to me now, and I thank God every day for the additional days, months, and years he has given me. I encourage you to do the same.

Mike Wilson

Baytown

Lucky thus far

I have been driving for over 50 years. The one thing that the red-light cameras will do is stop the safer drivers from getting stung with a donation to the city and other fine collectors. The one thing that I got out of working for the oil giant in this town was wearing a seat belt and defensive driving.

I don’t want to change my luck, but over the years there were many times that I could have been broadsided at red light intersections and other driving locations. Some people see what should be a go situation for them, that they have the right of way. Guess what: you may have the right of way, you may even be dead right. I’m not sure of the preventable accident percentage, but I know at one time it was over 90 percent. People, please don’t take for granted that the other person is going to stop, you don’t want to be on the dead right side of this possible life ending event that is about to take place.

James Shelby

Baytown
March 12, 2010

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