Wow. Somebody dropped the ball. Maybe me.
July 27, I went in for a heart-valve replacment / repair; and a bypass.
So, bear with me... I'm going to sing the praises of Kaiser Permanente and Staff.
Deal with it.
(Note - I already wrote this once, but it disappeared... for reasons only the internet gods and BlogSplot may knowe...)
6 am (ish) at Kaiser Sunset. (That's Los Angeles, people).
Intake, change into the less-than-dignified hospital gown and get IV'd, sensor'd and the like...
7 am (ish) I go into the operatiing theatre, and I can't say anything about that... because I'm sedated and don't remember shit.
11 am or 12 pm (not sure), I'm in recovery; and find out that (a) they repaired my valve instead of replacing it... which means (yay!) I won't have issues down the line with replacements or having to be on blood thinners for life. That improves my long term outcomes significantly.
I spend the next week... well until August 2... in recovery, and I could sing the praises of the staff ad naseum for a while, but let's leave it with when I left... I not only wrote a evaluation and thank you note, but I pony'd up for a lunch/snack feast for the entire two shifts. (Cold cuts, sandwiches and the like).
I hope they appreciated it, but it was the best I could do. (It was also rather expensive, but nothing compared to the costs of the surgery and recover... paid for by Medicare). Did I mention that in the U.S.A. we have insurance and government coverage for some of that? It's true, and it even works occasionally.
OK, it's now December (because I've been remiss?) and I wanted to reflect and say thanks.
I walk about 2.5 to 4 miles a day, as per my doctor ordered regimen, and I am very grateful.
I repeat... I am very fucking grateful.
