The events around August 22, 2004
The picture above shows eight reasons for the following scenario. None of them pretty.
Around 2:30am on August 22, 2004 I awoke with a burning sensation in my insides and difficulty catching
my breath. I took a Tums and went back to sleep. Got up around 7am and it was worse and
notified my better half, Bernie it was time to make a run to the ER. Walked up a flight of
stairs to get to the parking, climbed in my pickup and away we went. The ER doctor informed me
I probably had a small blockage and a stent would take care of it. I aroused myself a bit later
to hear the doctor say that he wouldn't put a stent in that mess, period, and it was off by
Ambulance to Medford and Rogue Valley Medical Center for the rest. Lights and sirens and all the
fuss that goes with it. It is amazing how many people are not aware of their surroundings while driving
and will not yield! Finally arrived at RVMC and with a screech of tires pulled up to the unloading
dock. Some folks grabbed the gurney and went running down a hall and banged into an OR with me. I
recall the tableau well. Five people dressed in blue scrubs, one with an orange bandana on his head
looking for all the world like a herd of deer in the headlights. I thought, "good, they are
as scared as I am!". After that it gets a bit hazy, but woke finally with a breathing tube down
my throat and feeling awful. I was informed I had received a Quintuple Bypass and was doing well.
Well, indeed. Five days later I was discharged and now walk every day and just am enjoying life.
No one could want more.
This page was written and is maintained by Doug.
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