GAF and Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. http://bible.com/59/heb11.6.esv

GAF – Global Assessment of Function. The GAF is a 100-point tool rating overall psychological, social and occupational functioning of people over 18 years of age and older. It excludes physical and environmental impairment.” 

Please download a copy below for deeper understanding.
MindMap/MindMap-GAF.html
QuickGuide-GeneralAssesmentFunction.xls
GAF-QuickReference.pdf 

Mostly in my life, my GAF score hovers around 80-90 points.  Now I would say that I have greater than 90 because I am a cardiac patient with [2 stents] to open up my LAD so that I will not have a heart failure.  I said 90 because I am back to my normal function, meaning – I am back with my long distance cycling and swimming as if I did not have a heart attack in December of 2008.  That day, my GAF score went down sharply to maybe 30 according to the chart.  Please study the materials that I’ve compiled, it’s good info – I promise. The more you know about your GAF score, the better your chances of raising back your quality of life.

Heart Failure is rated as level 30.

”GAF of 30 – Behavior and/or Lifestyle Is Considerably Impaired by Medical Problems; very serious medical problems confine one to bed or wheelchair most of the time (e.g., very symptomatic cases of diseases such as metastatic cancer, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or AIDS); chronic failure of a major body system (e.g., heart, lung, kidney, liver); on dialysis for kidney failure.”

GAF and Faith

Yes, I made it back to a higher GAF score and I know that I am well and “fit for duty” again.  But how did I raised back my GAF score back to 90? 
I could say because of my will power
I could say that my heart failure was just a coincidence [a special case, a genetic disorder]
I could say because of my aggressive daily heart medication.
I could say that my doctor was brilliant and he fixed me.
I could say that I read a lot about heart attack recovery and figured it out.

Cardiac Rehab

I have to go through a month of cardiac rehab to get back to normal.  There is a place called cardiac rehab where a patient can exercise in front of a medical staff – heart rate and blood pressure are being monitored closely during exercise.  My cardiac rehab purpose was a little different.  I  went there to get another heart failure.  I literally walk and later ran on the treadmill just to find out if my heart is back to normal.  I was thinking that the medical staff has 5 minutes to revive me back to life in case “the dreadful thing” happens and besides the ER is just a walking distance.  After one month, I found out that my heart survived through a series of personal test that I’ve conducted on my own [my cardiologist did not even know that I’ve designed my risky/personal cardiac rehab program.

Days, becomes months and month to years and my exercise program was back in play.  I even counted days here in my journal but then later I got tired of counting. 

My extra day here on earth is not promised but I’ve overcome a condition where no one probably dares doing in terms of recovery.  On the weekends, I’d go out for a 40 miles bike ride alone [of course with a cell phone] but even with a cell phone, my brain can starve of oxygen and I know I will die out there waiting for help.  The place where I ride my bike is way outside the city limits and there are no people driving or walking around.  Sometimes, I swim in the lake by myself and spent 3 laps on a triathlon swim race pace.

I know what my body can do.  You might think that I am stubborn.  No, I have something else inside me and I carried it 24 hours a day.  It’s in my other virtual heart.

It’s my faith. 

Raise your GAF score but also have faith.  I think it works.