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On March 11, 2003 I drove my darling wife to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and arrived before the 0600 appointment for cardiothoracic surgery to replace or repair my mitral valve which was leaking severely at that point.
After checking in, I was given a red robe. My pastor and his wife arrived soon after and prayed with us. The pastors wife stayed with my wife throughout the day as they waited for me to come out of surgery.
1. I was prepared to die and prepared to live if God allowed to survive.
2. After a couple minutes I was taken to pre-surgery. I was put on an IV and then watched in amazement as they inserted copper tubing into my for arms [width of a bic pen]. I was soon unconscious.
3. I cam to early March 12 and learned there had been significant complications. I had shared my faith with the chief cardiothoracic surgeon COL Dr Philip Corcoran when we met. He called for my pastor to come and pray over me as I had had 15 units of blood replaced. I was leaking and they did not know why. They were prepared to open my back up when they called for my pastor.
By God's grace I survived the mitral valve repair surgery. I asked the deputy surgeon for a warranty since my last name is Ford since I had a significant fluid replacement and a valve repair. He said 0 to 10 years with a smile. It is 20 years ago today that the mitral valve has been functioning well.
Images:
1. 2003-03-11 Stephen Ford and Maria Elena Ford 0600 on March 11, 2003 Pre-surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
2. 2003-03-11 Steve with Pastor Arlie and Jerrie Whitlow prior to surgery on Tuesday March 11, 2003
3. 2003-03-11 Steve with Pastor Arlie Whitlow prior to surgery 11 March 2011
4. 2003-03-12 Early March 12 2003 -Post mitral valve repair surgery - just becoming alert in the presence of many medical people and my darling wife.
5. 2003-03-12 Early March 12, 2003 -Post mitral-valve repair surgery - Charades at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
6. 2003-03-12 IC Recovery room nurse checking me early on March 12, 2003
Beatles, the - Magical Mystery Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8WMGBuNaus
After checking in, I was given a red robe. My pastor and his wife arrived soon after and prayed with us. The pastors wife stayed with my wife throughout the day as they waited for me to come out of surgery.
1. I was prepared to die and prepared to live if God allowed to survive.
2. After a couple minutes I was taken to pre-surgery. I was put on an IV and then watched in amazement as they inserted copper tubing into my for arms [width of a bic pen]. I was soon unconscious.
3. I cam to early March 12 and learned there had been significant complications. I had shared my faith with the chief cardiothoracic surgeon COL Dr Philip Corcoran when we met. He called for my pastor to come and pray over me as I had had 15 units of blood replaced. I was leaking and they did not know why. They were prepared to open my back up when they called for my pastor.
By God's grace I survived the mitral valve repair surgery. I asked the deputy surgeon for a warranty since my last name is Ford since I had a significant fluid replacement and a valve repair. He said 0 to 10 years with a smile. It is 20 years ago today that the mitral valve has been functioning well.
Images:
1. 2003-03-11 Stephen Ford and Maria Elena Ford 0600 on March 11, 2003 Pre-surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
2. 2003-03-11 Steve with Pastor Arlie and Jerrie Whitlow prior to surgery on Tuesday March 11, 2003
3. 2003-03-11 Steve with Pastor Arlie Whitlow prior to surgery 11 March 2011
4. 2003-03-12 Early March 12 2003 -Post mitral valve repair surgery - just becoming alert in the presence of many medical people and my darling wife.
5. 2003-03-12 Early March 12, 2003 -Post mitral-valve repair surgery - Charades at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
6. 2003-03-12 IC Recovery room nurse checking me early on March 12, 2003
Beatles, the - Magical Mystery Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8WMGBuNaus
Surgery
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Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 14
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The Yardbirds - Heart Full Of Soul (1968, Stereo) 4K
1968... #2 UK Singles Chart #2 Canada Top Singles #9 US Billboard Hot 100 #12 US Cash Box Top Single.. This was written by Graham Gouldman, who later formed ...
After being taken from post recovery, I was assigned to Bed 4634 with Nurse LT Courville as my primary nurse. My darling wife stayed with me in a not-very-comfortable reclining chair.
They had me up walking with equipment trailing behind me and two nurses guiding me, on March 12 and each day thereafter. My requirement for additional air was ended my March 17 when they removed the tubes.
