WRITING GIVES GARRY A NEW LEASE OF LIFE ‘I had two triple heart bypasses and died twice... now Hollywood has come calling’
A MIRACLE man who survived five heart attacks could see his “deathbed novel” on the big screen.
Garry Johnson, 51, was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery in December 2015.
He didn’t realise he was having his fifth heart attack and doctors had to give him two triple heart bypasses in just 36 hours.
After 29 days, Garry woke from an induced coma and slowly rebuilt his strength. During rehabilitation he started writing short stories to keep his brain active.
And Garry was delighted when his crime novel Serial Killer was picked up by a publisher.
Now the story has been spotted by a Hollywood producer.
Garry, of Basildon, Essex, said: “I can’t believe any of this has happened. It was Christmas three years ago when I went into hospital.
“I remember them pulling off my clothes as they rushed me down the corridor to the operating theatre. I heard the anaesthetist count FELICITY CROSS to three and that was it. I thought I was waking up the next day, but it was actually 29 days later. The first operation had gone wrong and they had to operate again.
“I had two triple heart bypasses, died twice, my internal organs collapsed and I had septicaemia, all while in a coma.
“My oldest boy Sam was there when I was brought out of it. My hands were like bunches of bananas – swollen and yellow – and I couldn’t speak for days.
“I was so weak I couldn’t even lift my bed sheet and my kids were having to feed me. I couldn’t foresee ever being able to get out that bed.”
Over a month and a half, Garry went from having to be hoisted out of bed to being able to sit up without aid. He had to re-learn how to chew food and move his limbs.
The dad-of-three was transferred to a rehabilitation unit in Billericay in March last year. With the help of frames, treadmills and exercise bikes he was finally
able to walk again. Garry said: “The first day I was able to walk across the room, it felt like climbing Everest.
“But the next challenge was my brain. I couldn’t find the words. I couldn’t read, my brain just switched off. So the consultant said I should try writing lists, then writing short stories.”
Garry worked on a longer version of one tale, which six months later became an east London crime thriller called Serial Killer.
He said: “I was inspired by a TV programme about historical sex crimes. My main character is a woman abused when she was younger who then sets about righting those wrongs later in life.”
The book hit the shelves last month. His publishing team also secured the interest of Beachdancer Films in Los Angeles.
And Garry has now sold the film rights and is set to receive at least £50,000, with Clueless star Alicia Silverstone said to be interested in taking the lead role.
Garry said: “It feels totally La La Land. I can’t believe it’s happening. It’s incredible that being on my deathbed has led me here.”