Ron's Posts

February. 26 marks one year since the day I got my second chance again. I am grateful to be alive and glad at this point that I agreed to the surgery. The doctors had recommended that my Mom go thru the surgery a little over 6 years ago. She had been been through bypass surgery about 23 years prior, but because of her horrendous experiences with that one, she decided she would rather die than have the surgery. After a very difficult period of heart failure, she did. Because of the skills of my doctors, my determination and God's will, I made it through almost 9 months of recuperation with several bumps along the way. There were good times too, among them was cardiac rehab which allowed my self competitiveness to shine through. I could feel my endurance increasing with each race on the machines. For many weeks prior to the rehab, I walked slowly with small steps because I was afraid I would have a heart attack if I pushed at all. Between my cardiologist and the rehab , my confidence grew and the steps got longer. My cardiologist saw me often during the 1st half year. He really cared and I could feel it. My wife and son encouraged me to progress, stay on my food plan, keep the weight off, and exercise regularly. I prayed daily. The support I received from family and friends was amazing! I prayed every day, something I'm not known for. Even the memory of my Mom's illness helped me push. When I first decided to have the surgery, I set a goal for myself. Since I don't like the cold, my wife and I would spend the winter of 2014 in Florida enjoying the sun and it's warmth. This winter we are indeed on a long trip to Florida. Currently we are staying in Orlando. soon we will be moving to the Gulf area , heading back home to the Chicago area when Spring returns. But the best time of all came on December 29, when he and his wife Justine said their vows together in the small mountain town of Whistler, British Columbia. After which Justine was honored ringing the big bell 2/3 up the mountain which opened the mountain for first tracks tearly the very next morning. They were surrounded by their close family and friends. He had gotten engaged on the second day post his valve surgery and they accomplished a new beginning to their lives. Since then he has also returned to his competitive snowboarding which was the other part of his goal. I am a happy man. I am much better than I was a year ago, and I am looking forward to a productive and satisfying life in the future years.

Next Tuesday marks 7 weeks since this ordeal began. It seems funny to think about these last seven weeks as an ordeal, because they (the weeks and the procedure) have given me an extension of the life I probably would not otherwise have had. Without it I might not be able to see my son get married or get to know my future daughter in law better than I know her now. Most of my life has been fantastic and satisfying. Who knows what the future brings! In two weeks, the doctor thinks I will be able to drive again. I have rejoined my weekend coffee group this week. The members of the group have offered to drive me back and forth so I can be with them again. They have been giving me a lot of support with phone calls and wonderful get well cards during the past 7. The cardiologist says my improvement is great and I am steadily getting stronger. My wife, who has taken care of me constantly, is getting the opportunity to leave me alone for longer periods, and she is getting the opportunity to be with her friends more often. I don't ever want to do this again! I think I said that 17 years ago. I have always been lucky and had superior medical care. This time was no exception. My family has given me unbelievably loving caretaking. So I suspect that if my God calls on me to go through this in another 17 years, I wil. The doctors told me 17 years ago that if I had to have a redo, it would be easier because of the developing technology. I got news for them. None of this was easy. It was worthwhile, not easy. Guess what. They told me the same thing this time. We'll have to wait and see. One of the best parts of this experience has been the creation of this blog and the ability to share the blogs of others going through similar experiences.. That has really helped me stay calm and hopeful as well as hearing similar tales of the experiences of others. Thanks to all of the readers and other writers.

It's been a long while since I have added to this journal, and I felt like the effort was important to let folks know how I have been progressing. On the whole my doctors say that I am doing very well..My heart is strong. The valve is working like new. It is new! And day by day I am able to accomplish a little more. I had to return to the hospital a few days after I left because I had a very bad cough. It was constant. I just kept coughing and coughing. Occasionally I would cough up some sputum which was very thick and clear and colorless. Medication did not do much to relieve the cough. Testing showed that I did not have pneumonia and that the cough was not due tp a virus or bacterial infection. Then after a few days I developed atrial fibrillation. It was exhausting and uncomfortable. Fortunately, within 24 hours my heart self corrected, and I returned to sinus rhythm by myself. It has not returned, and I am taking medication to help control repeats. I am also on blood thinners for a few months. They are helping me adjust to the bovine valve. Surprisingly I do not have a lot of pain. My chest still hurts, but the pain does not make me fear coughing or losing my breath. I don't sleep more than a couple of hours a night, and I still use a recliner instead of a bed. I hope to move to a bed in the next few nights. My right leg is still swollen. I wear some large sized UGGs when I walk around or go outside to the car. My socks don't fit my right foot.. I guess i'm still a mess. I am ready for a long recuperation. The cards and letters make me smile, and my friends and family have been incredibly helpful. My cardiologist is very helpful. I have contact with him every day on the phone, and I've been seeing him once a week. He has been incredibly attentive and really helps me keep plugging..