On March 19, the chief cardiothoracic surgeon distracted me and grabbed one of the wires coming form my heart and pulled it up and snipped it close to my chest. It was interesting to feel the heart pulled up to the chest wall and then drop back down. When he took the other wire I was prepared ;-)
Recovery took many months, but after about 10 days I was released to home. My temperature had been chilled to 34 degrees during surgery and it took me a few months to get my temperature up to 96.8 - my new normal.
Image: Post Surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center March 14-17, 2003
FYI GySgt Jack Wallace Amn Dale Preisach SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell1SG Paul AyottePV2 Scott Mollette1sg Patrick BurkeMSgt James ParkerSSG Michael Noll SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D MSG Roy Cheever SSG William Jones CPT (Join to see) PO1 Howard Barnes CPL Douglas ChryslerLTC Trent Klug Cpl Vic BurkPV2 Larry SellnowSPC Lyle Montgomery SPC Gary C. SPC Woody Bullard
The Yardbirds - Heart Full Of Soul (1968, Stereo) 4K
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb5kv4yiGjY
They had me up walking with equipment trailing behind me and two nurses guiding me, on March 12 and each day thereafter. My requirement for additional air was ended my March 17 when they removed the tubes.
On March 19, the chief cardiothoracic surgeon distracted me and grabbed one of the wires coming form my heart and pulled it up and snipped it close to my chest. It was interesting to feel the heart pulled up to the chest wall and then drop back down. When he took the other wire I was prepared ;-)
Recovery took many months, but after about 10 days I was released to home. My temperature had been chilled to 34 degrees during surgery and it took me a few months to get my temperature up to 96.8 - my new normal.
Image: Post Surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center March 14-17, 2003
FYI GySgt Jack Wallace Amn Dale Preisach SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell1SG Paul AyottePV2 Scott Mollette1sg Patrick BurkeMSgt James ParkerSSG Michael Noll SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D MSG Roy Cheever SSG William Jones CPT (Join to see) PO1 Howard Barnes CPL Douglas ChryslerLTC Trent Klug Cpl Vic BurkPV2 Larry SellnowSPC Lyle Montgomery SPC Gary C. SPC Woody Bullard
The Yardbirds - Heart Full Of Soul (1968, Stereo) 4K
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb5kv4yiGjY
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Provided to YouTube by JiveTea And Sympathy · Jars Of ClayMuch Afraid 1997 Essential Records, a division of Brentwood Music Inc.Released on: 1997-09-16Produ...
My darling wife stayed with throughout my time in Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I had brought a few books to read including Metzger's New Testament Greek, the Bible [NASB] and a few other texts.
1. My nurses included a Jehovah's witness and a new age catholic. I demonstrated my faith in Christ to them and used words when questions were asked of me.
2. Once I could move around, I visited the other two cardiothoracic surgery patients who were scheduled to go through the surgery i went through. I shared my lessons learned with them.
1. Don't talk very much because your diaphragm is nearly frozen. The medications are so strong you feel less pain. I talked too much and hiccupped for 4 hours. They could not scare me, or reduce my oxygen, etc. The nurses and my darling wife looked at me with sympathy.
a. In the midst of my hiccupping when I was absolutely drained and required assistance to stay alive, the LORD told me HE loved me not because of what I say or do, or don't do. HE loves me because of WHO HE IS. LOVE is HIS nature. The pain did not leave or diminish but the p[eace I felt after God confirmed to me HIS love. [WE did nothing to earn salvation and HE sustains our salvation by HIS grace.}
2. Don't get out of the bed without assistance. Again the pain med's are so strong you don't feel immediate pain. I got out of bed on my own and had severe back spasms afterwards.
Image: Visitors to Walter Reed Army Medical Center
1. My best friend since we were teenagers, Jim McAnally came down from Philadelphia to viosit me and my wife in the hospital on March 16, 2003.
