Retirement Week 1: What a hell of a week...

This week went by with light speed and the dust is beginning to settle. Your well wishes and prayers (as well as your humorous emails) are really helping so keep them coming.

Friday was a big day because we finally had a chance to meet my surgeon, Dr. Misbach. I knew I would be in good hands, as I quickly learned that he was very athletic and had many years of heart surgery experience. In fact, we had trouble staying on-task (i.e. talking about the surgery). We talked about him having run the St. George Marathon, his pair of spikey Asics running shoes and my new pair, his almost taking a staff position at my Alma mater University of Arizona, and his singing with the Anchorage Concert Choir. My cardiac specialist, Dr. Linda Ireland, told me earlier that he was also into ice climbing and skiing. When we finally got around talking about the surgery it was focused and very informative. Should I require a valve replacement I chose the organic type (a pig heart valve) rather than the inorganic type, as it'll last as long, I won't have to worry about blood clots forming, and I won't be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. Check out Dr. Misbach's bio at the end of the blog...it's pretty impressive.

The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 am (Alaska Time), and should last about 4 hours (or longer if additional scarring is discovered). I'm told I'll be brought out of general anesthesia over a period of "hours" while in intensive care, and stay in intensive care for a few days. I won't be able to have visitors until I'm moved out of intensive care...even Hurricane Hannah can't come see me while I'm in the intensive care unit. Hopefully I'll be able to go home after 4-to-5 days.

Many of you have offered lots of help...it's much appreciated and the support is overwhelming. Folks have offered: companionship for Marian and I while in the hospital and at home; to provide meals; play dates and over-nights for Hannah; rides to and from the hospital; to shovel snow when needed; to do our food shopping; and, to do chores around the house. Maybe I should have surgery more often...NOT! We're not sure where to go with all the offers to help, but we'll sort that out and let you know via this blog site and phone calls. Marian will have co-authorship privileges for this blog and intends to use it as the primary means to communicate with you about the surgery and its aftermath. She'll also monitor her email (mlilley@gci.net) and take calls at home (907-345-7315) and on her cell phone (907-230-2248).

I have a lot to do before Tuesday's surgery...some of it is my stuff and some is on Marian's honey-do list. Warmer temperatures in the teens will be here soon (by Monday) so I hope to get some outside time before going stir crazy next week in the hospital.





Gregory A. Misbach, M.D

http://www.denaliheart.com/drmisbach.asp

It's unusual to be an expert in both adult and children's heart care, but that is one of the special gifts Dr. Misbach offers to the rich diversity of the Denali Cardiac & Thoracic team. Recognizing the complex and different problems of children's smaller and more intricate hearts, Dr. Misbach specializes in pediatric and adult congenital and acquired heart disease "Cardiac surgery offers enormous challenges and tremendous rewards. I am grateful to have found a career where I can take pride in developing my skills while gaining satisfaction from helping others."

Dr. Misbach graduated from UCLA Medical School in 1973. He completed general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery residencies, as well as a research fellowship in cardiovascular physiology at the University of California, San Francisco from 1973 to 1982. From 1982 through 1990, Dr. Misbach served as Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery and tenured Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington. He also practiced pediatric cardiac surgery at Children's Hospital, and adult cardiac surgery at University Hospital in Seattle.

Since 1990, Dr. Misbach has continued his practice in acquired and congenital heart disease with Inland Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates in San Bernardino, California and now with Denali Cardiac & Thoracic Surgical Group in Anchorage, Alaska. He has experience in minimally invasive cardiac surgical techniques for congenital heart defects, valvular heart disease, and coronary artery disease.