It has been several days since my last entry, I have been preparing to go home. I have spent the last five years plus working in the Philadelphia Area, an ...Read more
It has been several days since my last entry, I have been preparing to go home. I have spent the last five years plus working in the Philadelphia Area, an thankfully being put in contact with the best surgeon, in the world, for aortic valve and root replacement with left and right Coronary Artery Transferr - Dr. Joseph E. Bavaria - Dr. Bavaria performed the operation one month ago. On December 20th I was released to go home to Buffalo. I am now back home sand feeling great! I am looking for a good cardiologist in the Buffalo, NY area. I will be going back to Penn Medical next November keeping my heart in the one place I feel confident. I want to thank all involved with my operation for their professionalism and wonderful care. I will be entering comments in this journal as I complete mile stones on my way back to complete health. thanks everyone for your support!!
Grateful
Gene
Today the visiting nurse made her final visit, saying I am good to go. Only a visit with my surgeon remains, that will allow me to return to home - I am excited!! ...Read more
Today the visiting nurse made her final visit, saying I am good to go. Only a visit with my surgeon remains, that will allow me to return to home - I am excited!! Until then I remain walking everyday.
Gene
Another great day. - only walked once today, back to twice a day tomorrow. Went to see my cardiologist today, Dr. Anand Haridas, he is my unsung hero! Dr. ...Read more
Another great day. - only walked once today, back to twice a day tomorrow. Went to see my cardiologist today, Dr. Anand Haridas, he is my unsung hero! Dr. Hairdos, a surgeon, knew the complexity of my required surgery and refferred me to Dr. Bavaria - I will always be grateful for his referral. Anyway the checkup went very well,he said I was doing very well, and referred a Caodiologist in the Buffalo NY area. He gave me permission to drive. Told me to select a doctor as soon as I get into the Buffalo Area. One week from today I should be at my farm and home by Thursday afternoon. a great day!!
Gene
I have not made an entry in a couple of days, because until today it has been the same each day. But today the visiting nurse removed the staples from my chest ...Read more
I have not made an entry in a couple of days, because until today it has been the same each day. But today the visiting nurse removed the staples from my chest - looks pretty good. Also today, if all goes right I will be cleared to travel in nine days, so I am officially a \"Single digit midget\", ( if you have served in the military, you will remember the term.). JM thanks for the call. Today was another very good day!!
Gene
Yesterday was a good day, the visiting nurse came, checked my vitals, looked at my zipper and said all looks good. The staples will be removed Monday - YES! ...Read more
Yesterday was a good day, the visiting nurse came, checked my vitals, looked at my zipper and said all looks good. The staples will be removed Monday - YES! I walked once yesterday and once today, so far - I intend to walk later today. Walking seems to be my best therapy. One day closer to being able to travel.
Gene
Today is a better day than yesterday, not that December 6 wasn\'t good but today is better. I may have over did it a little and by the last half of the day, ...Read more
Today is a better day than yesterday, not that December 6 wasn\'t good but today is better. I may have over did it a little and by the last half of the day, I was more tired than normal. Got a good amount of sleep and feel a lot better, today. Raining right now so I have not walked, but hope to be able to later today. Not much more.
Gene
I know I am starting to sound like a recording, but I do feel much better!! Walked a couple of times today, so glad the weather is remaining mild. The visiting ...Read more
I know I am starting to sound like a recording, but I do feel much better!! Walked a couple of times today, so glad the weather is remaining mild. The visiting nurse came today, says I am doing well. Looking forward to getting my staples removed, next week!!
More tomorrow,
Gene
Another good day in my neighborhood - I am just enjoying the day. Went for a walk this morning and notice I am not retaining water in my extremities anymore, ...Read more
Another good day in my neighborhood - I am just enjoying the day. Went for a walk this morning and notice I am not retaining water in my extremities anymore, my rings are no longer stuck on my finger after I complete my walk - how neat! I feel this is a great sign my valve is working correctly, yes! I am feeling like a new man!
Gene
Today is my first day alone in my apartment. I feel great, did not get out of bed until 8:30 am, finely slept on my side instead of on my back, much better ...Read more
Today is my first day alone in my apartment. I feel great, did not get out of bed until 8:30 am, finely slept on my side instead of on my back, much better sleep. Today I walked twice, a couple miles each time and feel great. Can\'t wait to be cleared by the doctors to be able to do more. I have a six month plan with my daughter do a sprint tri in six month, hope I follow through with the plan. Today was a wonderful day.
Gene
Today my wonderful companion, friend and wife had to go back to her life if Buffalo. I will be here until I am cleared to travel. the good is I will be able ...Read more
Today my wonderful companion, friend and wife had to go back to her life if Buffalo. I will be here until I am cleared to travel. the good is I will be able to spend most of my time getting better - so far I am feeling great, walking each day and feeling grateful to be doing as well as I am. again thank you all for the support you have given me.
