By Bill Finley
Even open heart surgery can't stop Jim (Mattress Mack) McIngvale from what he does best, sell furniture.
On December 10, McIngvale, 73, had heart surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital. Describing his condition, he told the TDN that he was in the early stages of congestive heart failure and his arterial valve was not opening and closing like it should.
“So they went in and fixed the thing,” he said Monday. “Thank God. The Good Lord is the infinite healer. Now I'm on the rebound. I've been here for six days and I hope to get out in the next two or three days.”
Since the day after his surgery, McIngvale has been making posts on X updating his condition. In Monday's Tweet, he spent most of his time talking about a reclining chair he sells, the Mack Zcliner. McIngvale said he has been sleeping in it rather than in his hospital bed.
“The (Zcliner) is a great addition to this hospital,” he said. “Not only can I sleep in it, I can sit in it all day very comfortably. It's got heat. It's got massage. It's got lumbar and all sorts of stuff to make you feel better. So thanks to the Mack Zcliner. It is one of the great, most valuable players in this quest to get better.”
He also pitched his followers on the idea of buying Christmas presents at his store, Gallery Furniture.
Six days post-surgery, and I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and kind messages. The Mack Zcliner, which you can learn more about at https://t.co/cGxLivqfuf, has been my recovery partner with heat, massage, and comfort delivered right to my hospital room in just two… pic.twitter.com/eexKqlEIkC
— @MattressMack (@MattressMack) December 16, 2024
“It's very important that you go out and buy furniture at Gallery Furniture during the holiday season,” McIngvale said. “We are going to treat you right. We're going to deliver today to make sure you are happy. Gallery Furniture is all about the customer.”
He said he's long been a fan of the Mack Zcliner.
“I had one of these at home before this disease started,” he told the TDN. “I couldn't sleep laying flat on a mattress. We had this sleep recliner and I decided to try it out and I really liked it. I needed one here at the hospital.”
He just can't help himself.
“I have to sell something every day,” he said. “I live to sell. I sell to live.”
McIngvale said that once he is out of the hospital he won't waste any time getting back to work.
“I'm very much looking forward to getting out of the hospital because once I get home I'll be able to go to work a couple of hours a day and get back in the game,” he said. “I love what I do. I love the work.”
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