A Fall to look forward to

Like many autumns past, our calendar is filling up with some great things. Ann Marie is doing quite well in her new job as teachers' secretary at an elementary school of about 700 students. She works afternoons Monday through Friday, and only on a handful of days when the kids are off. My work is as challenging and fun as ever, with a production release coming up soon. The kids have started in school and are enjoying friends and activities such as cross country, helping with kids in special education, and participating in youth events through church. We're meeting in Richmond with my brothers' families later this month, and in October I'm attending a sibling reunion in New Jersey. On weekends and evenings we're doing some cleanup and fixing around the house, and with time that remains we're getting as much mountain biking in as weather and daylight permit. Oh, and as I write this Eddie is about halfway through his 2 day go-karting class (one our required preparations for driving :-)

That all of these things are possible despite my planned heart procedure in October makes me smile. It's truly a blessing that I feel well enough now to continue working and playing, and that medicine has advanced so much that a quick recovery should be possible. Sure, there's a small chance that an unexpected complication could occur, meaning open heart surgery and another long recovery, but in this case I like Ann Marie's philosophy of "plan for the best, deal with the worst".

That said, on with the details. The procedure is a minimally-invasive balloon dilation of the pulmonary artery. This means a catheter is inserted through my inner thigh and up to the narrowed area of the artery. The doctor then inflates a balloon to expand the artery and determines if it looks like it will stay that way. If not, he then inserts a stainless steel stent, a metal tube of thin wire that ensures a permanent fixed diameter.

The procedure is scheduled for Friday, October 9th, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Richard Ringel, an interventional cardiologist who specializes in catheter procedures such as this, will be leading the small team. Anesthesia will keep me awake but only marginally aware of my surroundings. One of two surgeons, Dr. Duke Cameron or his partner, will be nearby in case surgery becomes necessary. I'll go in at 7am for prep and should be in my room resting by noon, hopefully up and walking around not long afterward. I can have visitors, so if you're thinking of stopping please do! Just be sure to coordinate with Ann Marie.

I'll stay overnight and should be released in the morning. I'll rest over the weekend, eat well, watch some good movies, and walk as much as possible. I should be back to work Monday, maybe a little sore but ready for a full week.

In the weeks that follow I'll increase exercise and see how I feel. If my strength and endurance are where they need to be, I plan to take some time off work, get in some serious mountain biking before the winter comes, and do a weekend or two away with the family. After all, that's what the Fall is all about!