Live or Die: Act II

By Richard L. Burns

This book is written for you. It's a story that is your story. It is a wise and witty story of 20-plus years of work with medical professionals, hospitals and survivors of critical illnesses around the country. It is a story of hope and practical advice for victims and survivors of any serious illness and their families. And it is about life and values that grew with each step the author took to help heal others.

Mr. Burns was struck down with a Cerebral Hemorrhage and declared dead at age 38. But he amazed the medical people by regaining consciousness and eventually a life. And he made it his work to help heal others. The book is a roadmap to recovery and is a follow-up to his first book, thus the title, "Live or Die-Act II".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662411649

Richard L. Burns

Richard L. Burns is a retired television and advertising "Mad Man". He guy who put the smile on the PSA Airplane, created Woodsy the Owl for the Forest Service and engineered that cultural icon, the Fruit of the Loom guys, Mr. Burns developed and initiated the first nationwide system of local sales and advertising for national companies in radio and television, created and implemented a fact-based and mathematical format for electronic and print advertising while a management consultant, developed and distributed a widely-accepted (20 million weekly viewership) children's TV program series and was most recently responsible for the mandated rescue of companion and livestock animals in all national disaster operations. Mr. Burns has also planned and initiated several philanthropic and operating foundations. He is listed in "Who's Who" and is a recipient of numerous community and professional awards. He has been an officer and board director of profit and non-pro t organizations, advertising and consulting councils and humane organizations. Mr. Burns suffered a massive stroke (Cerebral Hemorrhage) at age 38 and was not expected to live. Yet, many years later, he resides happily in California, where he is a successful husband, father, avid golfer and published author.

Book preview

Chapter One

It Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking—Timex Watches, 1956

This book is written for you. Because you have been given a special gift, you’ve been given a second chance to do life right, (or you wouldn’t be reading this book) And this story is an update to the previous book on the subject—thus the title…52 years later. Half of those years have been rewarded by travelling the country, talking, working with hospitals, doctors, patients, survivors, and doing film, TV, and radio about all that I have learned, and what you and those I’ve visited have experienced and learned.

Who am I? No one special. But what I have to tell you is. I died, and, for good reasons that I’ve discovered in 50 years, came back to life and am here, for you. Thus, the story.

This is a story that is your story. It’s about any serious illness or physical calamity. The problems have much more than statistics in common. And while treatments may vary, I found that there are so many similarities to the problems one must face and conquer. Simply interpolate the facts as they would apply to YOU.

This is a story about hope. It’s a roadmap to recovery—what’s necessary and what’s involved and how to come out of it all as a whole and even better person. It tells of personal growth and the resulting satisfaction of a job well-done. And, a return to life as a functioning and contributing member of society. Nothing is hopeless. You can work miracles if you know how. This story will tell you!

This is a story that will serve as a motivating guide to recovery and treats fascinating and perplexing matters. It’s a factual tale of practical experience gleaned from survivors and hospitals across this land. It identifies the problems, tells what’s involved, what to expect and how to solve them. It’s about how to cope, conquer and come out on top and how to live a real and better life. It’s a story about what to expect, the emotional and psychological traumas, battling illness or injury where problems and opportunities can be the same!

And, you’ve got help! Medical science and medicine have come a long way with astounding advances. And with these breath-taking new vistas of bio-medicine are new strides being taken toward understanding the body and the brain. And with the brain, as example, the first and most astounding is called Neurogenesis. For years, medical dogma pronounced that brain cells, once dead, were dead and gone forever and other parts of the brain may take over functions—but it’s never enough. Medicine only used the first part of this theory. The unused part of this dire prognosis essentially said that it was up to the scientists and medical people of the future to prove it wrong. And, they have.

The same applies to other parts of the anatomy and these great strides in diagnosis, surgery and care are for everyone, for anything, (more about medical science and medicine in Chapter 5).

But the area that science and medicine cannot wholly diagnose and treat is that of the human spirit, the emotions, the desire, the personal actions and reactions that influence function and progress on the path to wellness. There are guidelines and there is direction. But the individual challenges remain, how you react to illness or operation, to demands on the mind and body and how you deal with it all to make a recovery. And just what kind of recovery. In plain language, you’re sick, medicine, therapy, exercise, diet, and regimen help make your body well. What does it take to do the same for your mind, your being, your life? There’s no free lunch you’ve got to do it yourself. This book tells you how!

It’s been a long haul. Some experiences are humorous, others sad, others glorious, some unconscionable, some maybe even boring, but all necessary. Relish the moments of success and relish the moments of failure—and laugh. Because laughter at self and the problems is essential to a realistic recovery. The ability to laugh at life, even yourself, brings with it the ability to rise above the small stuff and win!

I’ve seen most… listened, thought, communicated, and learned. This story gives you answers to many questions and gives a new perspective so