My last post before I get to enjoy morphine

[knightfan26917]

*

I'll be "out" for my 4th Open Heart Surgery (OHS), Tuesday, 11/08/2011, at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital, performed by Dr. Russell. The catheterization is the day prior. Until I'm feeling up to being on the computer & online again, my sister will post UPDATES (which MAY be SHARED on the groups/boards) to my Facebook Wall:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1300282613

My previous 3 OHSs (at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital) replaced the pulmonary valve that I was born without. The 1st, November 1977, was when the original pig valve was installed. The 2nd & 3rd OHSs (March 1987 & January 6, 2003, respectively) replaced the pig valve installed in the previous surgery.

This 4th OHS is to replace my aorta/aortic valve with a cow valve. My ascending aorta is "too large"; it is 5.6 at the middle, 5.3 at the root. Too bad my "big heart" has finally won me a date with a surgeon, instead of a cool female....

If all goes well, the "projected" return of my driving abilities is mid December & return to work is January 6, 2012 (the 9-year anniversary of my 3rd OHS).

I'm "ready" as I'll be. I'm not scared, just still dreading & "hating" the entire process, including the financial strain ... & still feeling a tad bit alone & out-of-place.

On a positive note, the PRE-SURGERY PARTY was great; many thanks to those that joined us that evening!!!

My MCs are ready for winter; just need to drive them one last time & snug them into the garage the weekend before surgery. I never did get them, or my Caprice Classic, cleaned; maybe while I'm recovering or next spring...!

Speaking of recovery, my "projects" (other than the obvious) for the next 2 months or so, include...

...write more of my ROUTE 66 STORY:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/category/route66/

...plan my 2012 ROAD TRIP (return to Georgia/Florida, along the east coast & into northern Michigan) & perhaps a short trip to St Louis along parts of Route 66.... Previous road trips (& other) pictures:

http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/roadtrips/roadtrips.html'>http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/roadtrips/roadtrips.html

http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917

...consider WRMN's request to host part of their CHRISTMAS EVE RADIO BROADCAST. My contact there called me a couple weeks ago to find out if I would.... Previous radio show playlists:

http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/radioshows.html'>http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/radioshows.html

...finish putting my room back together (after new carpeting & major re-arranging)

...read some new books

...Nephew Time

...misc stuff

...AND return to the groups/boards....

I appreciate all of the well wishes, thoughts & prayers, including those in my "Open Heart Surgery, party & more..." post/thread.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT! So long, everybody!

Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic

CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.models.RadioShows.legos.HO.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Time is a valuable thing" __ Linkin Park __ 'In The End'

[Drew Dowdell]

viel gluck!

[ocnblu]

We'll be waitin' to hear from ya, Cort!

Edited November 3, 2011 by ocnblu

[z28luvr01]

good luck Cort. Thoughts and prayers headed your way.

[balthazar]

Remember; you're the SBC of C&G- keeps on running.

Rest hard & get well ASAP.

[vonVeezelsnider]

Good Luck Cort! Talk to you when you get back!

[daves87rs]

Good luck!!

[Camino LS6]

All the best to you, Cort.

[Turbojett]

Good Luck, Cort! We'll be waitin' for ya!

[cletus8269]

good luck my friend. thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Robert Hall]

Good luck and hope all goes well for you.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Best of luck for a speedy recovery! We'll be waiting for your return

[caddycruiser]

All best wishes to your recovery, and seeing you back here not too long after ready to roar!

[Z-06]

Cort, wish you a speedy recovery so that you can get back on touring America to give us those sumptuous anecdotes.

[knightfan26917]

...and seeing you back here not too long after ready to roar!

HA! You know I will be ready to roar!

...so that you can get back on touring America to give us those sumptuous anecdotes.

Ahhhh....thanks, Z!

*

Holy cow AND irony rocks!

I appreciate all of the support, well wishes, thoughts/prayers. THANK YOU!

THIS...should...be my last post before surgery....

The catheterization (Monday, 11/07/2011) went fine, though I was in a lot of pain Monday afternoon/evening.

My surgery has been postponed until Friday (11/11/2011) due to an emergency heart transplant. Disappointed I am not. Frustrated...maybe, but not any more than I already am...in more ways than one. The postponement gives me a chance to recover/relax a bit more from the cath & accomplish a few more things prior to surgery, perhaps even some of my "recovery projects" list I noted in my original post....

I PLAN to visit the groups/message boards & "catch up" with personal Emails & notes received, etc.; HOWEVER, I cannot promise I'll get to everything...!

PRE-SURGERY PARTY pictures!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2636895683885.2152619.1300282613&type=1&l=7f835748ff

NEPHEW & CAR TIME...TOGETHER!

My sister & brother-in-law brought my nephew to see my cars outside, 11/05/2011. The 11 pictures I took are here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2636914604358.2152622.1300282613&type=1&l=00a2f5dccc

ALSO:

I know it can be confusing to "navigate" my Route 66 story in BLOG format, so here is a list of the chapters in order...

