Lost Life

By Vinnie Keller

Vinnie was 35 years old when he was diagnosed with Endocarditis, a severe infection that damaged a valve in his heart. Vinnie needed major surgery to replace the valve. The odds were against him to survive.

Lost Life tells the story of Vinnie's experience. The story about facing obstacles then and now and how he overcame them to be here today. The story of his journey through emotions, feelings of hurt and pain both physical and mental. The psychological torture he endured and fought through to persevere. It also recounts the trials and tribulations of his wife and 3-year-old child.

Vinnie’s journey began in 2001 and continues today. His fight to survive continues each and every day.

Get ready to read about his courage, his determination and “Will Not Quit” attitude as he continues his personal battle for survival. The battle for himself and his family.

Vinnie says, “There’s a story that can be found in my eyes, in my soul… that I am inspired to and need to share.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Dec 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781649793201

Vinnie Keller

Hi there. This is Vinnie, you may have read my first book named Lost Life. It was about my previous experiences and journey with a life-threatening heart infection that led to major heart surgery and the complications that arose from it. I was young at the time, 35 years old, and also at 49 years old I had another heart surgery. And then years later, I had a battle with cancer twice. If you haven’t read Lost Life yet, that’s OK as I will be recapping the story for you.

Book preview

About the Author

Vinnie Keller was born on April 28, 1966 and grew up in a small town in NJ. He has two sons and is a dedicated father to both of them. They are his greatest joys in life. In his spare time, Vinnie enjoys watching sports and playing them. He is an avid sports enthusiast. He loves going to the beach and hanging out with his friends. He also enjoys watching movies. Vinnie has been through a lot in life so that being said, he is an authority on horrible experiences and events, and that is the basis for writing this book. He loves to make people happy and to laugh. Vinnie is a comedian of sorts. He may be dealing with a lot in life, but that doesn’t stop him from making others smile. Vinnie loves to make his sons happy and nothing stops him from doing so and spending time with them are his precious moments. Vinnie Keller is a special man, one who you would be lucky to know and have as a friend.

Dedication

Vincent and Nicholas, if I didn’t have you both, I wouldn’t be here. You’re what keeps me going and moving forward and make me push myself to survive.

I love you both! 8/2021

Copyright Information ©

Vinnie Keller 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Keller, Vinnie

Lost Life

ISBN 9781649793195 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781649793201 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021915468

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2021

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank all the doctors and nurses I had during all my medical issues and surgeries. They were the best a guy like me could have. I’m forever grateful.

I would also like to thank my wife, at the time of my first heart surgery, for everything she helped me with and went through by my side. On all my other surgeries, I want to thank my sons, Vincent and Nicholas, for giving me strength and courage to fight and overcome everything. You both are the reasons I am still here.

Finally, I want to thank God for allowing me to survive everything and to continue being here, for my sons. Thank you and thank you everyone…

He lost his life

He was just existing

He was breathing but wasn’t alive

What are your wife and three-year-old son thinking and feeling? Not knowing what is going on with her husband and his father; what is happening? Vinnie was 35 years old and was diagnosed with endocarditis, a severe infection that damages heart valves. He needed a heart valve replaced. This was major surgery and having endocarditis, odds were against him to survive.

Lost Life tells the story of Vinnie’s experience, feelings, and obstacles and new ones that came up that he had to overcome to be here today. The hurt and pain, the physical, emotional, and mental torture he had to fight through to persevere in the end. This journey started in 2001 and goes on up to today. Every day, Vinnie is fighting to survive. Get ready to read about his courage and determination and ‘no-quit’ attitude as he fights his battles to survive for himself and his family. Vinnie says, ‘There’s a story in my eyes…’ Let’s see…

Chapter 1

The Beginning

It’s a summer day in August of 2001. I’m at work. My day started off the same as it always did. Got my Dunkin Donuts coffee, got to work early to talk with coworkers before I start work. Must be mid-morning when the AC went out. Office got very warm, as it always did when the AC broke down. I needed some supplies so I went into our storage room to get some. The room was so warm because it had no vents to pump in the AC. Suddenly, I passed out. When I came to, a coworker was hovering over me to see if I was okay. I got up and wasn’t feeling well. So, I had told my boss I wasn’t feeling well and I headed home. From that point on, I didn’t remember anything, not even driving home. I’m thinking I passed out because of how hot the office was. But I was very wrong…

Now all I know is from what friends and family told me. I got home, thank God, safely. I went up to my room and laid down. I called my wife and told her I wasn’t feeling well and that I was home. We had a three-year-old son and he was in nursery school. I called out of work the rest of the week and didn’t remember doing so. Saturday came and it was my son’s birthday;