>> How precious live is,
how it could be here today and gone tomorrow,
it was just my time to go through
some tough times in life, yeah.
My plan was to go the spa and pick up
a gift certificate for my wife and I,
when I got there and then my chest felt funny,
and then I lost all the feeling in my legs,
that's when the dissection aorta came along.
I was squirming around hopeless in dealing with pain
level that I had never experienced in my life.
After that, was I heard a helicopter, I heard a helicopter.
>> They wrapped him up and packaged
him like a special delivery package.
It was a team effort and their focus
was saving the life of Rodney.
>> Time was you know a precious gift that he didn't have
a lot of, to know that he was gonna be airlifted
and taken to the hospital for surgery
as quickly as possible meant the world to me.
>> Aortic dissection is tearing of the blood vessel
that leaves the heart and and supplies
the entire body with blood flow.
This disease if it is not operated promptly, more than half
of patients who have it will die within 48 hours.
The tear of the aorta could cause sudden death
from a variety of causes and that's why when someone
has this we try to get them here as quickly as possible
and to the operating room as quickly as possible.
It's a very complicated procedure and it takes
several hours, usually six to eight hours
depending on the complexity of the tear.
It requires opening the breastbone
and replacing part of the tubing that's torn.
>> And when Dr. Lawton came out to explain to us
that she had performed surgery all night long.
>> You could tell that she was a person who really
wanted to make sure that we were okay.
It was about how Rodney was doing, how complicated this is,
and being honest and frank about how far
he's come and how far he still needs to go.
>> I woke up in the morning in a bed with people around me
and I was asked to wiggle my toes, and lift my legs.
>> Because he had lack of blood flow to his leg
and it required additional surgeries,
he did have to have significant physical therapy
and learn how to use his leg, and lift his leg
and lift his foot in order to walk.
>> Are you eeady, breathe in on the way down.
Breathe out on the way up.
>> Rodney: Life moves on, the body heals quickly.
(uplifting music)
I'm definitely not one to sweat the small stuff anymore.
>> In years of doing this I feel the same way.
>> You're supposed to do something great now, go out,
enjoy life, you know you weren't meant to die that day.
>> That's right.
>> Right.
You know you just can't describe how great is
to be able to go home be with your wife, your kids,
your family, and get back to normal life,
but I'm so fortunate to be here to tell you
thank you and that I love all of you guys.
>> I think all of that and Rodney's mental fortitude
all came together and I think it is
you know just a miracle that he is here today.
(uplifting music)