Wedding day, July 28, 1984. Thanks to some terrific people, me and the miracle girl can look forward to another anniversary. (Photo by Rick Amodt.)
Hello everyone. It’s still me filling in for Beth. She’s home — from Vermont, anyway — but a funny thing happened on her way back to the blog. Many of you already know the story — for those who are reading it for the first time, apologies for the scare. But Beth and I pieced together the following account because we thought you’d want to know. We’re still sorting some things out, so don’t be surprised if we don’t respond right away. Thank you for reading—Mike
Beth had emergency open-heart surgery Thursday morning, and she is OK. More than OK. She’s recovering remarkably well, crazy remarkably well, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I just left her room. She is walking the hallways, with a guide, and still attached to surgical drains.
The docs and staff who got her to this point have been streaming through over the past couple days and they all come through Beth’s hospital room door saying, in a tone of amazement, “I just wanted to lay eyes on the miracle girl.”
For the past two weeks, starting when Beth was still in Vermont, she had been experiencing infrequent burning sensations, followed by pain in her chest. Our friend Debbie Wood had a heart attack in her 40s. Debbie works at Northwestern University and by chance was involved in the design project Beth worked on there last month. During that time, Debbie reminded Beth to see a doctor if she ever had any chest pain. “Women tend to ignore them,” she warned. “It could be serious.”
Friends from New Hampshire drove to Vermont and brought Beth to the Burlington airport and she flew home, earlier than planned, to me. At home, her pains seemed to increase in frequency. But they didn’t fit the description of angina – no swelling in the ankles, no lightheadedness, and the pain didn’t spread into her arms or back. Rather than go to the ER, we had our endocrinologist get Beth in for an appointment for a stress test/echocardiogram last Wednesday afternoon at a downtown cardiologist’s office.
That’s when the sh-t hit the fan. Beth had what was technically a heart attack while she was on the treadmill. A Chicago EMS crew rushed Beth to the Northwestern Emergency Room in an ambulance. Followed by me in a cab.
Her angiogram the next morning showed, against all reasonable expectations for someone who’d been diabetic 47 years, that Beth’s arteries were clear. When the cardiologist came from the cardiac catheterization lab to brief me, she said, “Dude, I hope my arteries are that clean when I’m 54.” Which sounded like good news. Except it still left them not knowing what the problem was. And that’s when Beth’s heart went into fibrillation. They had to shock it back into rhythm. No time to spare now. No decision , either. Open heart surgery.
A dozen staff frantically prepped her for surgery, like a scene out of House. When the anesthesiologist came with release papers for me to sign, and just before they wheeled her away, he said, “ She’s unstable. We’re going to do the best we can do.”
It was only on the operating table that they solved the puzzle — why she had been experiencing chest pains over the past couple weeks. We worried that it had something to do with that staph infection she’d gotten back in Vermont. Or coronary artery disease, which diabetics are more susceptible to than the general population. But no. They’d found — and removed — three benign tumors on Beth’s aortic valve. Such tumors are uncommon. But Beth was, as is her wont, one-of-a-kind. In the surgeon’s words, “I’ve done 10,000 operations and I’ll tell you — one of these tumors was the biggest I’ve ever seen. It’s more than a centimeter.”
He explained that the tumors flapped when Beth’s valve opened and closed. And one of them, the big SOB tumor, intermittently cut off blood flow to Beth’s heart. Leaving her with a burning sensation followed by pain in her chest.
And so, through the combination of some good decisions, some absolutely terrific, wonderful, heroic medical staff at Northwestern Hospital, the good wishes and support of our wonderful friends and family, and, some simple good luck, Beth will be coming home to me again early this week.
Beth will be coming home to the blog eventually, too, and I probably will do a post or two on the subject. There are people to thank, wonderful friends, family members, and complete strangers. And probably a lot of thoughts to be sorted out via writing.
Until then, please, take care of yourselves, and each other.
I, like all Beth’s readers, am so glad she is recovering and happy she was where she was when this happened. Take good care of her for us, Mike, I know you will.
Blessed be. Get well soon. All my prayers with you. Peace
Mike, thank you for the update on Beth… that was so beautifully written. Beth and you are in my prayers. As you said, Beth is one amazing woman! I am not a bit surprised she is walking around, she is the strongest lady I know! Please tell her I am thinking of her. You take care of yourself too.
