Angels among Us

	God Bless America

Angel’s Among Us

By: John J. Matyjewicz

Chief, U.S. Navy, Ret.

john@gizbit.com

Revised September 2006

Some people chose to believe others don’t, I do. I was 31 years old in 1982 and I had been drinking for a long time. I also had a wonderful career in the United States Navy. At the current rate I was going I wouldn’t make it another year.

It was the jolly time of the year, Christmas, and I decided to make myself jolly. I can remember that Friday was Christmas Eve. All week I was preparing, drinking every night and most of the day. I knew a lot of people back then and did a lot of favors for them, so come Christmas I got a lot of bottles, in fact I also got a couple of cases of good scotch. Since I was in the process of getting a divorce my sister in law invited me for Christmas.

I showed up at her house already feeling good Christmas Eve. Already at her house were her boyfriend (a trucker) and her son. Since both her boyfriend and myself had been known to have a few I brought a couple of cases of beer and scotch. It was already dark and we commenced to drink what I had brought. Since she was a single mother and there were toys to put together. We stayed up all night doing just that.

We also stayed up all night for something else. He had gotten my sister in law a special gift for Christmas, a snowmobile and we had to get it to her house. It was after midnight and we were feeling no pain. Snow was falling and the ground was covered pretty good when we left the house. The sky was clear, the air was crisp and there was an icy feeling as we went outside. We took his truck (the cab of an 18 Wheeler) to his parent’s house and decided to ride the snowmobile back. It was great at that time of the night being Christmas and all.

I don’t know what happened to me that night; I just had a strange feeling come about my body. God didn’t send an angel to talk to me but I felt the presence of one. Maybe out in the crisp clean air on the snowmobile and Christmas, maybe all the booze, I’m really not sure. We drank all night until my sister in law woke up in the morning. She wasn’t surprised that we were still drinking. Since she was have a house full of company that day she went in the kitchen and started. She put on a large pot of coffee and asked me if I wanted another beer but I declined and had coffee instead. Little did I know I would never drink again.

Christmas came and a lot of people were drinking, but I still wasn’t. My ex-wife showed up and I think she was surprised that I wasn’t drinking. On the 26^th of December, God did send me an angel, she stayed with me for all these years and I never had another drink. Every year about that time, I get a little teary eyed; it’s great for the soul and I still believe because I live with my angel every day.

In July 2005 I underwent Emergency Quadruple Bypass Heart Surgery. It was said that without it I would not last the weekend. When I got the news I was a little confused, dazed and I guess scared. I told the doctor at first no, let me think about it. Fortunately at my bedside was that Angel that God sent me and she put her foot down and on Friday July 15th 2005 I underwent the surgery. When I woke up my angel was there.

I was very rough for me to be in the hospital, never less having to depend on someone to do things for me. I gave her a lot of grief during that time, but each day I was glad to see her come in. The day before I was scheduled to go home, my surgeon was in to see me and in comes my angel smiling and hew wings were outstretched a glowing white. I don't know if it was the medication or what but I could see them.

When I left the hospital the trip home was pure hell. I was very hot and humid in July and my chest had been cut open and a couple of my ribs were broken. She brought a pillow for me and tried to make the ride as comfortable as possible.

During the next couple of weeks she was everything to me. She helped me shower, helped me dress, cooked for me, cleaned up after me and watched over me as I slept. Since I couldn't sleep in the bed I slept on the couch and she stayed on the floor. She was also my nurse, maid, coach, doctor, druggist and all round assistant. Never not ever did she complain to me. During this time I saw the wings spread multiple times. It was a very beautiful sight.

Over the next twelve weeks I recovered from the surgery with my angel pushing me along. Trace Atkins sings a song called "My Heaven" where he talks about his little piece of heaven. In the summer of 2005 I found mine in our back yard, with the sun shinning and the warmth on my face. My dogs Gizmo and Bandit were playing in the grass nearby and an angel beside me, without her I wouldn't be here today.

I guess it would be nice if the story just ended here, but that didn't happen. In fact on July 5th, 2006 I had a Heart Attack. My angel and I thought that I was really getting better, but I wasn't. I went to the emergency room at the local hospital and over the next two days they ran a series of tests, only to tell me I had more arteries that were blocked.

My doctors told me I would have to go in for surgery on the following Monday and hopefully they could put in stints to help the blockages, but if that didn't work it would be another open heart surgery.

Since the doctors would not let me go home from the hospital my angel came every day. She helped to brighten up my day and my spirit. She cried and prayed for me every day. I felt the angel in her come to life again that weekend.

On Monday as I was wheeled to the operating room I was told that I had a look that I was not coming back. Since I only had to have Angioplasty I was awake the whole time. The pain was tremendous and I thought about the angel god sent me and it was all worth it.

Once again I had to spend some time at home to recover and once again my Guardian Angel was there. Why she hangs around only God knows for sure but I am glad she does.