Brief health update...

[OkeeDon]

Some of you know from previous posts that I experienced a fairly severe health setback 6 weeks ago or so; turns out I must have had a heart attack at some time in the past without knowing it, and now have two completely blocked arteries, pretty bad heart damage and only about 15% heart function (they call it "ejection fraction"). I had a defibrilator installed that keeps me alive if I have ventricular fibrilation; but the outlook for any improvement is pretty bleak. There's too much damage for a bypass operation to be effective, and the blockage is too severe for the heart to do much good.

The update is that I have an appointment on 9/30 with a heart surgeon at Miami Jackson, part of the Univ of Miami. They're going to evaluate me for a transplant. Supposedly I should be a good candidate because I'm only 64 years old and was vigorous until this happened. The biggest problem is time; I'm told that it can take up to two years, and I may not have that much time. I've been signed up as an organ donor for years; now it's pretty important to me that more people sign up...

I'm only posting this in the public forum because so many people have been sending me PM's asking how I'm doing, and this is easier than answering all of them individually, although I appreciate them very much. Please, I'm not looking for any sympathy; I'm very realistic about the situation and prepared for whatever may come. If you feel you absolutely have to reply then OK, but try to resist or I'll really get maudlin on all of you... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[daedong]

Don,

I wish you all the best and hope things work out.

Just keep on punching /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you feel you absolutely have to reply then OK, but try to resist or I'll really get maudlin on all of you... )</font>

Okay. I won't reply. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As for maudlin, well, we all need a good cry every now and then.

In fact the other day during a moment of superfluous emotion it hit me the tear ducts are pressure relief valves for the heart. I don't know why science hasn't discovered the physical plumbing but I know it has to be there. Because when I cry it seems to coincide with a feeling that's in my chest. Mostly it seems to come with feelings of joy so great it feels like my chest is going to explode. And occasionally from a sadness that's so deep it feels like my chest is hollow.

So we'll get all maudlin all together and it'll be okay.

You never realize how much you affect other's lives until something happens to make you pause and allow them to catch up and express themselves.

Right now my wife is standing behind me ironing her clothes for work today. As she has since Charley she's asked if Don had posted updates.

So you go ahead and shed a tear there. We'll shed some here. It's what us human beings do. And it's a good thing.

 

[dmccarty]

Don,

Take care. At least it looks like TS Jeanne is going to turn north and away from Florida. Course it looks like it might head to the Carolinas... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

My parents got back to Palm City yesterday. They had been on vacation and then the storms chased them away. In 16 days they had only spent on day at home. They had a tree down as the major damage. No big deal in the scheme of things.

Can we go maudlin as a group? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Take care,
Dan McCarty

 

[JASTN70D]

Harv

Here! Here! That was so well said I could not come close to expressing it better.

Good luck Don and all the best to you and yours. I had a Friend who needed a transplant and just when it looked the worst he got it. It does happen all the time

 

[fivestring]

Don, I'll add you to my prayer list.
Hope everything turns out successfully for you.

 

[JayC]

Oh my. I had no idea. I wish you the very best!

 

[thcri]

Don, I wish you the best. I am a organ donor and hope more people will get on the list also. Our company today is having a blood drive. We are opening our business to people to come in and give blood. Mayo Clinic brings in a protable set up and hopefully will get 40 or 50 pouches full.

You will also be in our prayers to find a new heart for you.


murph

 

[Bird]

I'm a regular blood donor; don't have to keep up with it because the blood bank calls me to come in /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. In fact, just did that Saturday morning. Of course, they don't call as frequently now, since I do the "double red cell" deal each time now. As for organ donor, my family all knows that when I'm gone, if there are any usable parts left, I hope someone gets some use from them.

 

[shoppintractors]

<font color="blue">....OK, but try to resist or I'll really get maudlin on all of you... </font>

Since I spoke to you in a PM, I thought I would 'spill the beans' and show everyone who maudlin is...... see the attachment.

Don