Gratitude - an aortic dissection and an unexpected Rusty Compass journey
Vložit
- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- 2020 is shaping up as the most eventful year in our lives for many of us. For me it took an especially dramatic turn on 4 May when I suffered a deadly medical condition known as an aortic dissection. Life saving surgery and 5 weeks of care (and another operation) at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) hospital got me through it. In this video I reflect on one of the most consequential journeys of my life.
Welcome back from the brink! I had expedited open heart surgery last year at the age of 38 to repair both aortic and mitral valves. They had suddenly failed and I could not walk 10 steps without nearly passing out. Prior to that incident I was a healthy weight and did not smoke or drink. I too had incredible care at my hospital and am forever grateful to the medical professionals. Now a year out I'm healthy, though am still recovering.
We never know when it's our time to go. We must appreciate every moment when we can! - WW
Great to see you're still with us my friend. You have a great, positive vibe.
Shocking! So glad that you are recovering well. Best wishes, hope to see many more of your videos. Thank you for sharing
So glad to see you're on the road to a full recovery. If ever you're in USA or Vietnam again, hope I receive a message from you and have a chance to meet you. You've been an inspiration to me on my travels.
Thank you & God Bless
Your journey through life is incredible and I want to thank you for sharing your life lessons, including this one on gratitude. It gives us pause to reflect on what's really important. I'm nearly 62, in reasonable health, but feeling my mortality knowing that there are fewer years ahead of me than behind. Your perspective, and I mean this sincerely, has helped me to appreciate the good things I have. Thank you.
P.S. You're totally rocking that sweater.
Wow!!! Glad to see you recovering. hope you feel better soon.
So happy to see you are thriving after what you went through. On January 29th, 2022 I was hit by aortic dissection. I am full of gratitude knowing how close I came to not making it. Bless you, on your recovery, and know that you are an inspiration to all of us who have had this experience.
Sorry to hear of your dissection August. Hits everyone differently. I've been very fortunate. Hope your recovery is going well. Just heading back to Australia after two months of active travel. It's gone very well. I had amazing care from surgeons / doctors / nurses / family and friends. Thanks for sending your message and best wishes from Vietnam.
Well said. Glad you're on the mend! 👍
Thank you for sharing your life or death battle. You survived & and came out victoriously. Belated congratulations 🎊🎈🍾🎉
Thanks T Tran 🙂
Sorry to hear abaout that mate have a good recovery ....
All the best to you and hope for a speedy recovery. I'm an American Vietnam veteran that hasn't had the opportunity to return for a visit, so I have enjoyed your videos over the years to take me back. I'm happy to see that your recovery is going well. Thanks again.
Shocked to hear of your brush with death Mark. So glad that you're on the mend. Take the time to recover properly. Great to hear your positive reflection on such a life changing incident. A lesson to us all.
glad you are getting better,love your Vietnam videos, been 3 times, cant wait to go back, take care Mark, look forward to more Vietnan videos suberb.
So glad you are on the mend 🙏
Hi from Canada. Happy to see you are recovering!
I’ve been off the channel for the last year and a half , And lost track of your comings and going‘s. I’m so glad along with others, to know that you’re still with us and doing well. I think all of us, as we follow your travels feel an unusual connection with you and your positive energy , And open hearted outlook on people of the world.
We are all pulling for you I’m sure and again it’s good to know that you’re on the mend. You certainly seem like a good guy and the world never has too many of those.stay strong and healthy and around for a long time to come.
S Tucker
Thanks @sandyt. Appreciate your kind words. I'm very fortunate. Feeling great and active again. Was a pretty scary couple of months with a lucky recovery. I'm planning on hanging around for now 🙂 Will be good to see the end of COVID... if that ever happens....
@@rustycompasstravel my neighbor is from viet nam and she gets a kick out of what I have learned from your posts . It’s fun to see her light up when I can say something to her because her grown kids can’t speak a word and her English is still developing, so we’re having fun with our limited conversations. It’s all because of your videos, so thanks a lot for taking the time to post them. Stay well.
