There are two reasons why my fears are now tears of happiness:

1. Today (January 7, 2025), I will be getting the bandages and stitches removed from the pacemaker surgery on December 30, 2024.
2. Tomorrow (January 8) is my 75th birthday.

My previous story outlined the details of the surgery and the difficulties I experienced afterward.

Many of my friends and readers sent me sincere messages from the heart.

This afternoon, I have an appointment with my family doctor to have the stitches removed.

I also plan to purchase a small cake and two candles for my birthday wish tomorrow.

Danny, why are you buying two candles? You’re only allowed to make a single birthday wish! ~ Spanky

Well, Spanky, the second candle is for other people celebrating their birthday on January 8.

My gal pal, Ruth Olley, was also born on January 8.

However, I won’t blow out the second candle. I will leave it lit so Ruth and others can make their birthday wishes. I’ll blow out the second candle at the end of the day.

I am also leaving the second candle on for those whose birthdays are on January 8 but who have passed away, including:

• Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
• David Bowie (1947-2016)
• Stephen Hawking (1942-2018)

In 2009, when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Throat/Tongue cancer, I was only given a 40% chance of surviving. I was 59 and hoped to make it to my 60th birthday.

On my 60th birthday, my birthday wish was to make it to my 65th birthday. Then, I wished to be still alive to celebrate my 70th birthday.

On January 8, 2020, my birthday wish was to make it to my 75th birthday.

During the five years that followed, I had jawbone replacement surgery to replace 1 1/2 inches with a bone from my shoulder. A day later, I almost died in the ICU of Surrey Memorial Hospital.

In 2024, I had three electrical cardioversion therapies to get my heart restarted. Two of those cardioversions were done on October 27!

I almost died on that day and worried that I would not make it to January 8, 2025.

However, it is Tuesday morning at 8:55, so I only have 16 more hours to wait.

Please return tomorrow to read the final chapter, when I share my birthday wish.

Update: January 8th – 7:15 AM

I took these selfies of my chest this morning to show the pacemaker surgery scar.

I will continue posting photos of my birthday cake when Buddy and Annette wake up.

Then, I will reveal my birthday wish. So, come back in a couple of hours, okay?

By the way, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and my birthdays all fall on the same day of the week.

Update: January 8th – 4:00 PM

After Buddy and Annette got up and breakfasted, Buddy and I posed for these pictures with the birthday cake.

If you are on Facebook or LinkedIn, you might have already seen these photos, but I have friends who aren’t on social media.

However, after updating my Facebook and LinkedIn pages, I tried to do this update to my story, but my laptop was suddenly hit by invisible demons who made it impossible for me to log on to WordPress, the hosting service I use for my website.

I spent almost an hour trying to fix it by myself, but I couldn’t find my tool belt to wear, so instead, I drove to the Best Buy/Geek Squad store in White Rock.

The cute, twenty-something girl I dealt with had difficulty understanding me, but she was patient, kind, and understanding.

I probably reminded her of her grandfather (or great-grandfather).

When she was finished, I patted my heart and thanked her. I also told her it was my 75th birthday today.

The two candles

I promised to reveal what I wished for after I blew out one of the candles. The remaining candle is for everyone reading this story.

However, I also wanted to mention how Buddy fits into the story. He’s like a child to me, even though he’s older than me in dog years. If you have dogs, cats, or other animals as pets, you’ll agree that they’re like children until they pass away.

On Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2024), I adopted Buddy from an animal shelter.

Hunters had found him in the woods and brought him to the shelter.

His fur was so matted that he had to be shaved completely. All of the teeth in his mouth were so diseased that they had to be removed. He was also starving.

I tried to imagine how painful it was for him because I have experienced the pain of having even one toothache.

The shelter’s veterinarian determined that he was ten years old.

He had been in the shelter for more than four months. I’m guessing that nobody wanted a dog that old.

However, it was love at first sight, and I could not find words to describe how much I love him.

Danny, how long are you going to take to finish this story? I’m falling asleep! ~ Spanky

Okay, Spanky, I’ll finish by revealing my birthday wish. It is for me to be able to leave the dreams of the past in the past and not hope to live until I’m 80, 85, or 90. I want to live in the ‘Today.’

I also want to announce that Buddy’s birthday is January 8. He’s eleven years old today! Do the math – if he was already 10 years old when I adopted him last February, his birthday must have been born sometime earlier.

So why not make a wish for him today, on his birthday?

Buddy won’t mind if I tell you the wish he made.

It was to live until he was 25 years old.

So, I crossed my fingers, legs, arms, and eyes and blew out the remaining candle.

This is the best birthday I have ever had.

Say goodnight to everyone, Buddy!

Thank you for letting me share my birthday with you.

Laugh loud and often. Never give up.

Dedicated to Little Danny

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

Hello, baby
Yes, it’s really me
After all the wrong I’ve done
I guess you’re surprised to see me
Here at your door
Like a sparrow with a broken wing
Who’s come back to beg you
Oh, reconsider me

Oh, please, reconsider me
I can’t make it without your love, can’t you see?
So love me; just let me love you eternally
Oh baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, reconsider me

I learned the truth
About the so-called good life
It was just a candle
Too short to burn in the night
Now, in the darkness in my heart
Don’t you know I bring you and plead
Oh, light my way again, light my way again
And girl, reconsider me

Oh, please, reconsider me
I can’t make it, I can’t make it without you, girl, can’t you see?
So just love me, love me, let me love you eternally
Oh baby, baby, oh baby, reconsider me

If you got any feelings for me, baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby
Oh, baby

Songwriters: Margaret Lewis & Myra Smith

Here are other songs I’m listening to: These Songs Will Make You Smile Today.