Book excerpt: After a life that has spanned more than six decades, Dwight N. Wood, Sr., now provides an intensely painful but transparent account of his story starting from birth and leading to the present day. He always attempted to hide away the damaging scars of a major heart surgery and the sometimes cruel events prompted by poverty. It was his choice to cover up and contain his deepest emotions within his heart and mind. Survival of the Heart Tragedy of the Mind is a spiritual and surprising story of medical survival and human tragedy. Wood characterizes his most detailed memories of his childhood and the sacrifices of his family, which always supported his dreams of living a normal life. After he became an adult, he once again faced the demons of his past physical and mental battles. He recounts the hardships associated with despair, dying, and death. He expresses the mental struggles of living in the past while not looking toward the present and future. The emotional and monetary costs of failing to seek professional guidance nearly led to his demise. Wood admits to the consequences of being a man who has had to deal with denial and rejection. His book is about learning the lessons of life and making the confusing connections between commons sense and poor judgment. He rationalizes the reasons we should embrace love and forgive people. The crucial decisions he made as a child and an adult now allow him to complete his circle of life. Survival of the Heart Tragedy of the Mind is an intimate portrayal of a very emotional boy who develops into a mentally quick and capable man. His often hopeful approach to overcoming human miseries is highlighted by his failures as well as his victories. From his youthful days to his elderly years, he suffered from a congenital heart abnormality and eventually developed post-traumatic stress disorder. His lifelong search for the answers to human love, spiritual happiness, and the true meaning of human life eventually leads him to some remarkable solutions with noteworthy conclusions.