This will surprise some of the readers of my blog who are not in touch with me on a daily basis. But very early Monday morning I had a heart attack while at Green Lake, Wisconsin. I awoke in the middle of the night with extreme discomfort in my chest. I was about to help in the leadership at a pastor's leadership conference at Green Lake Conference Center, where I was scheduled to coach a team of 8 Vineyard pastors.
I received immediate and thorough care from Dr. Patrick Gregory at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Appleton, where I underwent a heart catheterization and received a stent in one blocked artery. The other arteries were completely clear.
Was I surprised by this? Completely.
I am trim, exercise regularly, eat a low-fat diet, don't smoke and heart disease is not prevalent in my family. But that's not all there is to a healthy lifestyle. I've been under a lot of stress in the last few years, and I now have to manage all aspects of my life as well as I can.
I missed the leadership conference this week but am now home resting comfortably and pain free and eager to get going.
How to I feel in general? Grateful.
Very grateful from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. My good wife Jennifer immediately came to Appleton and has just been terrific taking care of me. What a great wife.
My good friend Mike McQueen dropped everything he was doing and drove Jennifer to Appleton (360 miles one way) and prayed for me before turning around and heading back home so he could meet early morning obligations the next day. What a good friend.
One night while I was in St. Elizabeth's, the 8 Vineyard pastors I was to coach came to the hospital and loved on me and prayed for me and fathered me, saying, "Don't worry about the conference! Do what your cardiologist says!" Jennifer asked me how that made me feel and my answer was immediate: "Loved." What a great group of guys.
I may write more later about this ordeal. Anyway, suffice it to say, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."
donfollis.com 
Don,I am so sorry to hear about this, but I am so glad that you are doing all right. I was moved by your wife coming immediately to see you. I know that it is obvious that she would, but I was still moved by it, and tears came to my eyes when I read about the 8 Vineyard pastors coming to see and pray for you. This means a lot to me. Thanks for sharing this. Blessings… May the Lord strengthen you greatly! I really want to encourage you. I believe that you are entering a new season of powerful love and ministry in your life! Blessings, Rand
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Hey Don, we love you very much. Let me know if there is anything we can take care of for you.
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Wow Don, Unbelievable! You're one of the LAST people I would think would have a heart attack. I'm most surprised, though I should not be, by your encouragement to be grateful. You're one of the greats, Don. I'm complaining about getting 5 hours of sleep and having my dog keep me up all night.
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Don, so glad to hear that you're doing well. Our prayers are with you for a fast recovery!
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Don… so amazingly grateful you are back home and doing well. Thanks for keeping me in the loop and how to pray more specifically.
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