After 4 months of anticipation and fear and with a lot of support from many of you, my surgery on May 2 did finally happen (as my wife, Nancy reported at the time). AVR with a CEPM bovine pericardial, graft of a few inches of my dilated ascending aorta. And everything went extremely well. Walking in the ICU the day after the surgery. Home in 5 days. Rapid recovery with no complications. Gradual increase in activity level. Now playing squash again with my trash-talking pals, who show no mercy on the court. But showing off my chest scar in the locker room reveals their squeamish, wimpy nature and gives me a little edge!
So where have I been since May 2? I guess I've been hibernating. Thinking. Reading. Taking long walks and feeling amazed at the simple beauty of our neighborhood and the sweetness of family and friends. Being prodded by Nancy to avoid my old work-a-holic ways, take breaks, smell the flowers, learn to appreciate life's little pleasures. I am not particularly religious, but it does feel like being born again. One of my squash buddies called it extra innings.
Anyway, I want to tell everyone again how grateful I am for the support I received from VR.com during that crazy time before surgery. And I want to tell everyone of my current good health, my incredible surgeon, Dr. John Elefteriades, my amazing wife, Nancy, my kids, my grandson. In short, I am truly blessed. Recovery is well under way, and I hereby give all of you a big thank you hug.
Richard
So where have I been since May 2? I guess I've been hibernating. Thinking. Reading. Taking long walks and feeling amazed at the simple beauty of our neighborhood and the sweetness of family and friends. Being prodded by Nancy to avoid my old work-a-holic ways, take breaks, smell the flowers, learn to appreciate life's little pleasures. I am not particularly religious, but it does feel like being born again. One of my squash buddies called it extra innings.
Anyway, I want to tell everyone again how grateful I am for the support I received from VR.com during that crazy time before surgery. And I want to tell everyone of my current good health, my incredible surgeon, Dr. John Elefteriades, my amazing wife, Nancy, my kids, my grandson. In short, I am truly blessed. Recovery is well under way, and I hereby give all of you a big thank you hug.
Richard