Anouncement: It`s A Triple Heart Bypass Or Death

Here is the news that my ex-wife has been waiting to hear since October 2004 and her parents since November 1990.

It is now official..."I dont have long to live"

Basildon Hospital.
Monday 14th January was without doubt the "worst day of my life" as at 3pm...I was given two options...those being;

1. "Mr Johnson will you agree to a triple-heart bypass?"

2. "If you refuse...I`m sorry...but you are living on borrowed time...your last attack was your final warning"

I could feel myself `crumbling/feeling feint`...the nurse said I went as `white as a sheet`...and the next thing I remember is `waking-up` on the examination table and being given a glass of water.

It is only now (5pm Thursday) that I feel `wll enough` to write this Chapter.

The fact is I wasnt sure what to do...then the Consultant...showed me film of my heart...from when I had the camera inserted during my stay at Southend Hospital.

He said: "Your condition is serious...three of your arteries are damaged...including the main one"

According to him my main artery which should be as thick as the plastic ink file in a Bic Pen...is not much wider then a human hair.

I was weighing up my options...then he told me about the procedure...in great detail...and again I felt like `passing out`.

1. It is a major operation.
2. You could die on the operating table
3. The odds are 1 in a 100 for a straightforward bypass
4. But for a Triple Bypass...nationally the odds are as high as 25%
5. At Basildon the odds are 10%
6. You can have a heart attack during surgery

If you survive:
1. You will wake-up in the Critical Care Ward
2. You will be attached to a monitor...drips...tubes and drains
3. You will have a tube in your mouth
4. You will have a tube in your `wotsit`
5. You will have three tubes in your chest
6. You will have tubes in your neck and wrist
7. You will be connected to a pump...ECG...ventilator and temporary pacemaker

And guess what? YOU WILL BE IN A LOT OF PAIN.

I said "Thank you very much" and declined the offer of a life-saving operation.

The Consultant would not take "No" for an answer - but we agreed - after much persussion - to pencil me in case I changed my mind...and today just before 3pm I agreed to have the operation.

Arriving home Monday evening was `terrible`...as I had to face Sam and Adam...what would/should I tell my sons?

Before going to hospital - Sam joked: "Be brave...remember Emily`s mum works there...so dont show me up"

I didnt as none of the nurses...although very nice...were stunning blondes like Emily or looked anything like Sam`s friend.

So I think I got away with it.

I put the `best spin` on it for Adam...because even though he`s 18 now...and much to his annoyance sometimes...I still think of him as `Adam Ant`...and worse treat him like little `Adam Ant`...but the truth is even though he is now a young adult and Eighteen I just couldnt tell him the truth.

He was getting `upset` enough by the `censored` version so `God Knows` how he`d react if told all the gory details?

About 15 minutes later Sam came in...and I was literally `saved by the bell`...my friend Sue was at the door wanting to know how I got on.

As the three of us stood in the kitchen...the old showman and joker in me `kicked in`...I was doing my best to convince them all was `fine`.

I said "The funny thing is when I got there I was surrounded by old men dressed in M&S trousers...Millets jackets and Clarks shoes...It was like a OAP tea dance"

Not exactly hilarious I admit - but at least I could deflect their questions...I told how the Consultant kept staring at me when I entered the room...saying "Are you the Garry Johnson I`m meant to see - you look far too young?"
Adding "Your heart looks a lot older then you"

The point is by waffling on - making jokes - talking tosh - I managed to carry it off - as three days later SAM and ADAM are still no wiser about my condition.

To be honest I have since Monday been in a bit of a trance...no TV...no computer...no phone calls..no emails..no letters.

I aint watched no football on SKY - not even West Ham/Man Utd on ITV.

No dvds - no cds - couldnt be bothered...couldnt concentrate...all I`ve watched is Big Brother...trying to workout if Heidi...is `good or bad`.

It might be the medication - but the more I see the more I like...I love the way she is 100% loyal to her `old man`...and totally in her own world/bubble.

She is devoted to him - without being a `doormat`...I hope she wins.

Today is the first day I`ve sorted my paperwork...looked at my emails...answered the phone...gone out...visited the library...gone into Basildon...posted my letters.

But I still feel `odd`...non-stop pain in my chest...from `flutterings` to `severe`...but as they say "life goes on".