Mom and I jumped into the car on the day after Christmas this past year. Rushed and harried I thought about a lot of stuff, but most of what I thought was about Dad as I drove. We arrived at our destination, and I found a place to park. They greeted us and pulled us into a long room with a couch. Within moments, they had come in and the Doctor started to explain what had happened. After 20 seconds of his explanation’s professional beginning, we had learned that Dad died of a massive heart-attack….

Typical smart-ass escaped me completely. I should have at least thought to say: “So you don’t think he’s going to recover, then?” or “You guys told us his condition was ‘serious’. You don’t get much more serious than that! That's as serious as a heart attack!!”... but somehow my eyes were having a leaking problem, and all I could think about was how much Dad left behind, myself being one of those things, and how much I was going to miss him. I held Mom, and our eyes had the same leaking problem together. My eyes still have that leaking problem just about everyday. I don’t think you can ever be old enough to hear that you lost your Dad, especially when you didn’t have a good Dad, you had a great one.
I've participated in the Heart Walk for almost as many years as it has taken place in the Phoenix area, and because I work for a great company (Bard Peripheral Vascular), they match every dollar I collect for this cause through the CR Bard Foundation, the charitable wing of our beloved Bard. My Dad used to be my biggest supporter. I guess I'd better not count on that this year.

Dad never smoked or did anything too unhealthy himself. His father died at 90 and his mom at 85. I figured he had a few more good years in him. Even his cardiologist had given him the "all clear" just a week before. It didn't seem very fair, but if you were one of his children you would have had the privilege of him telling you a few times (or in my case quite a few times) as you were growing up that "the verld vasn't very fair"...I miss his accent.

On New Year's Eve I buried the only person who knew me better than I know myself. I'm still at times very stunned by it all, and I can't believe he's gone. As I see something I think he might get a kick out of, I think: "Oh I'll have to tell Dad about that".. and then my eyes have that leaking problem again. Oh vell, The verld isn't very fair....

I’ve walked in the Heart Walk for 11 years. Never with greater reason than I have now. I’d like to ask you for your support as I walk yet again in this very important fund-raiser for the American Heart Association. The AHA’s online fundraising website has a minimum donation amount of $25.00, which I think is a little ridiculous, and I've complained about it yearly! If you want to donate, and you prefer (or need to) donate a smaller amount, you can do so by sending a check directly to me at:

John Csonka
16026 S. 13th Place
Phoenix AZ 85048

Thank you for your support.
Bela was a very decent person, someone we will already feel the absence, whether here in this rented place or in the big spacious house,