Day 72 - Left Heart Catheterization Complete
Day 72 follows Sparky's left heart catheterization, the results, a new diabetes diagnosis, recovery instructions, and the next steps toward heart surgery.
Day 36 - Important Questions Answered
Day 36 brings answers — and more questions. Sparky shares the latest from his cardiology follow-up, what the numbers mean, and what comes next on this heart journey.
Day 27 - Getting Frustrated
Day 27 — Sparky hasn't heard from an actual doctor in weeks. The cardiac surgeon's office is already scheduling surgery before the CT scan results are even in. The questions are piling up, and the patience is running out.
Day 24 - CTA Heart and Arteries
Day 24 of Sparky's heart journey — the CTA scan of the heart and arteries. From the prep room to the Big Donut Machine, a firsthand account of what it's actually like, told the way only Sparky can tell it.
Day 18 - Psychologically Challenging
Days 8–17 were quiet. Day 18 was not. I went through an echocardiogram and a pharmacological heart stress test — and got results that answered some questions while opening up a lot of new ones.
Day 7 - Not Much to Share
Day 6 of the heart health journey — morning BP came in at 145/86, a quiet day in the shop, an Instant Pot arrival, a surprisingly decent homemade pizza, and an evening reading of 122/74 to close things out right.
Day 6 - Back to Work
Day 6 - Back in the Shop — new Roasted Ash serving boards, a 130/77 blood pressure reading, and the first real sense that things are turning around.
Day 5: Best Sleep Yet, BP Dropping & Back to the Shop
Day 5 brings the best sleep yet, a dropping blood pressure reading, and a cautious but exciting return to outdoor activity — with the shop calling my name for tomorrow.
Day 4: Better Sleep, Dropping BP, and Revamping the Fridge
Day 4 brings the best sleep in months, a BP reading trending in the right direction, and a full grocery store overhaul for the DASH diet. Plus — Sparky discovers he's lost over 40 pounds and takes his first easy walk in a long time.
Day 3: Blood Results, BP Progress, and Learning to Cook Without Salt
Day 3 brings encouraging news — blood results look mostly good, BP is trending down, and Sparky is navigating the DASH diet one pepper-loaded meal at a time. A personal story about salt, sacrifice, and following in his dad's footsteps.
Day 2: Meeting My Cardiologist and the Wake-Up Call I Needed
Day 2 brought my first meeting with my cardiologist, Doc R, and a sobering reality check about years of unaddressed high blood pressure. A heartfelt reminder — from someone who really doesn't like doctors — to get regular checkups and find a primary care physician you trust.
Sparky's Heart - Day 1
I've been told I have a big heart. I can't say I've ever identified with that statement, but science has proven thi...