UUCP member David Sanford, who has lived with a heart defect all his life, recently combined his health experiences and his observations of the world in a book of poetry, “If My Heart Could Talk & Other Poems.”

And it did.

David was interviewed earlier this month by WEAR-TV news reporter Laura Hussey about his life and writings and the will to succeed, in an appearance shared with his mother, Monica Sanford. An interview on BLAB-TV is scheduled for later this month.

The TV-3 conversation was staged at University of West Florida, where David graduated with a degree in theatre. David’s main priority is writing stories, poetry, and plays while occasionally appearing in theater productions. He lives in Pensacola with his mother, Monica, father, David L., and sister, Ruby Marciella Sanford.

Asked to share a poem, David said his favorite was “Letter to Peter” – Peter being a nearly one-year-old boy, son of a co-worker of David’s mother. Peter was also born with a heart defect. “It’s the most personal poem to me; I also believe it gives off a universal message of anyone dealing with any adversities, that they can still achieve their goals in life,” says David.

David read quotes from the first two stanzas: “God chose you to have a special heart, I know it may seem unfair, why does yours have to be different, but I promise you will be able to handle it.

“The scar on your chest is a symbol of your struggles, it shows your strength, it gives you character. God believes you can become the man you want to be, I want you to believe it too.”

David’s 113-page, self-published book is available on Amazon, ($12.49 per copy).
— Charlotte Crane

View his story by WEAR TV3
https://weartv.com/news/local/man-with-heart-defect-writes-bookif-my-heart-could-talk