...1-4:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/03/29/_thats-the-highway_/

...5-8:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/03/31/_thats-the-highway_-2/

...9, The Drive & A Revelation:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/04/03/_thats-the-highway_-3/

...10, Stall Tactic:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/04/06/_thats-the-highway_-4/

...11-12:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/04/19/_thats-the-highway_-5/

...13, Road Trip Rush:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/12/_thats-the-highway_-7/

...14, Late Night & A Whistle:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/12/_thats-the-highway_-8/

...15, Awakening:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/25/_thats-the-highway_-9/

...16, Train & Memories:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/05/25/_thats-the-highway_-10/

...17, Shopkeeper:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/06/21/_thats-the-highway_-6/

...18-19:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/08/11/_thats-the-highway_-12/

...20, The Picture:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/10/17/_thats-the-highway_-11/

...21, Shaping History:

http://whenthegoingisgood.com/2011/10/31/_thats-the-highway_-13/

Once again ... SO LONG, EVERYBODY!

Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve| 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic

CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.models.RadioShows.legos.HO.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"We can take anything that comes our way" __ BJ Thomas __ 'As Long As We Got Each Other (Growing Pains)'

[67impss]

Best to ya Cort and see ya soon, God bless

[Turbojett]

Hey, it's a lucky triple date (11/11/'11), so that's a good sign! Good luck again!

[Drew Dowdell]

Updates from Facebook:

Dr. Russell was just here. He confirmed again that everything is going really well and reassured Cort that his heart tolerated the surgery well. They are going to change the catheter in his neck to a smaller line, and then Cort is to rest for the rest of the day. He is already using the little breathing thing (I have NO idea what they are called) to work on expanding is lungs, but Dr. said that his lungs already are looking good. They will watch his kidney function closely and will be a little slower than normal getting fluids off him because of his kidneys. He is taking ice chips already

He had to go in for a second surgery.

Dr Russell was in to see Cort about a half hour ago. The oozing blood was all from the incision and suture site. His heart and the valves look good. Dr said it is rare for a patient to have an uneventful 24 hours and then go back into surgery, but that Cort is doing Just fine now. They will continue to treat him aggressively for his low platelet count, but so far it appears that his bleeding is under control. Dr said that because of the amount of blood transfusions he has had over the years, his body has built antibodies that attack foreign blood, so it takes more to find blood that his body will accept. He should be coming off the vent in the next hour as long as he makes the effort to take deeper breaths.

Cort Stevens is doing very well this morning. His platelet count dropped a little overnight, but Dr. Russell told Mom this morning that it appears that Cort's body is producing its own platelets now. They are giving him another round of platelets this morning just to be on the safe side. As far as i know his oxygen levels have also remained steady. Mom and Dad are on their way to the hospital. I will be heading there this afternoon after work, and will try to update again once I am there. As of right now, he probably will remain in ICU for one more night so they can keep a close eye on him. Please pass this along to anyone who might want to know this but is not on FB because I am not able to send out an email update at this time.

[Camino LS6]

Thanks for posting this update, Drew.

I've been wondering how he's doing.

[Turbojett]

good news.

[vonVeezelsnider]

Glad to hear that he's making progress, he has got to be one of the toughest guys I've ever seen for going through all this.

[Drew Dowdell]

Cort Stevens has been moved out of ICU and up to a telemetry room! i couldn't go see him tonight, so i left him a voicemail. he called me back and got my voicemail. he sounded tired, but good and positive. (I think he wanted to talk to JJ.)

i will be going to see Cort tomorrow afternoon/evening, so i will be able to read all of your notes to him then.

[Camino LS6]

Excellent!

[Turbojett]

Way to go, champ!

[Drew Dowdell]

More from facebook:

He is awake, up in the chair and now eating a sandwich :-). I read a bunch of posts to him and he checked out some board posts. his voice is still hoarse, but it is better than it has been :-)

[Blake Noble]

Glad to hear that he's making progress, he has got to be one of the toughest guys I've ever seen for going through all this.

Double that.

I've been checking on this thread and I can't really say anything more other than what's already been said. It's good to hear that he's making good progress.

[Drew Dowdell]

From Cort:

Yes, I am HOME!

I have seen SOME of the message boards/groups, but it'll be some time before I can get up the strength to post for long periods at a time to "catch up" everywhere, INCLUDING Facebook. But, rest assured, I WILL RETURN. Since my "big heart" is no longer so, this should be fun. *grins devilishly*

HUGE KUDOS to my lil sis, Joylyn Johnson for keeping people updated via my Facebook wall. I understand that some, for whatever reason, didn't see the updates, but I suspect that is more of a FB issue....

[Z-06]

Awesome news.

[67impss]

Great to hear thanx Olds