Suprise trip to Iowa

“Some of you have met my brother Doug on trips, although he's never posted here.
Doug drives a truck from Pontiac Mi. to Iowa and back. Yesterday I got a call; my 39 yr old little brother had had a heart attack while resting in the truck stop. The Davenport hospital airlifted him to the University if Iowa Medical Center for emergency heart surgery. They replaced a valve and some artery and more, late yesterday evening. I don't knopw many details yet. He's now in the surgical intensive care unit, resting. The surgery went as planned but it's still major surgery.
I left work when I got the call and drove out. It's about 500 miles and I got in before midnight. He seemed real glad to see someone familiar.

I can only be in the room 15 min out of any hour. But, we have internet access in the ICU waiting room, so I can hang out on
TT when I can't visit, how cool is that?”

“Wow LS...I hope your brother is going to be okay, and I hope he recovers soon!”

“Hi! Glad to hear you made it all the way safely. Keep us posted, k?

Tell him he's in my thoughts. As are you. Take care!!”

“Good to hear the everything is OK with your bro. I am sure the your presence there will help him to a speedy recovery.

God Bless!”

“Take care and good luck. These things are handled almost routinely these days if they get to it in time. It's still scary, but think positive thoughts.”

“He'll be getting good care at the U of I hospitals, le Subtil.

Best wishes for him!

Now let's see... ways to keep busy in Iowa City. Been a FEW years since I graduated from there, but...

Make sure you see the dental school building in the shape of a molar...

Go see the magnificent, gold domed Old Capitol on the Pentacrest. During remodeling work around a year ago, the crews managed to torch the gold dome. So it's been redone now. It was an early territorial capitol in Iowa.

And just hang out looking at college coeds! lol”

“Glad your bro is OK.
He'll be so thankfull you came.”

“Good luck you guys!”

“b>Best wishes. When an opportunity arrives, please extend a welcome to him to the "Zipper Club." Assure him that this can be the time of a new beginning. Anything is possible.

At 71 with 5 bypasses from more than 13 years ago, I can do strenuous physical workouts, swim over two miles, do mountain backpacking, participate in aikijutsu classes(defensive combate), etc. There is even a possibility that I could be starting a new life soon with My Old Flame from 30 years ago.

A cardiac arrest only increased my zest for living. Send me an e-mail, if he would like to converse with me about his future activities or about anything.

Paul”

“sorry to hear about your brother, best of luck to both of you”

“I just came back from another visit.
Seems he was pretty lucky...
His aorta(?) ruptured but not until they had him on the operating room table, and they were ready for it.
Tell you what, looking at this place, and having spent time at Uof M medical center, I thank God we're living in the 21st century.”

“oh goodness le Subtil, hope your brother has a great recovery!!
let us know what happens.”

“Boy is he lucky! Dissected aorta is what killed John Ritter. If it hadn't happened in surgery, he would be dead.

Again, best wishes for your brother.”

“Sumbeeatch! He's only five years older than me! Fat free EVERYTHING from here on out for me! I've heard truckers have pretty poor health.

Glad he's OK and I hope he gets better quick. Do you need lizs to come up and sit with ya? She'll do it ya know!”

“Wish him well for me dude.I have backpacked with him before and he is a real cool dude.


I hope he has a fast recovery.


He is in my thoughts and prayers.

8)”

“Yes, the doctors said he had almost the exact thing that killed John Ritter.

Dissected aorta! That's it.

He's not really your typical trucker. He had a recumbent exercise bicycle in his truck ( I had to remove it early this morning) and a improvised weight machine, he eats fairly well from his refrigerator, not much fast food. I don't think this type of thing is from lifestyle anyway. Lotsa heart disease in my mom's family...”

“Sounds like he's gonna need medication to lower his cholesterol and whatnot. Hereditary heart disease like that is tough.”

“Just one of those things ya can't see coming then? Dang. He was lucky then.”

“I read this thread earlier today. Tell Doug, instead of prayers, I toasted to his recovery with a couple of young hotties tonight.

Renactment:

BB - "Wow, it's nice to meet a couple of attractive good conversationalists tonight!"

Hottie #1 - "Thanks!" (big smile, gigggle, giggle)

Hottie #2 - "You aren't so bad yourself!"

BB - "Can I buy you ladies a drink?"

Hotties - "Sure!"

BB - "Katie, three yeaggie bombs please."

Katie brings the group three rather large Yaeggie bombs.

Hottie #1 - "We have to toast to something!"

Hottie #2 - "Wooooohoooo"

BB - "I'd like to make a toast to Doug, and his full recovery!"

Hottie #2 - "Who's Doug, and what happened?"

BB - "Don't worry hon, just raise your glass, this toast will help him recover, trust me."

Glasses clink

THE END

Best of luck to Doug, we are all looking forward to seeing him at Schoolhouse Rocks!”

“Always a dating story with BB! Cheers!!”

“Craig, you guys are in my prayers. I'm so grateful he wasn't driving and they got him to hospital quick enough.

Make sure you tell Doug we're thinking of him, and wish him a speedy recovery. Tell him I'm counting on him going on a paddle next mem. day.

Hope you don't go too crazy sitting around the hospital all day. And if there's anything we can do don't hesitate to call.”

“Craig, you hang in there. Please tell Doug I am thinking of him. I left a message on his cell. Thank you for keeping us posted!”

“I hope all goes well!”

“BTW, what kinda valve did he get?(crossing fingers and hoping it's a pig one so we can oink at Doug);)”

“Well, they won't let Doug out of the ICu yet. He's not responding to the blood pressure medication as well as they like and they haven't been able to wean him off of the pacemaker yet; his heart rate is too slow. Both of these things were problems before and not necessarily indicitive of complications from the surgery.

They kicked me out of the room so the physical therapist can take him for a walk, providing someone can find out where they put his prosthetic leg, lol. I don't think I want to be around for that anyway!

Thanks, everyone, for your well wishes and prayers. I told him everything you all said, and he's appreciative.”

“Hey Le Subtil,

I wish your brother a quick recovery. These kinds of sharp turns in life can be unsettling. I'm glad you could be there for him. Family is important. My family is in Cedar Rapids if you get into a bind and need some local help. I know the door is always open.”

“I returned to Michigan late Friday night, and my mom and dad went out Sunday morning.
Doug is out of the ICU and into the cardiac care unit. He's been up and walking, but they still can't wean him off of the pacemaker. He's still pretty down. If anyone feels like calling him or sending a card e-mail me for the # and/or addr.”

“I missed the reason Doug is in the hospital. He's a good guy. Hope he gets well soon!”

“Glad to hear that he is out of the ICU.”

“Bummer, Doug's back into the ICU. He's not doing so well. I don't have a lot of the details.

If you were planning on calling or sending a card you might as well wait.”

“Craig, my thoughts and prayers are with your brother, Doug!

It sounds like he's a pretty strong character, I'm sure he'll make a full recovery!”

“Sorry to hear that he is back in the ICU. Hope that he responds OK.”

“Everyone - Positive vibes aimed at Iowa, RIGHT NOW!!”

“According to the ICU nurse,
Doug is doing fine, but he is sceduled for a permanent pacemaker this morning at 10 am.
She said that it was a "minor" procedure and that it would be more like an outpatient setting. It would only take about 20 minutes.”

“Prayers being said....”

“Le Subtil, I hope your brother is better soon.”