Opinion

Each day is a gift; live it to its fullest

Posted May 07, 2014 5:01 am

May 14 marks my octogenarian celebration. I never believed that I would live to see this day.

Quite a few people have reached noteworthy milestone. I get asked about my bucket list. The truth is, I neither have one nor do I need one. As a cardiac survivor for 13 years, each day presents its own bucket list of opportunities. What shall I do today? Tomorrow has its own agenda.

Membership in the "second chance for life" club is treasured. Most survivors of a traumatic event share that same sentiment. Just being alive, though, is not enough because I want each day to mean something to myself and others.

The future for me is right now. This journey began on a very negative note. Will there be a tomorrow? One day I stopped being concerned about tomorrow and changed my perception to thinking about today. If I have any advice to people who survive a cardiac event, it is to think about today because that is when you live your life. For me, multiple second chances occurred prior to, during and after the procedures. My 80th birthday is my gift. Truly, it is great to be alive.

Randy Rayborn

Palatine

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