Pat Robertson Recovering from Successful Heart Surgery

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (AUGUST 31, 2009) – The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) announced today that its founder and Chairman, Pat Robertson, has returned home after extensive heart surgery at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, NC. Mr. Robertson has suffered a condition known as atrial fibrillation, an often-debilitating heart disorder involving shortness of breath and weakness affecting an estimated five million Americans.

In the recent procedure, which required ten hours of surgery, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Andy C. Kiser and electrophysiologist Dr. Mark Landers performed a state of the art technique they pioneered called Convergent Procedure. The groundbreaking procedure, which Drs. Kiser and Landers performed for the first time in the United States earlier this year, uses a device to cauterize the continually beating heart’s muscle with heat generated by radio frequency. The resulting scar tissue controls the heart’s electrical impulses more effectively. The procedure uses four small openings rather than full chest incisions, allowing for much faster recovery time, minimal scarring, and short hospital stay.

“The Convergent Procedure integrates the expertise of the cardiac surgeon and the electrophysiologist into a single procedure,” said Dr. Kiser, chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. “The co-disciplinary approach provides a successful treatment for patients, like Mr. Robertson, who have difficult-to-treat, chronic atrial fibrillation.”

During the surgery, the doctors also discovered an abnormally enlarged left appendage on Robertson’s heart, which is now believed to have been the cause of his atrial fibrillation. The 6cm appendage was successfully removed during the surgery.

Robertson said, “Only the prayers of thousands of believing people kept me on this earth. As it is, I anticipate many more years of creative service in the ministry I founded (CBN), as well as Regent University and other endeavors devoted to the service of mankind. I cannot praise enough the dedication and professionalism of Dr. Andy Kiser and his staff who removed this growth from my continuously beating heart.”

Pat Robertson celebrated his 79th birthday on March 22nd of this year. At that time, the Board of Directors of CBN appointed his son, Gordon Robertson, a former Norfolk attorney, to lead The Christian Broadcasting Network as its Chief Executive Officer.

Robertson expects to return to a full schedule, including hosting The 700 Club, in several weeks.

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Lorraine here: Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger!! I have great admiration for the work of Operation Blessing--and The 700 Club. "Faith-based" organizations receive so little positive publicity.
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Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

- Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

Lorraine here and I repeat:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Square Peg in a Round Hole

In my humble opinion, I have always been upbeat in my messages. (What do you think?) Today I am feeling depressed and plan to explain why I feel like a "square peg in a round hole."

I've put a lot of time into preparing these blogs!! I want them to sound good, look good, error-free, etc. Hopefully the reader has a sense of who I am and what my values are. But family, friends and acquaintances never access my blog!! (At the bottom of my site, there is a feature called StatCounter. That program documents [elsewhere] my visitors.) ~~ My family, friends and acquaintances profusely forward messages; I read them before I delete them. I hate forwarded messages!! (I read theirs, why don't they read mine?)

I'm prompt replying to the e-mail messages of family, friends and acquaintances. They have a health problem..., I offer suggestions and tell them I will pray for them. My blog address is a live link in every message but they don't use it. ~~ Via the U.S. Post Office, I mail greeting cards and gifts but rarely receive acknowledgement.

I beg your indulgence because the following comment is not my usual vocabulary: Life "sucks" when we get old!! I bring so many talents to a job!! I'm a hard worker; I'm loyal; I'm honest!! But two employers rejected me in the last sixteen months. I wasn't working for the paycheck; I was at the location to serve!! Square peg??

I'm generous with my time, money and my possessions. How quickly a friend forgets who supplied the computer, printer, office supplies--and many hours of physical labor to open a health business. Love abused!! ~~ I "house sit" and "pet sit" (free).

Was I born on another planet?? Why am I a square peg in a round hole world??

"Square peg in a round hole
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"A square peg in a round hole is an idiomatic expression which describes the unusual individualist who could not fit into a niche of his society."


A Prayer for Resting in God's Love
Father God, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me. If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me today to love you more. Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child. In Jesus name, Amen

Source: Written by Sheila Walsh author of "Let Go"

Weathering the Storm
Father God, Today I am afraid. I look around me at this world that is changing so fast and I feel lost like a small boat in the midst of a storm. I am not built to weather the battering waves or the howling wind. So I wait now in your presence. You spoke the oceans and the four winds into being. You threw the stars in the sky and separated the sea from dry land. You took the hand of Peter who was sinking into the depths of the water and walked him to safety. I choose now to fix my eyes on you and not on the storm. I settle my heart on your love and not on the current that threatens to pull me under. Thank you that you are my firm anchor even through the darkest night, Amen

Source: Written by Sheila Walsh author of "Let Go"


God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Being well is a journey...

"Being well is a journey---of the body, mind, and soul. Each step takes us to new places of discovery about ourselves. As we exercise our freedom to make healthy choices in how we use our body, tend our soul, and enrich our mind, we draw closer to the Creator." ~~ Acquired by Lorraine, source unknown.

Prayer to Live by Grace

May we discover through pain and torment,
the strength to live with grace and humor.
May we discover through doubt and anguish,
the strength to live with dignity and holiness.
May we discover through suffering and fear,
the strength to move toward healing.
May it come to pass that we be restored to health and to vigor.
May Life grant us wellness of body, spirit, and mind.
And if this cannot be so, may we find in this transformation and passage moments of meaning, opportunities for love and the deep and gracious calm that comes when we allow ourselves to move on.

- Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro

Energizer Bunny

Prayer of the Day (below) was at 3:33 AM. It's now 3:33 PM and I have spent very little time on the computer. I've been the proverbial "Energizer Bunny." I've cleaned three kitchen cupboards; most of the contents were NOT replaced!! There are several products, brand-new, in their boxes, that are now set aside for the local Senior Center. I'm confident they will be welcomed for "door prizes." ~~ My diet has changed radically over the last several years!! I rarely have company; it's unlikely that I will prepare a dinner. I drink green tea; I'll never use the Hamilton Beach 4-cup coffee maker!! ~~ I'm feeling encouraged that I am conquering clutter!!

Prayer of the Day

Think on These Things

Whatsoever things are true,
Whatsoever things are honorable,
Whatsoever things are just,
Whatsoever things are pure,
Whatsoever things are lovely,
Whatsoever things are of good report;
If there be any virtue,
And if there be any praise,
Think on these things.

- Philippians 4

Source: The Bible (King James Version)

Prayer for the Brokenhearted

Do you have little desktop daily motivational cards?? I have several. April 18th, from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope by Charles R. Swindoll: The Checked Path to Victory. "It was Theodore Roosevelt who said, 'Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.' Keep on daring mighty things."

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O God,
whose love restores
the brokenhearted
of this world:
pour out your love,
we beseech you,
upon those who feel lonely,
abandoned, or unloved.
Strengthen their hope
to meet the days ahead;
give them the courage to
form life-giving friendships;
and bless them with the joy
of your eternal peace.
Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

Source: Adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts" © 1991 Vienna Cobb Anderson. Reprinted with the permission of the author.

And copied from Beliefnet.com.
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Postscript: Yesterday, after receiving the Income Tax Refund, and applying it to the Dotless Domain debt, I "celebrated" by driving to Big Lots. I purchased a buggy-full of food items to donate to the local Senior Center's food pantry. I understand they (S.C.) have more requests for food than they have items. Why Big Lots? Because I can buy twice as much!! Today I'll shop one of the Dollar stores. Despite the setbacks this last year, I am so blessed!! My cupboards are full of organics; my rent and utilities are paid. I'm gradually recovering from acute ozone poisoning.