Holy shit. I think you two have had to deal with more than your share of health issues. Perhaps a shameen is in order for a home visit. Let me know how I can help. Carol
Hi Beth and mike,
Beth, I’m so glad you are okay, the doctors removed the tumors and you are up and walking. You are a miracle. Although we’ve never met in person, I have been an avid reader of your blog, and feel like i know you from the words you write. Best wishes and prayers for you and Mike. You are a miracle! Mike, beautifully written post about Beth’s open heart surgery.
Hugs,
Allison
Thanks, Mike, for the amazing summary of your and Beth’s recent experiences. She is indeed, “one of a kind”. The whole story is extraordinary and it is surprising that she has been doing her normal activities for so long with a serious problem. Please send her my love and good wishes. We look forward to having her back in the memoir class. The best to both of you, Lois Baron
Oh Beth!! I’m so glad you’re all right. This world wouldn’t be half as interesting without you in it. And Mike, I’m so glad you’re there. God bless both of you. You’re in my prayers and my thoughts and I hope you have no more scares like that again.
I cannot believe I was having such a sweet interchange with Beth her last dinner at Vermont Studio Center just the other day. As her typical self (to me who only just met her this month), she was in great light spirits, laughing, sharing her book, and reflecting on her stay in Vermont. It was not all easy following the staph infection upon her arrival, she told me candidly, and having to find her way at first in this small but challenging campus in the middle of this New England town with a river running right through the middle. At first she did most of the discovery on her own, including the 6:30 am morning when she found she had locked her keys in her room. She luckily had her cell to call for help. Open heart surgery??? Who knew. Please send her my healing blessings, and that all of her new Vermont-based friends wish her the very best recovery. A miracle indeed. Thanks for sending this!!
Amy, painter from Vermont
I am so glad this story has a happy ending. I’ve been through open heart surgery and it’s no laughing matter . . . although, knowing Beth, she will find humor in the experience.
All of you are in my thoughts. Keep well!
So glad that Beth is on the mend. As Mike wrote, Beth is one-of-a-kind so weird tumors, and more importantly, miracles may be par for the course. Sending all our love to you both, from Laura and Ed.
I wish you well – both of you. You are in my thoughts.
Hugs and love,
Barbara
Thanks, Mike. You’re the best.
Doug
Love to you all,
Anna&Jacques
Holy smokes! So glad Beth made it through surgery and wishing her the fastest recovery. Wishing you both all the best!
Tears in my eyes as i read Mike’s words. Oh, Beth, you are such an inspiration to so many of us. Once again, you show us to hold on for dear life, for life is dear.
Whew! So relieved that Beth is doing so well! My mother-in-law had a rough recovery from valve replacement; Tell Beth she rocks recovery compared to the mother-in-law! Don’t tell my mother-in-law that, though!
Mike! I would love to come and play for Beth. I’ll be downtown on Tuesday and Wednesday, let me know of I can stop by Northwestetn with my violin.
Be well,
Lynn
So glad everything that everything is going so well. Thanks for sharing your story and best wishes for continued healing.
Mike, it must have been so difficult for you to write this, and I want to say thanks for letting all of us know. I will definitely keep Beth and you in prayer. I am so relieved to know that Beth is okay.Love,Mary Finnegan Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:22:15 +0000 To: finneganmc@hotmail.com
Much love and prayers to you both and hoping for a quick recovery! Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help!!
For your brave hearts, Beth and Mike. I have always admired your strength Beth (as one of your senior students in writing class), wish to meet Mike when I return to Chicago. Take care both of you.
Unbelievable how much has happened in the short time I’ve been reading. Really glad to see your home and recovering well!.
BETH! you are one hell of a miracle! I am so happy to hear it, lady.
Dear Beth and Mike,
May you be comforted by the healing light of Love.
Beth, you are “one of a kind” in many ways. Our miracle girl. Love to you and Mike. Both of you are in my prayers.
Beth and Mike, so glad to hear of the positive outcome. Please call on me if you need anything.
Thanks Mike for the update. She is one of a kind, indeed. We are glad she will continue to be with us!!!
