It’s been a strange month around here and while I don’t like getting too personal in this column (it’s boring) I can’t go on with this column without mentioning a few things and expressing my gratitude to so many fine folks out there who sent cards, emailed and called after my recent heart attack that occurred on July 22. It was my third heart attack and like the first two, hurt like hell! Lordy do those things hurt like hell! This time though I awoke seven days later (they had to put me under three additional times for complications) to discover, hazily, that I had undergone open heart surgery that resulted in a five-way bypass.
Open-heart surgery, like heart attacks, hurt like hell, too!
Thankfully I wasn’t ‘there’ for it. Being unconscious has its benefits believe me! The recovery and recuperation period is painful enough, as I am still experiencing. Healing ain’t always pretty. I can feel every cut and incision, I can feel where every hole (drainage tubes) is, and I feel like I’ve been pulled apart and slapped back together.
But I ain’t complaining!
For some reason the Good Lord decided to spare me once again. This last heart attack was a big one and yes, I had a quick chat with God on the way to the hospital before I (thankfully) went under. No, I didn’t ask Him to spare me or anything like that. In the throes of a heart attack and on the way to the hospital, well, little late for that, right? He already spared me twice prior and did I do the right thing afterwards? Did I quit smoking? Did I watch my diet? Did I do exercises to help strengthen my ticker? Did I do follow-up visits with my doctor and cardiologist those two prior times?
Nope.
All I mentioned to Him was, if this is my time, fine, but if so would He put his loving arms around my wife, kids and grandkids and help them get through this? He did, and then some! He spared me!
I am very grateful.
Grateful to the Good Lord, grateful to the doctors, surgeon and nurses and staff at Canton Aultman (that hospital has made it a habit the past decade or more of saving the lives of my family members, including myself.) and grateful to my family and friends for being there for me.
I was hospitalized nine days. My wife, Carol was there at my bedside for eight and a half days! I could fill this column up with the names of relatives and friends in racing who showed support, visited, sent cards and called, all of that. But they know who they are and I’ll single them out individually and personally on my own. It continues to amaze me how people in racing come together when someone is down and out. I can’t believe the cards I have gotten, and continue to get, from AARN readers (and staffers)! Thank you so much!
I still have a few weeks to go before I am fully recovered but its time to start easing back into work. I’m bored, bored, bored! How can people sit at home all day? I have 80 channels on my TV and there is never anything to watch! Cabin fever abounds! It’s time to get back into the swing of things.
And after 37 years I am happy to report that I have given up cigarettes for good (I was a four packer a day smoker)! I had never seriously considered quitting before but after all this I’m done with them. And frankly, don’t really miss them. Any time I get an urge to take a puff all I have to do is move my chest or left leg around and I’m reminded of what cigarettes will get you. They will get you gutted. I’m done. No way do I want to go through this again, ever!
But to all of those who sent cards, emailed, called and offered a prayer, you will never know how grateful I am to you and what it means to me.
Thank you and God bless!
*****
MORE THANKS: It was with disappointment that I was unable to be at Florence Speedway August 12 for the North-South 100 and the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame ceremonies to accept the tremendous honor of being inducted, however, I am grateful to the Good Lord for allowing me to continue to be here on this planet after what happened a couple weeks ago.
If I would have attended my plan (being the smartass that I am) was to quote the late & great Groucho Marx: “I refuse to be a member of any club or organization that would have me as a member” and then walk away, just to see what NDLMHOF Director Bill Holder’s reaction would have been.
But I was unable to attend as recovery from the heart attack and surgery was ongoing so one of my best friends in racing, Mike Farr, was there to represent me and for that Mike has my thanks and gratitude for doing that as well as many, many years of trusted friendship (I would go to war for Mike).
Since I couldn’t be there I do want to acknowledge quickly a couple people.
First, thanks to Bill Holder, the entire board of directors and the voting board for graciously considering me and bestowing this tremendous and humbling honor on me. To this day I cannot believe that I have been this fortunate to have this recognition generously given to me by my peers. It is truly overwhelming. My thanks also to Rick Eshelman for his kind words, considerations and his friendship as he ‘introduced’ me that day.
To Vern Lefevers, Jack Pennington, Dick Potts, Ken Essary, Pete Parker, the family of Ralph Latham, it is a tremendous honor to be in the same class with this group individuals, all who have thrilled and entertained me and my family for decades. These gentlemen are my heroes and the men who helped make this sport what it is today. To Mike & Jane Francis, Steve Francis and Rhonda Francis, it is with pride and my head held high that I enter this class alongside your son, brother & husband, Chris Francis. Knowing him was a true honor that I cherish.
I would like to thank all the many, many friends I have made over the past 33 years since I started working in dirt racing. There are far, far too many to mention them all, but folks like the late Don Martin & Bill Moore, and promoters & drivers like Earl Baltes, Dave Ledford, Mike Farr, Brad Doty, Jim Gentry, and so many others, we go back decades and it’s been a privilege to have so many true friends who’s friendship, respect & trust goes beyond racing.
I dedicated my induction into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame to my late uncle, Wellman Lehman, the man who brought me into the business and turned me loose, the man who was my inspiration in racing, my idol in racing, my standard in racing. Wellman Lehman was one of the greatest promoters and most respected men in dirt racing during his time in the business and he deserves this honor more than I do. I am here today in dirt racing, 33 years later, because of the passion that Wellman Lehman instilled in not only myself, but my brother, Stewart, as well.
And I want to thank the most important person in my life, both in and out of racing, my wife of 29 years, Carol. Four years after I started working in dirt racing we married and since day one she has been my biggest backer and strongest supporter in whatever I wanted to do in dirt racing. She has always been there, always encouraging, always showing support. Always. She’s my partner and I love her. I also want to acknowledge and thank my two sons, Brandon & Jarrod, my daughter, Brianne, son in law, Dan, daughter in law, Mindi and the three Wild Ones, my three grandsons, Hunter, Beau & Brenden.
And last but certainly not least, thank you and God bless all the race fans. It is you, the race fans that keep this sport going, that keep the tracks open and allow momentous days like that to occur. Whatever is good about this sport is because of you, the race fans.
(c)2006-2008 Doc Lehman
