At 35 years old, James Gutman was given just four hours’ notice before undergoing a quintuple bypass with no prior health issues, no medications, and no warning signs. But that life-saving operation wasn’t the end of his story. It was the beginning of a new one.

In this powerful episode of Hi Pod! I’m Dad, James shares how surviving heart surgery changed everything: how he viewed stress, how he approached parenting, and how he discovered a deeper connection with his nonverbal son Lucas through what he now calls “autism appreciation.”

Lucas became an emotional mirror, reflecting James’s calm or stress back at him, and their bond grew stronger when James stopped trying to control everything and instead entered his son’s world. From heart health to emotional growth, this episode is a raw, inspiring look at what happens when life delivers challenges that turn into unexpected gifts.

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Life After Heart Surgery: From Near-Death to Autism Appreciation

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