Brief health update...

OkeeDon · Sep 14, 2004

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 · Sep 15, 2004

Don,

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

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

wroughtn_harv · Sep 15, 2004

( If you feel you absolutely have to reply then OK, but try to resist or I'll really get maudlin on all of you... )

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 · Sep 15, 2004

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 · Sep 15, 2004

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 · Sep 15, 2004

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

JayC · Sep 15, 2004

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

thcri · Sep 15, 2004

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 · Sep 15, 2004

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 · Sep 15, 2004

....OK, but try to resist or I'll really get maudlin on all of you... 

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

rockinmywaypa · Sep 15, 2004

Iwish you all the best and when they find a heart for you I hope it's as big as the one you have. You big-hearted guy.

Mark4510 · Sep 15, 2004

Don, rest assured you will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Mark

ronjhall · Sep 15, 2004

Don
I can not say it any better than Harv.
You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

MossRoad · Sep 15, 2004

Good luck, Don. I'm thinking of you. My wife and I have discussed organ donation many times. We both know that so many people can benefit from one person's kindness. Our 11 year old has discussed it with us too. We all agree it would be a great thing to do.

My wife makes the old joke that if anything happens to me my brain should be in high demand since it's hardly been used. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Thanks, dear. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Sep 15, 2004

Our family is thinking about ya.

Soundguy

DannyD · Sep 15, 2004

Don, our prayers are with you and for you. I have been a total donor for the past 12 years. As someone that has some experience with donating organs, I can tell you this.

My daughter died 5 years ago from an unknown cause. As with all unknowns only certain body parts were to be used, eyes was about it. We donated her eyes and in a couple of months got word that a man in our area, (we dont know who) got her cornea and can now see again. Another child got the other cornea and will now have eyesight all her life. Those letters while painful in that our daughter was gone, helped us know that something useful had come from something totally unexpected and so hard on us.

God Bless you and your family.

Folks, you aint gonna need the parts, and they could save a life! There is NO COST at all for donating, and I can assure you that someone will be thanking you, even if they never know where or who.

Inspector507 · Sep 15, 2004

Trouble is, with all my issues, I can no longer donate anything but corneas. Not even blood. My FIL was on a heart list for many years, but didn't work out /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Junkman · Sep 15, 2004

I read this when there were fewer than 10 views and out of respect for what you wrote, I didn't post. The heck with respect, we all want to wish you the best of luck in finding replacement parts for that fine machine you call your body. The one thing that I know, is that you are one heck of a fighter and will work through this and get that new heart. My prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.
Junk..

OkeeDon · Sep 16, 2004

and out of respect for what you wrote, I didn't post. 

Uh oh, you should have stuck to your original plans. I'm making a list of everyone who wants to make me cry, and if I don't make it, I'm gonna haunt you all.

OK, where's that icon for deadpan humor? (pun intended).

Seriously, I appreciate all the kind thoughts and well wishes, but I'm also considerably embarrassed by them; I've never been much for having folks fuss over me.

My Dad died in 1955, at age 47, from something almost identical to what happened to me, except that when he fainted and fell, he was on a step ladder and fractured his skull. All I hit was the drivewway and got a gash in my noggin. They discovered the damage to his heart after he died; I was still alive when they found mine.

I'm 64, now, and I consider every day of the almost 17 years that I've lived longer than my Dad to be a gift. I consider every hour since I fainted about 6 weeks ago to be a double gift even though I can't do much with it, and if I actually get a transplant and get back somewhere close to active, I'll feel like I own heaven. If not, I'll probably take over running heaven if there is one and I get there.

In the meantime, please be assured there is no fear on my part, and no real suffering. There is no pain, just an enormous loss of endurance and bouts of dizziness and loss of balance. I have good days and bad days, and on the good days, I've actually been able to drive the short distance over to the property I was remodeling (although I stick to the side roads and drive like an old fart). They're supposed to be (finally) delivering my tractor this morning after the 300 hour service, and I think I'll be able to do some things on it if I'm careful and limit the exertion.

Unfortunately for all of you, even on the bad days it does not affect my verbosity; it just gives me more time to sit here and crank out drivel. Sorry about that...