Article written by Jason Jett, the associate pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Editor Wayne Hardy’s editorial, The Ready Writer, which normally appears on this page, is not appearing in this edition of The Baptist Times because Bro. Hardy unexpectedly had to have open-heart surgery and currently is recovering at home.

He is showing steady improvement in recovering from the surgery, which included four bypasses, but under medical advice and request from the family, visitation and phone calls are being limited in number and time in order to allow him to have enough rest.

Family, friends, members of Bible Baptist Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Baptist Times staff members wish him a speedy and full recovery, knowing how much he desires to be back actively doing the Lord’s work.

The purpose of this article is to provide updated information both for those who have knowledge of his surgery and those who had not yet heard about it.

On January 21 of this year, Bro. Hardy went for an early morning run. An avid runner, his jogs around nearby Boomer Lake are frequent and usually uneventful. That Thursday, things were obviously different. He began having pains in his chest and left arm, which caused him to schedule an appointment that same day to see his doctor. At that appointment, symptoms again appeared during a stress test and, after a good dose of nitroglycerin to help settle things down, a heart catheter was scheduled for the following morning. The results of the catheter test showed significant blockages in four areas and an appointment was made to see a cardiologist the following Monday.

Because his symptoms continued after his Monday appointment, the decision was made by medical personnel to take him to the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City and wait there for the surgery to be scheduled. Bro. Hardy’s cardiologist recommended that John D. Randolph, M.D., who is considered to be one of the best heart surgeons in Oklahoma, perform the surgery. The downside to having a surgeon in such high demand is the wait time, so Bro. Hardy spent three nights in the hospital before the surgery took place. His procedure finally happened on the morning of Thursday, January 28, one week after the symptoms became serious. The wait was definitely worth it because Dr. Randolph and his staff did a tremendous job and the surgery was a success.

Bro. Hardy’s time in the hospital was fairly short and he made good progress while there. He was able to sit up and even walk the hospital halls the day following surgery. He was determined to walk more than he was required to and set recovery goals that surprised even the nurses. Those of us who know him aren’t surprised by his determination, even when recovering from a major surgery! Bro. Hardy was able to go home five short days after surgery, and he continues to make progress.

His determination is still evident in his exercise routines and his desire to use the time effectively. He has been able to focus his mind on something he loves—writing and arranging music. His follow-up visits have been positive and doctors are pleased with his progress, certain he will make a full recovery. Like every patient recuperating from this type of surgery, there is a mix of good and bad days, but the overall trend is definitely moving upward.

Bro. Hardy is a uniquely gifted person. Anyone who spends even a short amount of time with him agrees. He has a wonderful mind and a desire to invest in others like few people most of us will ever meet. He is driven by the singular purpose to make a great difference in the lives of others, and there is no doubt that has taken place during his years in ministry. This health trial has been a reminder to us all that some things, like our health, are not to be taken for granted. Even when we’ve been good stewards and done what we can, there are plenty of things that only God controls. It’s not always easy, but it never hurts us to be driven to a point of renewed dependence on the Lord.

We ask that you continue to pray for Bro. Hardy and lift him up before the throne of the Great Physician. He is on the road to healing, but we are praying that he comes back even better than before. He’s made a great difference in so many of our lives, and we know that God will use him to continue to do so in the years ahead.