Barry's Posts

The MRS just showed me a post she made on fb five years ago today....it said I had been released from the hospital (early that afternoon on March 14, 2011, we had gone to Little Italy (my sis took us out to dinner) and had watched the sunset over Lake Erie (from the lake shore in Cleveland). Wow, can't believe, such a short time ago and yet, so long ago in a large sense. So, I was prompted to allow distraction from my study for my comprehensive exam for my MS in Exercise Science (AKA Exercise Physiology), remembering that in those days as I was waiting for my Table (operating table) date to come and the time after, remembering how really important the comradery and support was when I participated in this this Heart Valve Journal...and I thought maybe I should share that life after a valve job (in my case a mitral valve repair)...that Life is Good. I remember that day when I woke of from surgery, Mar 11, 2011, and I saw a Cleveland Clinic nurse looking down at me...and she says....how do you feel....OMG....she didn't know and I didn't even know then about being mindful before speaking when one is an Aspie (Asperger's Syndrome)...without any pause I told her precisely how I felt....when the words "like f..k..g sh#t"...she didn't wince, thank goodness...and then that tune phrase from Ali in the Jungle that I had watched the video from Ironheart Raciung, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wU0nuUaTvo , started playing in my head, "...everybody gets knocked down - how quick you gonna get up...". That tune did not playing in my head until 7 1/2 months later when the young Marine Officer put that finishers medal around my neck and saluted me at the finish of the Marine Corps Marathon. And, here now I am studying for my comprehensive exam for a new degree in Exercise Science. And, if I pass the comprehensive I will receive the MS in May, study for my certifications with ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) and AHA (American Heart Association) so I can properly work in the field of cardiac rehabilitation. Sometimes I wonder how many other 73 year olds will be walking for another MS degree with me?? Friday last I finished my Internship at the UNM Hospital Cardiac Rehab Center and today at 1215 will have lunch with the director and co-workers as a celebration, by coincidence what an appropriate day, the 5th year anniversary of being released from the hospital, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, a little more than 36 hours after my valve job. There is so much more to my story (Ironheartracing.com and cardiacathletes.com are asking me to share it and I pretty much have it written for them)...so much more, but, you know, it would be too long for here and, besides, I 'm suppose to be studying for my comprehensive exam, but, I wanted to take the time in appreciation of Heart Valve Journal to share there is so much of life after heart valve surgery. I am perhaps naïve...part of my Aspieness (I learned I am Aspie quite by coincidence while studying autism in one of my graduate courses about working with people with disabilities...and, by the way, being Aspie, as a side sharing of information, is so much more about abilities than disability. Yeah, there are short comings, but the gifts so out weigh the short comings. Anyway, again, there is life after heart valve surgery and for me, just me, I look back at the valve job as a little hiccup in my life that actually led to bigger and better things, such as the new career I am about to begin...yeah...the valve job led to new beginnings. Not gonna go back and check for spelling, typing, or grammar errors..forgive any please...and best vibes to all of you and your families and friends....spread love, eh!