The Heart of a Champion!
Who else is a Carrie Underwood fan? Let’s be real. She can do no wrong. When I heard she released another single, “The Champion,” I had to play it few a times. Or maybe 100. Yeah, I’m one of those people.
The single became quite popular a few weekends ago during the Super Bowl. The song was played frequently on the NFL network, hyping fans for the biggest game of the year.
As I was listening to the lyrics during a commercial for a Super Bowl preview show, I realized this song resonates with me in a way that is totally unrelated to sports. In fact, I saw it in a way that’s completely different from the main stream view of a champion.
Preparing for another open heart surgery is like preparing to fight in another “game.” Athletes train mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for their battle on the field. The same goes for someone entering the operating room to have their chest cracked open and heart stopped.
If you have not heard or read some of the lyrics, take a look below.
“I am invincible, unbreakable
Unstoppable, unshakeable
They knock me down, I get up again
I am the champion
You’re gonna know my name
You can’t hurt me now
I can’t feel the pain
I was made for this, yeah, I was born to win
I am the champion
When they write my story
They’re gonna say that I did it for the glory
But don’t think that I did it for the fame, yeah
I did it for the love of the game, yeah
And this is my chance I’m taking
All them old records I’m breaking
All you people watching on the TV
You go ahead and put your bets on me, ay
I’ve been waiting my whole life
To see my name in lights”
These lyrics have given me the motivation and drive to keep preparing both physically and mentally for my next open heart. I fought through two open heart surgeries, several procedures, numerous doctor appointments, hard conversations, multiple blood draws, and anxiety attacks. I have survived it all. I do not intend to have my third surgery break me down. I am invincible. I am unbreakable. I am unstoppable (that’s right, bypass machine). I am unshakeable. I am my OWN champion.
We must be optimistic. We must trust the process, trust our teammates (in this case, our care team), hold back tears, and give it everything we’ve got. Enter the operating room as a warrior and come out as the champion.
I’m officially declaring “The Champion” by Carrie Underwood my theme song for this upcoming open heart surgery. It will be playing non-stop as I’m wheeled back to the OR. Maybe even a touchdown dance will happen, celebrating my victory.