11/08/2011 = my 4th Open Heart Surgery; Recovery time, ~2-3 months.
More information in a bit, but first...
DETAILING:
Anyone able to or know someone who will clean my 6 cars for me yet this October?
Since my "car season" will be over sooner than usual, I will not have time to detail them, let alone get to 1,000 miles on each of them for what would've been the 3rd year in a row.
PRE-OP FUN:
Who is IN for a "PRE-SURGERY PARTY"? Stop in for 5 minutes or all 5 hours...
I've been quiet because it took me time to process the news from my 09/29/2011 appointment with the surgeon, make some decisions & prep info to share. I'm NOT scared, but I dread enduring another OHS so soon after my 3rd one ... and I'm VERY frustrated/angry at the irony of how this will affect my finances/plans/cars/vacation/road trips. I'm starting to "hate" my "big heart", literally and figuratively. Remaining upbeat is tough with so much happening and on my mind (other than the surgery). I HATE medical bills and wasting time. Life is too short!
My surgeon appointment was originally scheduled for 09/15/2011, but that never happened. If a friend of mine at the hospital hadn't sent me a message that morning asking what time I'd be there, I wouldn't have known. She noticed I wasn't on the schedule. So, I called and was told the surgeon was out of town at a conference. They CLAIMED to have called me, but the number they told me they called wasn't mine. UGH. So, LONG story short, the appointment was moved to 09/29/2011.
The trouble my "big heart" has me in now:
My ascending aorta is 5.6 at the middle; 5.3 at the root.
The aorta (to the arch) & the aortic valve will be replaced with a tissue (cow) valve; I will have a small farm inside of me! The Tuesday, 11/08/2011, surgery will be performed by Dr Russell at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
This is different than my prior 3 OHSs, done at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital...
...November 1977 ... 1st pig's valve installed to replace the pulmonary artery I was born without
With so much happening, it's going to be a rough and fast few weeks. I have LOTS to do [pre-op appointments, move stuff out of my room, drive my cars, work, etc.], so I'll be online sporadically....
IRONY ROCKS!
Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic
Good Luck Cort, as stated hope you have a fast and speedy recovery...If I was closer, I'd definitely do the detailing and washing of the cars....The 2012 car season will be here before you know it, and you'll be back on the road soon enough!
Cort, You know your always in out thoughts and prayers!!! We wish you the Best of Luck. Just be sure to make an appearance someplace shortly after the surgery to let us know it went well.
__________________
There is no such thing as Too Many Montes Member of the Motley Cruisers Car Club
Angela and Karen ... wish you could be here, too. Sometimes, I really HATE distance.
* The closer surgery gets, the more dread I feel. I know the drill, so I'm not worried ... just frustrated for many reasons on several levels. I don't always have a positive outlook...ha!
PREP WORK:
Another step closer. Pre-op testing complete. Blood work, Xray, EKG, 24-hour Holter monitor, 24-hour urine test. Catheterization and surgery in less than 2 weeks.
Still have to prep my cars for winter storage, BUT FIRST...
...PARTY TIME:
Pre-surgery fun is THIS Saturday, 10/29/2011, ~5:30p-10:30p. Beef Villa will offer some SPECIAL DEALS!
CHD Quilt #35 is the home of my Quilt Block, middle row, far left: http://www.chdquilt.org/files/Quilts/chdq35.jpg
Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic * PRE-SURGERY PARTY = ~5:30p-10:30p, Saturday, 10/29/2011 at Beef Villa, 1225 W Spring St, S Elgin IL * "Need a second to breathe" __ Adam Lambert __ 'What Do You Want From Me?'