Hi,
We just came back from an afternoon in Bassett reviewing my progress. While they did not have the results of the echocardiogram (which was to look for ...Read more
Hi,
We just came back from an afternoon in Bassett reviewing my progress. While they did not have the results of the echocardiogram (which was to look for any leeks around the valve), every other test came through with flying colors... X-ray lungs clear, EKG ok, incision healing ok, and I can dispense with my heart hugger and begin a more active existence. We celebrated with a meal out on the way home.
Thank you all for all your support. Good luck to all of you who are either also recouperating or waiting for an operation.
Today I had first follow visit back to Bassett to see the nurse practitioner for an evaluation. He went over my vitals for each day that since discharge and ...Read more
Today I had first follow visit back to Bassett to see the nurse practitioner for an evaluation. He went over my vitals for each day that since discharge and did tell me that I am doing well. That said, this is only just over two weeks and there is still another four to six weeks before it will be near normal situation. I'm happy to enjoy this time to read, catch up on the many videos I've collected or been given, look out at the world and not have to have any reason to worry. For all of you out there who may be scheduling heart surgery, afterwards, take the advice of the specialists and not rush getting back into the world ... It will still be there in four weeks, or six weeks. Thank you for all your support...
Thank you to you all for your prayers and support. Came home yesterday and am much better today... Still a few weeks to go before I can do too much. For ...Read more
Thank you to you all for your prayers and support. Came home yesterday and am much better today... Still a few weeks to go before I can do too much. For those who will be having your operation soon, I truly believe that once you get to day seven you will feel good.
Hi everyone, my surgeon Dr Kelley is being ultra cautious because the bottom of on my lungs is not quite clear... One side of me is Disappointed while the ...Read more
Hi everyone, my surgeon Dr Kelley is being ultra cautious because the bottom of on my lungs is not quite clear... One side of me is Disappointed while the other side only enforces how good Bassett health care and the ICU cardiac team are. More news tomorrow afternoon.
Today is a great day... Feel great ... Should be going home tomorrow... Staff great... Just they that you are woken every few hours for blood or pills. ...Read more
Today is a great day... Feel great ... Should be going home tomorrow... Staff great... Just they that you are woken every few hours for blood or pills. Compared to just yesterday, I feel totally different. Thank you for all your prayers and kind words. Darryl
Hospital great. People great. Having some difficulty breathing and the light is very bright on my eyes. They say everyone's experience of this is different. ...Read more
Hospital great. People great. Having some difficulty breathing and the light is very bright on my eyes. They say everyone's experience of this is different. Keith and Jon have arrived to visit! Hearing lots of news about the family in the UK and Dubai.
They stopped the surgery d/t blood clotting problem. I was intubated and lines in but stopped the surgery. Looking like it will be a go in the morning. It is ...Read more
They stopped the surgery d/t blood clotting problem. I was intubated and lines in but stopped the surgery. Looking like it will be a go in the morning. It is looking like it was a false reading! All is ok!!!
With just two days to go, I spent the day in Bassett hospital Cooperstown going though the pre-op. I could not think how this could have been any better and ...Read more
With just two days to go, I spent the day in Bassett hospital Cooperstown going though the pre-op. I could not think how this could have been any better and more informative than it was. From a welcoming face at check in, to the directing nurse who made sure I was in the right place at the right time, through blood work, x-Ray, and then back to meet a previous heart patient for lunch, followed by a long discussion with the anesthetist who went through the operation in detail as well as answering my concerns. Then back to the pre-op nurses for final briefing and my care bag with everything I need as I lead up to Thursday. Thank you Bassett! Also, I discovered yesterday that my two eldest boys are flying in from the Middle East and England respectively on Monday when hopefully I will be on my way home..... My email is filled with good luck messages ... I feel that I am so fortunate to have such care and so many people in there with me . Thank you everyone.
Today, the hospital called to go over a lot of pre operation information in readiness for my pre op day next Tuesday and the operation on the Thursday following. ...Read more
Today, the hospital called to go over a lot of pre operation information in readiness for my pre op day next Tuesday and the operation on the Thursday following. I spent most of my day running errands and then cooking making Cornish pasties and sausage rolls to help out for my wife when I get back home. As I write this, the snow is coming down again and we are being promised a return to the polar vortex next week! To everyone who has written to me with supporting messages, Thank You!
I woke up this morning and I realized that the next eleven days before my surgery is really one of preparation.... Like changing the filters in the furnace, ...Read more
I woke up this morning and I realized that the next eleven days before my surgery is really one of preparation.... Like changing the filters in the furnace, tidying up my desk, putting books away, finally making notes on how the wiring goes on my quarter built model railway and last, but not least, writing to friends. It's a different sort of preparation... When you prepare to go on vacation, there is a clear end date when you will be back to your abode and normal life will begin again. With this my thought is that it's just going to be a longer vacation!
Had lunch with Father Steve today ... Our priest is now on the same page with all the information. He's a good man and I really appreciate having him as both ...Read more
Had lunch with Father Steve today ... Our priest is now on the same page with all the information. He's a good man and I really appreciate having him as both a friend and spiritual guide though this path I am taking.
Last night, I sent a Facebook message to my son in college but have not heard back from him yet... This morning, I spoke to my second eldest son and I felt ...Read more
Last night, I sent a Facebook message to my son in college but have not heard back from him yet... This morning, I spoke to my second eldest son and I felt very relieved after telling him all the details. I tried calling my eldest but could only leave a message as he was in meetings. Talking to my second son, I realize how important it is to tell family as soon as you have the facts.
Yesterday, I went to Bassett in Cooperstown for my CAT scan, which was the last visual piece of evidence the surgeon required before setting up the surgery. ...Read more
Yesterday, I went to Bassett in Cooperstown for my CAT scan, which was the last visual piece of evidence the surgeon required before setting up the surgery. All the people in the CAT scan unit could not have been nicer! From the minute I arrived having driven though a snow storm to the minute I left, they were friendly, caring and so pleasant that I felt real good about everything. Following the CAT scan I saw the surgeon and I was able to see all the pictures.
I keep asking myself if I am ready, not that I know that physically my body has to have this done now, but whether my mind is ready for what lies ahead. It's ...Read more
I keep asking myself if I am ready, not that I know that physically my body has to have this done now, but whether my mind is ready for what lies ahead. It's scary, isn't it! My wife is a PTA and I think she thinks that I might be making too much about this ..... I hope that I am not!
Tomorrow, I will tell my children... I wonder what they will make of it as my eldest is seven thousand miles away and my second son is three thousand five hundred miles away. My youngest is in college in ct... They all have their lives to worry about and I wonder if telling them is only going to be another problem for them to worry about. One person told me he did not tell his kids and they only discovered he was having heart surgery when he was in ICU afterwards and they gave him he'll for not telling them ahead of time! more tomorrow.