Heart Bridge

The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus once reassured himself: "Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which cannot exist when I do?" Much more recently, a fictional San Francisco policeman inquired of a cornered bank robber: "You have to ask yourself: 'Do I feel lucky?'" At the start of 2017, neither of these philosophical musings were on John Perry's mind while he commuted by bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. John was a fit and healthy 48-year-old, with no pre-existing medical conditions. Eighteen months later, he was outwardly a similar-looking and acting 50-year-old. But he was not fully recovered and never would be. This is the true story of what happened in between: an unanticipated mid-life health crisis; a rollercoaster journey through an imperfect health system; a dalliance with death. John somehow survived, but with a new perspective: that extraordinary and improbable things can and do happen to ordinary people completely by chance. Miracles can happen. More often though, as news events from 2017 amply demonstrated, there is appalling, unforeseeable tragedy. John's story is not a tragic one but you may decide for yourself if it rises to the level of a miracle and, perhaps, dwell on those philosophical questions of near-death; and of luck.

The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus once reassured himself: "Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which cannot exist when I do?" Much more recently, a fictional San Francisco policeman inquired of a cornered bank robber: "You have to ask yourself: 'Do I feel lucky?'" At the start of 2017, neither of these philosophical musings were on John Perry's mind while he commuted by bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. John was a fit and healthy 48-year-old, with no pre-existing medical conditions. Eighteen months later, he was outwardly a similar-looking and acting 50-year-old. But he was not fully recovered and never would be. This is the true story of what happened in between: an unanticipated mid-life health crisis; a rollercoaster journey through an imperfect health system; a dalliance with death. John somehow survived, but with a new perspective: that extraordinary and improbable things can and do happen to ordinary people completely by chance. Miracles can happen. More often though, as news events from 2017 amply demonstrated, there is appalling, unforeseeable tragedy. John's story is not a tragic one but you may decide for yourself if it rises to the level of a miracle and, perhaps, dwell on those philosophical questions of near-death; and of luck.

John is a tech worker and writer. Originally from Scotland, he has lived and worked in the United States since 2002. He became a US citizen in 2013 and now lives with his wife, children and bicycle near San Francisco in Marin County, California.