Open Heart
Those of you who are also friends on Facebook are aware that my Dad had a heart attack last week. (Drove himself and my Mom to the hospital!) Monday’s blog is coming our early because tomorrow at 11am he is scheduled for open heart surgery. They are going to replace a valve in his heart with a pig valve. (We’ve already started the teasing.)
It’s been almost 20 years since my Dad’s last heart attack. He walks 45 min every day. He watches his diet carefully. The angiogram report was better this time than it was 20 years ago! No one saw this coming.
He’s in good spirits, cracking jokes with the staff and generally causing trouble. When they met the cardiologist asked about my Dad’s medical background. Dad told him he’d worked as a psychiatric social worker years ago. The cardiologist quipped maybe they’d met back then. Dad, always quick with a straight line responded, “I don’t like to discuss my failures.”
We’re all looking to get through this crisis but there’s still a ways to go. Dad’s already planning to use this as his excuse to finally get an ultra-light canoe. Thoughts and prayers are welcome, not only for Monday’s surgery but for the typically lengthy recovery. (And for the sanity of those of us who are going to have to find ways around the lifting, driving and (as Dad is very pleased to tell you) vacuuming that he won’t be doing for awhile.)
Posted on July 19, 2015, in Bio, grattitude and tagged Abbott Heart Hospital, heart attack, valve replacement. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
Give your dad a big hug for me!
The surgery went really well. Recovery to follow. It’s going to be a long day! (week?)
I hope you’ll keep us updated, Lisa. Glad to hear the surgery went well.
Dad is now out of ICU and on to a rehab floor. He’s working on learning how to move without aggravating the incision site. He’s taken a few short walks and is slowly being “unhooked” from all the support lines and monitors.
I’m glad to hear the surgery went well. Your father sounds like he has a lot of inner strength, a real trooper. Sending you and your family hugs and lots of well wishes for your dad. Hang in there!
Thank you. We have our fingers crossed that he’ll get to go home today.
My fingers are crossed, too!
UPDATE! Dad is on his way home!