"Get well" wishes for Rich Mays (sonare)

[mljung]

Rich - I can see that you are back with a few posts here on GS. Must be a sign of things are moving forward and that you are getting better day by day!

Wonderful..!

All the best,
Mads

[Audiop]

Glad to see that as well!


/Peter

[audibell]

Rich, pls get well soon, people have come to value and learn from your questions and suggestions - have an easy Spring & GBY,
BRgds
WalterT

[sonare]

I have to admit that when I read these a sense of wonderment takes over== these are for ME!!!

So thanks again for the words-- they are encouraging beyond what you imagine.

Rich

[Remoteness]

[tenor39]

My prayers are with you, Rich. Thanks so much for talking with me during my time of crisis.

[sonare]

Friends,

I am now recuperating comfortable at home, but wanted to bring some "closure" to this adventure. Since my wife's account omitted certain details, I thought it best to just start at the beginning in my own words.

Monday night (2/16) I entered the Level One Trauma ER with heart attack symptoms. Little did I know then that would have been a walk in the park compared to what was to come.

My vitals and EKG looked good but once they did a CT scan the atmosphere changed considerably. A surgeon appeared (Dr Cavallo) and said there was aortic valve damage (which was diagnosed as aortic stenosis decades earlier), an aortic aneurysm (a surprise), and aortic dissection, where the blood coming out of the heart was being forced in between layers of the artery. If at any time this made it to the outside of the aortic artery, GAME OVER-- NOW.

The options were concise--do nothing and I would die by morning-- operate immediately and I might might not die by the morning. He didn't mention the odds, which were fewer than 50% survival of this multi-layered procedure. From an earthly viewpoint things weren't looking good-- but with a belief in a God who is in control of His creation, the odds were 100%. I then was granted a privilege that few enjoy. I was able to tell my wife and daughters goodbye in a way that few have.

I was then whisked into the OR where the asst anethesiologist introduced herself, and within 15 seconds I was out for the next 10 hours. The surgical team was quite busy, however.

In addition to the possibility of blood breaking through the wall of the aorta (pretty much instant death) the blood was forcing its way down the length of the aorta between the layers of the wall of the aorta rather down the large tube area where it's supposed to go. Not good for many reasons. So I needed immediate surgery to replace the torn area with a synthetic aorta. I have also had a heart valve problem for 25+ years which we knew would need to be replaced eventually. So Tuesday was the day! And there was a huge aneurysm where the dissection was. The surgeon said it was one of the worst of these types of situations that he's seen. Surgery took about 8 hours and while it was "successful", the surgeon was concerned that there was still a little more bleeding than he would like to have seen.

About 4 hours later I was rushed back into surgery because my blood pressure was unstable and my heart wasn't beating as smoothly as it should. After cracking my chest a second time and a very difficult 90 minutes for my wife, the surgeon came out with smiles and a very positive report that they had found the bleeder and stopped it. He was as positive as he has been throughout the process.

Once out of the OR and into the ER the waiting began. Almost immediately I began to improve more quickly than expected and was breathing on my own on Wednesday. By Saturday I was out of ICU and onto a normal cardiac floor.

The staff were {almost) all compassionate and competent-- the one exception being a young man who attempted to draw blood 3 times (no luck) and in the process inflicted the most pain I experienced in the hospital.

Last Monday (3/2) I was released and have been living like a king-- fabulous food from faithful friends (I am only on a low sodium rather than a "heart" diet-- no more ale was almost too bitter a pill to swallow!) so really don't have it too bad. And here is where I should say something bad about the hospital food, but it really wasn't bad. And while memory is a slippery thing, it seemed that it was even better in ICU-- perhaps an added incentive to live? It is really nice to not be awakened 3 times each night to either take vitals or draw blood. I almost forgot about the stubborn infection that kept me there longer that otherwise-- now only a memory.

So where does this leave me now? Some people are surprised when I tell them how thankful I am to God that this happened. It has been a "phase two" experience all around-- the opportunity to live a life that pleases God (and my friends and family) more, as well as the simple pleasure of looking at each new day in a different way than before. Others have said that this proves that God must have "big plans" for me-- as though there aren't folks already around who can handle "big thngs" better than I. Personally, I lean towards the idea that I am still here so I can strive to do MORE in a manner that brings Glory to Christ, and Him alone.

In the tradition of awards ceremonies I'd like to first thank my faithful God, whose rod and staff comforted me through the valley of the shadow of death; my wife Liz who kept our home running smoothly no matter what; my 14- yr old (Kathryn)and (almost) 16- year old Sharon, who seem kind of glad to still have ole' Dad around and who have been willing to help in a variety of mundane and disgusting ways with positive attitudes; my Mother, Brother. and Sister-in-law who dropped everything to come for nearly a week; and finally the literally hundreds of friends, well-wishers, and others-- many of whom I have not met (and likely will not ever meet) along with the twelve ordained clergy who shepherded my family. faithfully offering to God their prayers and supplications on my behalf. My very existence proves that this was not an empty activity.

My best to all of you!

Rich

[phil.]

Great to have you back! thumbsup

Phil.

[mrsteaks]

Bless you, our friend. Your speedy recovery is wonderful news, indeed.

[David Rick]

As the late Paul Harvey would have said, now we know the rest of the story! It's both worse and better than any of us imagined. Welcome back, Rich, and may all of us see our lives so blessed -- but less dramatically!

David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording