*This is a true story. It just happened to me over the last two weeks......... I just thought I would tell you why I haven't been online or answering any emails. I've been in the ICU of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena California with a severe respiratory problem. It almost had me the night I went into the emergency. I was gasping for air like a fish, not fun. Anyway I'm ok right now, still my lungs are hurting but at least I can breathe. You never know what it means to be able to breathe easy, when you can't and have to think and force yourself to inhale and exhale. When I was at my most hurting point of breathing I envisioned this scene. As you could imaging I was thinking, oh no, here I go down deaths road. It was so beautiful though I couldn't help but want to stay there for awhile! It was so peaceful and tranquil that it seemed to take all my worries away. I rememeber I kept wondering where would I go from here....heaven? I had no idea but right at that time I came to in the ICU and I had oxygen going and my arms were full of IV's and I had all of these heart monitor wires all over my chest and thats when I realized I wasn't going to die. They said I'm young so I should have no problem getting back to normal. I spent eight days in the hospital and they were eight of the longest days of my life! I am happy to have recovered but my body is still needing medications and I have to stay on a certain type of diet for a bit, but at least I'm breathing and am alive! I went and got my 'no pain drugs' and my sleeping drugs and all the drugs I need for my over-active thyroid (the thyroid was the main contributor to all of it) I got my high blood pressure drugs, I got my blood thinner drugs and everything I need to recover so I'm on my way back with a vengeance! I will never take my breathing or the air that we need to live for granted. ............a true story about the artist. ......John Michael Piper *GO AND VIEW MY WEBSITE AND SEE WHAT IS NEW RIGHT NOW! *ARTIMATIONS.COM - ENJOY MY 2X AWARD WINNING WEBSITE! -Check out Artimations.com: http://www.artimations.com/ *Check it out, don't check it out.....but check it out~