Hit The Knee

by Dennis J Gwin

Overview

July 30, 2012, I reported at dawn to St. Vincent's Hospital in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, for bypass heart surgery. As I was lying in bed for the next 6 weeks recovery period at home, I found that I could not concentrate on my usual interests; Spider Solitaire, Discovery channel, Scientific American. All I could do was sleep. And sleep I did, with some vivid and wild dreams.

Meanwhile, a plan began to form..... and this book is the result. I hope you enjoy it and maybe as an added bonus, you find some things informative too.

"I am writing this narrative because I am going stir crazy. Three weeks after having open-heart surgery, cabin fever is getting to me. My activity was very limited the first two weeks of my recovery and I had a lot of time to think about what I was going through, the bad and the good. It is my nature to joke around with the people I interact with and try to keep things on the lighter side. I found many experiences pre-op and post-op, funny enough to tell others. Then I decided that writing about the experience would be a good way to pass time during my recovery."

My wife says it's fiction, but I say its factual. Maybe I should say its my drug induced version of what really took place. What we have, is, a "cheeky account of my heart bypass surgery."

Product Details

BN ID:	2940149747016
Publisher:	Mad Kings Publishing
Publication date:	06/12/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	119
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

I am a life long resident of Concord, (Hueytown), Alabama and have lived on the same street for most of my 61 years. Even now I live only 3 miles away from my childhood home, which I still own. I attended Concord Elementary School, Pittman Jr High and Hueytown High School. There was only one major obstacle keeping me from college, and that was high school. I did, however, get a brief stint in at the University of Alabama.
My career has mostly been in sales at various meat companies; Lumberjack, Zeigler, Richards, Southeastern and also at Southern Nameplate. I presently work for a small computer company in Hueytown where I am in Customer Service, utilizing my PR (and BS) skills.
Together, Nikki and I have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. And we hope that last number keeps on growing! They are the spice of life. If I'd known how much fun grandkids are, I'd have skipped right over the kids and gone straight to having grandkids.
I must credit Nell Salamone, my high school English teacher, for teaching me that writing in itself is a cathartic and enjoyable pastime, even if no one ever reads a word of what you write.
For more than forty years I have dabbled in poetry and a few short narratives for my own enjoyment. I shared these with very few people. I never envisioned myself as, or endeavored to be, a writer. I did not see myself in the same light as the authors whose works I have had the pleasure to read.
Just as I have backed into most of the jobs that I have held over the years, you might say that I backed into writing this book. It was not inspiration that drove me, it was boredom. As I recovered from heart bypass surgery my activities were limited to walking and lifting things that weighed less than five pounds. To entertain myself I envisioned writing a book and mentally began forming the phrasing of the stories that I would relate. I thought that they were funny enough to share, so I began typing.
My wife and a few of my friends and family that read what I wrote made some comments that let me know that they gained some insight about my experience that they would have otherwise missed. I considered that, aside from the humor, my story may be good preparation for people facing the same surgery as well as for their families.

Editorial Reviews

"Although the subject matter is serious, Hit the Knee and Other Sage Advice is a wonderfully funny look at how you should (or, in some cases, should not) deal with heart surgery. Dennis Gwin has been very frank about his surgery, his feelings, about everything really. In many ways, his story is a lesson to all of us on how to deal with what life throws at us, on how to deal with pain and, perhaps more importantly, on how to listen to what your body is telling you and not ignore the signs..."

Readers' Favorite - Anne-Marie Reynolds

"...It was truly an inspirational, uplifting and humorous account of his experiences with heart bypass surgery. I highly recommend reading this book, filled with wit, wisdom and anecdotes in which all can relate, whether or not they too have had to undergo any similar experience... as well as touching upon the fears we all endure in our own moments of tenuous struggle. I found it truly hard to put down, as I enjoyed reading it so very much! Definitely earned my 5-star approval!"

Goodreads - Cheryl Ries

"Hit The Knee by Dennis Gwin hit a Homerun! I enjoyed the candid step by step process which a heart patient goes through.... I've known many that have endured this, but never understood the body's reaction to the invasion of helpers...
...We are blessed to have family,friends and physicians to save us from the unbelievable.
A most enjoyable book with funny pictures and antidotes.
Thanks for sharing your journey, Dennis!"

Goodreads - Suzette Clayton