This note was written by my friend, Sheree Puskarich, on Wednesday, February 17, 2010:

I’ve been asked that question a lot in the last 18 months . . . it was 18 months ago that I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. My heart was only beating at 10 or 15 percent. It felt like my chest was in a vice. I always knew that some day I would die. I guess I didn’t think about it much until this diagnosis. I was only 50 when I was diagnosed. I’ll be 52 in May. Now, by the grace of God, and modern medicine, my heart beats at 25 to 30 percent. I am a candidate for a heart transplant, but I’m not going to go that route . . . unless God speaks to me and I know that’s what He wants me to do. You see, I put my trust in the Creator of the universe. The One and Only, the Great I Am, who created me and my heart. He is my reason for living. He created my heart, so He can either heal me or He can take me home, and either way, I win! So, I guess the answer is no, I’m not afraid of dying. I know that when He calls me home, I’ll be with Him for eternity!! I also have extreme ulcerative colitis. I have a lot of physical “stuff” to deal with every day of my life. Does that change my relationship with God? No! He is still who He said He is. I can’t explain why things happen, but I know that my response to what I have to deal with is something I CAN control. My God is faithful, and has my life in the palm of His hand. I guess I have a different perspective on life now. It’s a lot easier to live as if each day is my last, since it really may be my last day of life. The prognosis for dilated cardiomyopathy is 5 years. Eighteen months have already passed. Only God Himself knows how long I’ll live. How about you? Can you say with absolute certainty that you’re ready to die? Do you know where you’re going when you die? If not, you need to turn to Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Him. He loved you so much that He stretched out His arms and died for you. There’s an empty tomb . . . just open your heart . . . He’s waiting for you.

Sheree passed away suddenly & peacefully on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Up until the day she died, she lived & loved, cooking, exercising and playing her cello.  Now I imagine that she is hanging out with her friends, Jesus and J. S. Bach!

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