Like a poorly written horror story... just when you think things are getting better, out jumps the masked guy with flamethrowers or chainsaws or something. So goes the story of my health this past year.
First, thanks for all your notes and emails.
Many of you asked for an update to my blog to let readers know what was going on (or even that I was still alive), and I have to tell you that I really struggled with those suggestions.
You see, I am much older than the 'social networking' generation. And while I have an email address (mandated by SoL), I do not have a Facebook page , or a Twitter account, or any other of the myriad methods of social networking. In fact, this (SoL provided) blog page is as close as I want to get to social networking.
The other reason I struggled with the suggestion is that I tend to be a very private person, and am often mystified by people who feel the need to tell the world every time they take a dump.
Heck, I never understood the 'Letters to the Editors' section of our small local newspaper when I was growing up, but my parents read them every week.
Truthfully, I don't comprehend (or appreciate) why these people feel the need to share their opinions; since, if they don't agree with mine, are generally worthless anyway.
That being said, my heart is failing... Again.(4 Bypasses, 2 stents, the first time).
This time, for those of you who've been there, the mitral valve is slowly giving out. They can do another open heart operation and replace it with a pigs valve, but I am dragging my feet on that one.
Not that I'm kosher or anything. In fact, I love a good pork roast or a great barbeque.
I simply don't want to go through all the pain of having them cutting open my sternum a second time (that's the big bone down the front of your chest). Mainly because it hurts like shit and takes forever to heal.
When I told my surgeons this, they put their collective heads together and came up with a possible alternative. It seems there is an arthroscopic type of repair they might do, however, the procedure has not received FDA approval. Yet.
So we wait...
It's now a race to see if my failing mitral valve will keep working long enough for our government, in its infinite wisdom, to give the procedure it's blessing.
In the meantime, I'm down to less than a 40% functioning heart, but still hanging in there.
So there it is. More than I wanted to share, because I don't want pity and also because I don't know when it will be better.
However, I felt an even greater obligation to let you know that I do plan to get back to 'Second Time Through' as soon as I get some strength back.
So thanks for your patience and understanding,
Phil Brown
November 27, 2015