He had not been feeling well for some time. When he woke up he was feeling sore and was sweating. He thought i t was reflux but it was not, My mother called an ambulance and it turned out he had a heart attack.

He was flown to Christchurch, from Greymouth (which is a town of 12,000). Christchurch is the main city in the South Island with excellent heart doctors. There are none in Greymouth.

He now needs a double bypass and two vents inserted since two arties had completely collapsed.

He is apparently going to be fine. My father is in his 60's.

I am pretty shaken up at the moment but this was not a suprise. He had been going downhill for a while. But noone could work out why.

He will be having a double bypass in about two weeks. They are waiting for a lung infection to clear up first. He should be in hosptial for about a month.

The one thing missing in this discussion is the cost. In New Zealand there is no cost for this treatment. It is paid by the Goverment through the tax system. Here it would be thousands of dollars: the airplane flight, and the care and treatment.

As upset as I am right now, thats one thing my mother does not have to worry about.

I wish it was the same for everyone in this country.

I would like to say thank you to everyone for all the wonderful comments and if i can't say it everyone invividually i would like to say it here. You guys are the best. Thank you very much. Your support means the world to me.

Update:

Thank you to everyone again for the wonderful words. I have to go out and get somet things done. Its hard not being able to do anything from here but i guess keeping busy is the only way to go. Will be back a bit later to read all your wonderful comments. thank you again very much.