Beth really is a miracle girl. She and I were on the York-Hi newspaper together in high school. It has been great to reconnect with her. It’s obvious from the few posts I’ve read of yours, Mike, that you are a blessing to each other. Take care of Beth, and thanks for letting us know.
Get well soon Beth! Great news and great days ahead for Beth, family and friends.
Thanks for the update Mike. Good luck to you both during the recovery. (what a spring!)
Thank you, Mike, Beth and Whitney, for your bravery!!
These are, indeed, days of miracles and wonders. And thank you, Mike, for sharing your fears and feelings and (best of all) hopefulness with us. And for taking care of Beth, whose work has meant much to many. Beth is Miracle Girl and I will think of you as Mitzvah Mike!
Thank you for the great news Mike, what a harrowing experience. She is an amazing person, an inspiration to so many. Take good care of her and we hope to see you both at Ribfest on September 14th.
Peace and Blessings,
Thanks Mike, for the update! How frightening–so glad Beth had great medical care to figure out her puzzle. Take care! Prayers coming your way for Beth’s speedy recovery.
Mike, thank you for keeping us informed about Beth’s health. She is a very special lady!! My thoughts and prayers are with you and Beth.
Mike,
Thank you so much for telling us of Beth’s recent ordeal. Thank you again.
I had looked forward to seeing Beth next Monday but was pleased to learn that we will try to carry on without her and Whitney.
My love and prayers are with you.
Monna
Hi Beth and Mike,
It’s Mike Rogers mom. Haven’t seen you guys in a long time. So glad Beth is recovering and praying that the miracle continues. Please let me know if I can help in any way.
Yolande Bourgeois
Beth and Mike: I am not sure what to say other than wow! I am very thankful that the two of you were able to get such unbelievable health care. Thank goodness for big city medical schools, their hospitals and their health care professionals.
Beth: You have my best wishes for a speedy recovery. The White Sox need your help.
Regards,
Don
________________________________
A miracle girl indeed. Right place. Right time. Right people. And very lucky. So glad this post has a happy ending. Hold each other tightly. Sending happy thoughts and a healing hug.
If I were a praying person, you’d both be in my prayers. As it is, I’m sending good thoughts your way. (Has Beth mentioned memoir #2 yet?)
OMG. I cannnot even imagine what you both have been going through recently. So glad you had such excellent care at Northwestern. I imagine you will both be spending some time recovering now and I hope that you can really relax. All my very best wishes to you.
Oh my goodness! Talk about a Monday morning shock! I have never heard of tumors on the aorta, in spite of the fact that I worked in the medical field for over 10 years. Beth continues to teach all of us so many wonderful lessons. What a story! What a gal!! I am sending much love from Pennsylvania.
Beth, so glad to hear that you’re OK. Here’s to a speedy recovery!
Thanks for the update, Mike.
I am sitting in the waiting room waiting for Jim who is getting his 3 month mri and feeling the fragility of life. I just read miracle girl on my phone and was shocked reading the news and smiling at the end. So glad for you both!!!! You are truly a miracle girl! Many more anniversaries to celebrate!
Beth & Mike, Thanks so much for your blog explaining what happened in Vermont and Northwestern H. We’re all feeling assured that everything will be okay. You are both wonderful, strong people. All best wishes! Joan Miller
Hi , Thanks for sending this news….so glad to know Beth is OK !! I will listen for more good recovery news .
all best, Anne
Oh my gosh guys! Funk! You know I’m here all the time, so let me help in any way.
Best wishes for a quick recovery, Beth! Love, Wendi
P.S. My fifteen year old hs benn diagnosed wth a tumor in her eye. Pt/ct scan next wk.
T-Mobile, America’s First Nationwide 4G Network
While I was bummed when I heard Beth left the VSC early, I’m so glad she was in Chicago when this went down. Yikes. And I’m very glad to hear she’s recovering well. I hope it continues! Please pass on my very best wishes.
I used to have a favorite T-Shirt that said “Refuse to be Average”. I loved that shirt and the sentiment. My friends made me stop wearing that shirt after I experienced several strange and unusual health issues. I wish healing and fun to both of you. If you have a similar shirt, I suggest you get rid of it, too!
