Richard's Guestbook

My heart was repaired only to be broken, my Tiger had to have another surgery he woke up after was getting hugs and petted by the vet and when they went back to check on him he was gone. All happened on Good Friday. 

Richard....happy very belated birthday.  I have been off this site for a bit so I haven't seen your posts.  I just scanned through the posts and cartoons.  You bring sunshine to heart valve surgery site.  Thank you for your presence, humor and wit.  I will be 85 in two weeks.  Thanks to my aortic valve surgery over a year ago I am doing great.  Bloodwork and tests like a 25 year old.  

Just had to say thanks friend.  Susan🙋

Just read about Shadow.  How upsetting.  I read the following and wanted to share, though you probably are already aware of:

Zinc Deficiency: Sled dogs, particularly Huskies and Malamutes, are prone to zinc deficiency. This can disrupt taurine uptake in the brain, leading to abnormal electrical activity and seizure

Richard, I just read about Shadow's seizures. I'm so sorry to hear this and I can only imagine how upsetting this is for you. Prayers for you and Nancy. Stay strong my friend. 🙏👍

Hello my dear hvs brother, how are you doing? Are the eyes ok now? The prostate? Your beautiful heart? I always keep you in my prayers so the “man upstairs” as you call Him, watches over you. Our beautiful Susan Lynn is coming to meet with me on Tuesday. I’m so grateful and excited. We will share pictures. Have a wonderful and blessed weekend
🙏❤️🥰😘🤗

Hey Richard 

yes traffic is a nightmare. I book all of my appointments earlier in the day just to avoid it especially coming in from the north shore.  I have my pre-op next Wednesday and I’m looking forward to see what that appointment will be like. 
I know what you mean by sitting in the waiting room on the day of the surgery. They have a great system how they move everyone along. 

talk again soon. 

Jack

Hi Richard,

Like yourself, I live in Mass. and I am having surgery at MGH for a BICUSPID AORTIC VALVE with SEVERE REGURGITATION on February 11th. I'm a bit nervous (which I guess is normal) but I know that we are both very lucky to live where we do and have great hospitals around us. I have been reading up on a lot of things on what to expect and it is calming after reading the success stories of so many people on this page.

Jack Lake

Hi Richard,

If I have to have surgery someday, it would most likely be at Mass. General. I read a post of yours that you were very happy with all of your providers, but I didn’t see a surgeon mentioned specifically. What is your surgeon’s name?

 Thank you,

 Joanne

Was thinking about Shadow.  Read that sled dogs/huskies are not prone to seizures.  Did read that Hypothyroidism can cause seizures.  Not to have you pay for yet another test, but to put in your back pocket.  

Hope you’re doing well. Love your posts.  Hope you don’t mind the teasing.  Love hearing stories of your family and the special memories and also sad that you share.    It’s still so challenging for me both doctors still don’t agree.  Taking pokes at the other.  Going to go to st Francis and find another cardiologist.  They are grasping at straw at this point.  Im grateful to be alive.  I didn’t expect to be older in my body than in my mind. Something happened I wake up with spins and during day other weird things happen.   I’m just learning to live with it.  Im happy for all the heart warriors that got their lives back I just want mine back as well. 

Hi Richard, sorry you’re uncomfortable.  Those shots go deep.  Hope you are feeling a bit more comfortable.  I remember using a washcloth with ice  15-20 minutes 3 times a day.  Hope your not too swollen

Hi Richard. I am writing to tell you that we had to put my sweet Maisy to sleep today. I am heartbroken. It is going to be a huge adjustment without her. She was an angel on earth and I am sure she is an angel in heaven now

I just got your  message and told my boyfriend if we ended up in Massachusetts we will need to visit you & your wife.  You have been instrumental in helping me through this journey.  I hope the eye patch is gone and you can take a normal shower.  Hopefully the eye growth is a stupid thing like a dirt spec or eyelid hair.  I had stopped posting for a while because I’m suffering and don’t want to be discouraging to others. I do believe the glue products are a problem I have such a rash from the monitor I’m also concerned with products from china and our banking systems etc. three days off heart monitor and my skin isn’t right.  Time should heal it.   I called and got a nurse who was great they see irregularities in results but nothing alarming on the first two weeks of monitoring. Waiting on second two weeks  I’m going to get Ct angiogram then go back to both doctors.  Everything keeps coming back normal I can’t walk a flight of stairs without being out of breath.  My balance is off I get dizzy and heart pangs. I’m 59 in an 87 year old body.  I might have to just get used to this.  Also hope colonoscopy went well.  You need some time with your family and shadow with freedom of this behind you. Retirement is hard it’s an adjustment learning just do for you.  You are good with people you would be amazing helping a youth group.  I final got my Ct angiography.  I have a ekg schedule of my brain.  Then  back to doctors 

The doctor called it Vikings feet thought my blonde hair was real.  But it’s a tumor on the bottom of my arch apparently when I walked in Rome I over did it and it aggravated something I was t aware of. 

I  can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blindIt's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day.


I checked the weather in mass. To make sure it  will be sunny tomorrow. Glad you’re over that hurdle.