2. My youngest sister Rachel Vanarsdall came by to visit on March 16, 2003.
3. My friend and USMA classmate Frank Willingham came by to visit on March 17, 2003
4. LTG Mahan - The Army G-4 came by to visit. He speaks fluent Spanish and was very gracious to my wife on March 18, 2003
5. Pastor Fed and Debbie Vann came by to visit on March 16, 2003.
6. Pastor March 16, 2003.
FYI SSgt Kelly D. PO3 Edward RiddlePO3 Charles Streich SPC Michael TerrellSSgt David M. Amn Dale Preisach SGM Bill Frazer SGT Mary G. Sgt (Join to see) CWO4 Terrence Clark SFC William Farrell Lt Col (Join to see) SGT Tiffanie G. MAJ Roland McDonald 1SG Joseph Dartey 1SG Dan CapriSFC Bernard Walko MAJ Bob Miyagishima SGM Major StroupeMAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
Jars Of Clay - Tea And Sympathy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkLasm8T7jQ
1. My nurses included a Jehovah's witness and a new age catholic. I demonstrated my faith in Christ to them and used words when questions were asked of me.
2. Once I could move around, I visited the other two cardiothoracic surgery patients who were scheduled to go through the surgery i went through. I shared my lessons learned with them.
1. Don't talk very much because your diaphragm is nearly frozen. The medications are so strong you feel less pain. I talked too much and hiccupped for 4 hours. They could not scare me, or reduce my oxygen, etc. The nurses and my darling wife looked at me with sympathy.
a. In the midst of my hiccupping when I was absolutely drained and required assistance to stay alive, the LORD told me HE loved me not because of what I say or do, or don't do. HE loves me because of WHO HE IS. LOVE is HIS nature. The pain did not leave or diminish but the p[eace I felt after God confirmed to me HIS love. [WE did nothing to earn salvation and HE sustains our salvation by HIS grace.}
2. Don't get out of the bed without assistance. Again the pain med's are so strong you don't feel immediate pain. I got out of bed on my own and had severe back spasms afterwards.
Image: Visitors to Walter Reed Army Medical Center
1. My best friend since we were teenagers, Jim McAnally came down from Philadelphia to viosit me and my wife in the hospital on March 16, 2003.
2. My youngest sister Rachel Vanarsdall came by to visit on March 16, 2003.
3. My friend and USMA classmate Frank Willingham came by to visit on March 17, 2003
4. LTG Mahan - The Army G-4 came by to visit. He speaks fluent Spanish and was very gracious to my wife on March 18, 2003
5. Pastor Fed and Debbie Vann came by to visit on March 16, 2003.
6. Pastor March 16, 2003.
FYI SSgt Kelly D. PO3 Edward RiddlePO3 Charles Streich SPC Michael TerrellSSgt David M. Amn Dale Preisach SGM Bill Frazer SGT Mary G. Sgt (Join to see) CWO4 Terrence Clark SFC William Farrell Lt Col (Join to see) SGT Tiffanie G. MAJ Roland McDonald 1SG Joseph Dartey 1SG Dan CapriSFC Bernard Walko MAJ Bob Miyagishima SGM Major StroupeMAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
Jars Of Clay - Tea And Sympathy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkLasm8T7jQ
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Hank Williams Sr - I'll Fly Away
Hank Williams Sr - I'll Fly AwayThe Unreleased Recordings Disc 3Country 2008
I was fully prepared to die on March 11, 2003 and yet I was hopeful to live for the sake of my wife and my sons and however God would use me
Scripture: Philippians 1:21-24 [ESV] ‘For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.’
Image; Chilling at Walter Reed Army Medical Center - March 2003
FYI Lt Col Charlie Brown Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC Thomas Tennant CDR (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) Maj Kim Patterson Maj Robert Thornton CPT Richard Trione CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 1SG Steven Imerman SFC Jason WerstackSGT (Join to see)GySgt Gary Cordeiro SFC Terry Wilcox SSgt (Join to see) SSG Jeffrey LeakeSMSgt David A Asbury SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSPC Diana D. SPC Robert Coventry
Hank Williams Sr - I'll Fly Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmtK6KwvkWI
Scripture: Philippians 1:21-24 [ESV] ‘For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.’
Image; Chilling at Walter Reed Army Medical Center - March 2003
FYI Lt Col Charlie Brown Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC Thomas Tennant CDR (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) Maj Kim Patterson Maj Robert Thornton CPT Richard Trione CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 1SG Steven Imerman SFC Jason WerstackSGT (Join to see)GySgt Gary Cordeiro SFC Terry Wilcox SSgt (Join to see) SSG Jeffrey LeakeSMSgt David A Asbury SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTMSPC Diana D. SPC Robert Coventry
Hank Williams Sr - I'll Fly Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmtK6KwvkWI
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