cutting balloon, they would do a regular angioplasty (LAD), and do what they called "Breaky Therapy." Breaky Therapy is the use of nuclear medicine to radiate the area that they worked on to prevent any scar tissue from forming. A balloon was inflated in his artery for about 9 minutes. Mike was advised that this was a very dangerous procedure, and that he could bleed to death on the operating table. He signed all sorts of releases, knowing full well that he really had no other alternative. Mike told me that the team from Providence could have done this entire procedure with ease, but didn't because they just didn't want to take chances.

Not long ago, I had dinner with Mike and he was a different person. We went to a Mexican Restaurant. He joked and laughed and acted just like any other normal person. We traded insults and enjoyed the evening.

I told him that he looked good. He said that he felt good as well. "I am up and walking without any pain." I then asked him if his good health would last?

Mike replied, "No, I have about eight months to two years, then I will be back to where I was before. It will be back to square one for me, and I will still need a transplant. My plan is to try and live my life one day at a time. Who knows, maybe I might be able to get a transplant; and if I get really desperate I might still be able to get into prison and qualify for my share of Mandated Medical care."

It would be one hell of a note if Mike had to go to prison to get life saving medical care. Life sure can be funny can't it?