"I'm Just Sayin" by: Alan P. Scaglione

“Happy Anniversary to me—Paying it Forward -Listen and Learn!”

“I’m Just Sayin’”

by Alan P. Scaglione

I had an anniversary this past week. A very important one…and, I didn’t share it with anyone.
Some anniversaries are not shared. Some, you alone remember and reflect.
Two years ago, I had a dress rehearsal to my death. Never will forget that day-never want to!
It’s my anniversary of a second chance at life.

I remember like it was yesterday; the pains in my chest and my left arm; thinking that this was not going away; bargaining with God to just get me through the night; being alone, completely alone, thinking…I’m gonna die alone.

I made several mistakes that day— Praying you’ll learn from my mistakes so you will not have an anniversary like mine!

1 – It can happen to you/you are never too young!

Had placed my wife on a plane to go see our grandson in Rhode Island. Never telling her—about the pain. If I had, she would just cancel the trip—couldn’t let her do that. She had been planning and looking forward to this trip for months.I kissed her goodbye and told her “have a good time.” Heart Attack couldn’t happen to me- I was 49! Too YOUNG!

2 – I didn’t reach out to my family!

My daughter was supposed to spend the night with me that night. I texted her not to come. She thought I was upset at something else. I knew… if she heard my voice, she would know…her Papa was in pain. I couldn’t alarm her.

You see…I was with my mother when she passed away. I did NOT want that to happen to her. Not fair to leave that memory for a child.
3 – I waited too long.

Note to self: chest pains do not always mean heart attack has happened; they can mean, heart attack is about to happen. BIG Difference!

Having a stent placed in your heart BEFORE a heart attack is so much better than AFTER one. Heart Attack Damage to your heart is irreparable!

Later that night, the pain throbbed more. By 3am, it was keeping its own beat. The pain was now numbing my left arm.

That’s when you’re supposed to take two 81mg aspirins and call 911. Who keeps those aspirins on hand? YOU should!

4 – Call 911. Call somebody!

I didn’t think I was going to make it through the night. I thought, “I am going to die in my home, alone.”

5 – Thought I had Time!

I pleaded, begged and reminded. I then just bargained: “If I make it til 6 am, Lord, I will go to the hospital.”

After that, I actually fell asleep! Woke up at 6 am. Pain still throbbing but…I thought, “God got me to 6am, now I have to keep my promise!”

6 – Never EVER drive yourself to the hospital while having chest pains!

Big Mistake – drove myself to the hospital at 6am.

Note To Self—Not good for the OTHERS on the road!

I kept repeating “yea, though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, thou art with me!” Psalm 23:4



It’s been a rough two years. My mistakes affected my recovery results. In fact, until God healed me in January of this year, I still felt some pain on my left side, down my arm, occasionally.

Because I waited too long-after having the heart attack-not going before-- My doctor said I would have to learn to live with that pain.

Just a stent and NO heart attack would have been so much easier. Learn from me!
By the way…when my wife finally walked into my hospital room two days later, tears gushing, lips trembling,

she just held me close and whispered “I’m gonna kill you for this!”

Learn from me—TELL SOMEBODY – do NOT keep it to yourself!

The life you save…may just be your own!


Until next time,

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”