Gene
Today, I finished making the appointments required, before I am allowed to return to Buffalo. It has been raining today so I was not able to walk outside. ...Read more
Today, I finished making the appointments required, before I am allowed to return to Buffalo. It has been raining today so I was not able to walk outside. At 1:30 pm I had my first appointment with any doctor, after being released - Dr. Koganski has been my family doctor for the past five years, first thing he said \"it looks like you have lost some weight\". We talked for a while, he said I looked great, checked my vitals, on completion said I was doing fine, but wanted blood work done because of the possible glutination of my blood during the operation, I will get the work done next week. Today was a good day.
Gene
We are here - pretty sparse, but home until I return to Buffalo, and home is always better than a hospital bed and continuous poking and prodding. I have already ...Read more
We are here - pretty sparse, but home until I return to Buffalo, and home is always better than a hospital bed and continuous poking and prodding. I have already made a few of the appointments required before I am allowed to travel back to Buffalo. It has been a long day, but pretty great being out and allowed to do the things I need and want to do. Until tomorrow thanks to everyone!!
Geno
It is offical I have been released from the wires that monitored me. I snuck a look at the patient board and am due to be released, at ten tomorrow morning. ...Read more
It is offical I have been released from the wires that monitored me. I snuck a look at the patient board and am due to be released, at ten tomorrow morning. Pierre and I will get out of here and set up for a few days at my apartment. I feel great, better than I have in a long time. I will write more from the apartment tomorrow. Thanks again for all of your support.
Geno
I have been walking a lot. All of the parts seem to be working properly and they are telling me the remaining wires will be removed later today. Pierre and ...Read more
I have been walking a lot. All of the parts seem to be working properly and they are telling me the remaining wires will be removed later today. Pierre and I will be able to go back to the apartment tomorrow. I can\'t wait to start doing long walks and getting back into shape. Thanks everybody again for all the support. I truly appreciate it. I will personally respond to everyone who has responded to my blog as soon as I can.
My first time; I feel like a virgin - I am soo grateful for all of your blogs - they have made my time here bearable. It is a wonderful feeling knowing all ...Read more
My first time; I feel like a virgin - I am soo grateful for all of your blogs - they have made my time here bearable. It is a wonderful feeling knowing all of the support I have had - Thank you from the bottom (or top) of my heart!!! I should be writing more to all tomorrow
I was worried about Gene so I went for my run and ran to the hospital to see him. He said it was an eventful night - in the room there was stuff all around ...Read more
I was worried about Gene so I went for my run and ran to the hospital to see him. He said it was an eventful night - in the room there was stuff all around on the floor - bandage wrappers, needle heads, etc. They said that they had to additionally treat the AFib. He said a doctor spent around half an hour explaining things to him. He said that the doctor said he will be okay and I think Gene understands that he has to do what they say although they are taking x-rays right now and he is waiting to have the nurse get him out of bed so he can go walking. I do believe he wil be okay because he is still talking about how it is \"all in the juice.\" He said it is all about as getting as much fluid/juice as he can. He loves anything liquid (but he says he doesn\'t think he will drink scotch anymore). He took a bite of pineapple the other day and he said it was the best thing he ever tasted. Gene also said that he thinks he can get out and go to the hotel with me - perhaps tomorrow. I haven\'t confirmed that with anyone today but will later in the afternoon. We will wait and see.
Last night Gene over did it with his walking and coughing up. While we were walking, his heart monitor went off and the nurse said they needed to do an EKG. ...Read more
Last night Gene over did it with his walking and coughing up. While we were walking, his heart monitor went off and the nurse said they needed to do an EKG. They said he has Atrial Fibrillation. The doctor came and gave him some medication to help bring the top part and the bottom part of his heart into sync. The doctor said this sometimes happens with his type of surtgery. I think Gene will take it easy today and rest so he can get better and get get sprung. I think the hospital feels a bit like a prison to him but a very necessary prison. He is doing okay and appreciates everyone and everything that is being done for him - he is just Gene and wants to do things at his own pace.
Gene is getting restless. He does not feel like he is able to be in contol of his own destiny while in the room he is in. He has not had a shower or brushed ...Read more
Gene is getting restless. He does not feel like he is able to be in contol of his own destiny while in the room he is in. He has not had a shower or brushed his teeth since the surgery and is feeling out of sorts today. He loves when I read him all of the blogs you are all sending. Hopefully tomorrow when he is in his own room he will feel like writing on his blog.
11/24/11. Today is day 4 in the hospital. Most of the tubes are out. Gene gained 22 pounds since the surgery with all of the products he has been given but ...Read more
11/24/11. Today is day 4 in the hospital. Most of the tubes are out. Gene gained 22 pounds since the surgery with all of the products he has been given but the doctors say that will all diminish in time. Hopefully tomorrow Gene will be able to start to write his own messages but I will do this last one for today, We are thankful for all of family and friends who have been so supportive, Thankful to Dr. Bavaria (the heart whisperer) for unbreaking Gene\'s heart. Thankful to Megan for haning out with me and starting the blog and thankful for meeting this lovely lady Suzy this morning at breakfast. She too is here because her husband is also at the HUP Hospital . It felt like God was sending me a support friend. All be thankful - we are blessed, (Written by Mary Pierre - Gene\'s wife).