Wish you all the best!
Great words to the health system love your flogs get well soon from the UK
You are a fighter !! I am glade that you are doing well after all what you went through
Thanks very much. I've been very fortunate.
Best wishes Mark
So glad your ok mate. I've so enjoyed your videos. Best wishes on your road to a full recovery.
Wow the power of handholding, can’t imagine how horrific dying alone of Covid in a ward, no touching. With regard to the angels in the health care industry. They are the best of us and should be looked at and rewarded as our societies guardian angels here on earth.😷
wow, that is unexpected . Glad you made it
Thank you Mark. Gratitude is so amazing. We are carried. Glad you are here.
Thanks for sharing. Get well soon!
Thank you... a message I think we all need. I try to think of three things I am grateful for each day; it helps me put things into perspective a bit. Godspeed in your continued recovery. We look forward to hearing from you during future adventures.
Good for you, stay focused on your health and get well soon. Stay safe
Glad you are recovering well, Mark! Take care mate
What an incredible tale Mark! I can only echo your comments about our medical and emergency services. Glad you're recovering well and hope you (and us all) will be able to travel again soon.
Great story and fortunately happy ending. Thanks for sharing this important message.
I met you many years ago in the Gon and wanted to say I was really touched by your words on the power of hand-holding. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
My lord how lucky that you got through this all right❣️🙏 what an ordeal for you! so glad to hear you are on the mend and that you shared this positive outlook and gratitude towards the staff at the hospital in these awkward times. I broke my leg in May and had to have an operation.. not even close to what you had to go through, but I remember thinking somewhat like you. I was so grateful for being picked up by the ambulance in the middle of nowhere, in the woods(where it happened)getting the care I needed swiftly,everyone so professional! I live in Sweden and we have high taxes, but I really felt so good knowing now where part of it goes. Allege the COVID cases, the exceptional times and still I wasn’t left in the lurch. This year of 2020 will in time teach us SO MUCH. I agree... healthcare workers are heroes and hopefully this will also show in their pay packets. Lots of cheer to your ongoing steady recovery, and hoping to see videos in the future 🖐👍❣️🙏🌟🇸🇪❣️
Glad you made it.
What an odyssey you’ve endured Mark! Extremely relieved you had high quality care. Sending warm wishes of continuing your recovery. ❤️
Happy to see your video again, I hope that you will recover fast from your illness and continue to do more beautiful video clips especially Vietnam.
Wish u well...what a story... I myself visited VN 33times between 1999& 2016....then I too had a episode of staring into abyss... No work.. Etc.. No travel since..., but geez I had good run... Yep I am grateful.... Take care mate... Ur a good bloke
Hope your health continues to improve, take care, stay safe!!!
We are glad to hear that you are recovering thanks to the great medical team. At least you had some luck when choosing that hospital 🙂. We look forward to seeing more of your videos esp of Vietnam a country we also admire and love visiting. Best wishes from Brendan and Patricia
Was wondering where you were,,, very surprised to hear this news from you, as always considered you to be very athletic.... wishing you a further speedy recovery....
Hi Mark ..sounds like you've definitely been through the wringer 😊..good to see you're on the mend 😊 ..best wishes in your recovery ..Ian
Hopefully all onwards and upwards from here .. stay safe .. we need more content from Vietnam xx
Glad you are well, will be expecting to your new videos
Good to hear your story and hope many more to come. We are all here for a good time..Not a long time. Enjoy..Ps hope to meet you in Vietnam 1 day.🙂
Wow mate! Just saw an older video of yours today and was wondering where you were! Glad u are well and hope to see u back in Vietnam soon!
For God's sake, man, sorry to hear it but glad you're getting better.
Time to turn to your maker.... Things globally are only set to get a lot worse. Take care.
I guess you’re lucky this all happened in Australia and not se Asia. I live in Danang so not putting down Vietnam health care in any way.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Mark .