The “open heart surgery process” is complex and filled with many surprises. I will spare all the technical stuff like enzymes being released when your heart is under stress or that your heart stops beating during surgery for an hour. My heart went into “A-Fib” before they could restore “sin-curve” rythum. That gets exciting.
There were tiny milestone victories. First of course, I discovered that I survived. That was the greatest victory. We will have to see if there will be any residual problems.
I wasn’t told about the potential of the heart not returning to regular rythum. 30% of the cases need something to restore rythum such as blood transfusions, special heart medicines or possible electric shock. Being on a heart monitor the doctors knew my heart rythum at all times. The arythmea occurred 24 hours after surgery. The nurses were watching all the drama and about 8:00 PM, the blood transfusions began to work. My Registered Nurse came into my room announce, the rythum is back. A little cheer went out from the nursing core. Great news, great victory. I do not know what the long term effect of strange blood in my system will have, but I need to thank somebody.
Finally there is one achievement a patient must make before going home. They must achieve a bowl movement. Now this seems like a little thing but the prospect is I could have spent the rest of my life in the hospital. Three days after surgery, I rang the bell. Yep. Another victory. I thought maybe I had won a national championship. Give the man a Diamond Ring. All the nurses shared the information. Embarrassing!
There you have it. I was alive. My heart was back in rythum, I sh–, and I got to go home.
Life is always a series of little victories. Seems like I’ve had my share recently.
Love
Dad