Posted by Mark Stafford
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on December 20, 2008, 1:13 am, in reply to "Re: Robbie Dale - Good news"
90.212.211.23
I exchanged a couple of emails with Robbie just after his operation.
Here is the story of what happened prior to and after his heart problems.
"A story of two hearts"
I am sending these thoughts to you with thanks for the positive input and
encouragement you gave us both regarding my recent heart hick-ups.
I experienced my first symptom of serious heart decease whilst visiting
Dublin in late September .As you know, Stella and I where quests of honor at
the Sunshine Radio 20th year staff reunion held on the evening of Friday the
26th.
On Saturday afternoon. Upon climbing 3 flights of stairs carrying a newly
purchased Cannon multi media printer/fax, I got a belt of pain in my chest.
I sat down on the Cannon box for a short while, the pain quickly subsided. I
was out sailing with friends in Dublin bay the following morning, followed
by a fine lunch in the club.I was feeling on top of the world.
We returned to sunny Lanzarote the following Tuesday. I arranged to have the
ticker checked out in the local private clinic. Tests confirmed 2 X 90%
blockages in my hearts communal trunk and a 75% blockage in the left
descending artery plus a dodgy aortic valve operating at approximately 30%.
As the local Cardiologist said "these are drop dead instantly problems".
Our heads needed more opinions regarding the most appropriate treatment.
I did some research on the internet, checked out various surgeons and
doctors sites. We took into account valuable advice from friends like
yourself and the opinion and advise from local medical professionals.
Thankfully this led me to the pioneering work of heart surgeon Doctor Rafael
Lorenz in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. www hospiten.com
On the 13th of November( Thursday!!!) The "Wizard" cracked me open from the
sternum down 30cm south, performed a double bypass graft using mummery veins
from my chest and replaced the dodgy aorta valve using a stented bio tissue
valve system developed by St Jude Medical Heart Valves, St Paul MN USA.
I was in and out hospital in 5days "Done and dusted" as the Brits would say.
From front house door to door in 6 days. A 100% successful procedure with no
complications and to be honest far less pain than I had expected. As I was
going under the anesthetic, I was paddling down stream, going with the flow.
In my minds eye I took my little grandchild Megan to see the cows in a
nearby field.
The operation is now 10 days ago, I have been on the sunny Aveneda walking
for 3 mornings this week. I know it will take a little longer before I get
my full energy pack, but now we are both looking forward to spending
Christmas
with our G-kids
My lovely nurse Stella was by my side throughout the whole ordeal and is now
providing
lots of TLC.
My thanks must also go to DKV my private health insurance provider for
dealing with the sordid side.
Many thanks for your kind wishes
========================================
Mark Stafford
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