Thank you for the update Beth and Mike – Geez Beth – do you have to experience every thing that health care has to offer (or not?!) I am so glad that you were in such good hands – we need you around for many more years my friend – you, your stories, your zest for life and experience light up my life immensely. Love to you and Mike, Jenny and Dennis
Whoa!! That is really crazy news. Let us know if you guys need anything at all. It’s no surprise that Beth has been so quick with the recovery. She is amazing. We are right around the corner so call anytime!
OMG! Thanks for the update. Sending only good thoughts for a grand recovery from NJ.
Beth all your friends in Barrington, puppies too, send their love and best wishes for a speedy recovery!!
With puppies as cheerleaders, how can I fail?!
WHEW! Beth! You had us going there for a while…I’m so glad you continue to defy the odds right and left, and aren’t planning to leave us to our own devices for much longer…waiting breathlessly for your next blog…thanks, Mike! Thanks NW Hospital! xxoo judy spock
And thanks, Judy Spock!
[…] to Mike read all your loving and glowing blog comments out loud to me in my hospital room over the past week sometimes gave me the feeling I was attending […]
I’m so so glad that Beth is recovering at home! We all are over here on Plymouth. We’re also sending healing positivity and lots of love. (and p.s. Sasha read the blog post and saw Mike’s delicate handling of the sh- word… as I was telling D about it, I foolishly spelled it out “Sasha noticed the S-H-I-T word in Mike’s post,” forgetting what a great speller Katya is. Sitting there finishing her breakfast, Katya exclaims “SHIT?” That’s what we get for having clever girls, huh?)
Beth, I love reading about your adventures, but this one was a little TOO dramatic!
I am glad you came through it so well. Take care.
Thank you Mike for keeping the blog going while Beth has been so busy.
Dear Beth,
You’re always in my heart! Get stronger each day and hope your first cardio rehab walk for a lottery ticket is a megamillion winner for you and Mike. You both are winners!
Happy May Day and get well soon.
Love,
Sandy Gartler
Lots of love to you both! Indeed a scary & extraordinary story. I am hoping for a speedy recovery & some inevitable humor about the world from you both as Beth is on the mend. Much love!
I suppose a woman who calls herself a writer and claims to be able to lead memoir-writing classes should not admit this, but here I go: I cannot find the appropriate words to express my gratitude to all of you for taking time to leave comments here with such good wishes. Especially appreciate your compliments to Mike. He’s really the one who suffered through all of this; I was either unconscious or able to ask for help by pressing a call button! He deserves an honorary degree in care giving, and the way he kept the blog going and told the story of all that’s gone on the past week saved me from telling and retelling it myself. And now that allows me to focus on the next chapter: recovery.
THANK YOU.
Way to go Wonder Wench. Good to hear of you … only the good die young,, so I figure we’ll see you at your 100th. —Ceal and Roger Regards to Mike
Beth – We are all so happy that you are home and hopefully enjoying our newly arrived spring in Chicago! Focus indeed on recovery! Hope to see you soon! Sharon
Hey Beth,
So glad to hear about your progress now and I wish you a speedy recovery all the best. God bless you Beth.
Crystal Odom
Thanks to all of you Easter Seals co-workers who commented above, especially to those of you who have been putting extra time in to keep the Easter Seals blog rolling along while I recover – that truly helps me focus on rehabbing here at home.
Said it before, but worth repeating: I am a lucky girl.
Dear Beth, you have a really good writer filling in for you, lucky girl. Keep up the good work and I’ll come read you a novel, if that’s your recuperation read of choice. Meanwhile, it’s a glorious tale and may it and you go on getting better. With love to both, Virginia PS you never let me know when you could come to dinner. The offer is still on.
Dear Miracle Girl, Saint Mike and of course the trusty service dog, Whitney,
I am so sorry you have gone through so much over the past several weeks but am very happy to hear you are on the path of recovery. We miss you at work. The four of us will have to celebrate your blessings when Beth is up to it!
Take care and just let me know when Mike and his girls are ready.
Much love,
Cyndy
Will do — an offer like yours will giv me something to work towards when cardio rehab gets tough!
Hi Beth, I hope this note finds its way to you. For some reason my posts never seem to make it to the blog.
This is John Hosfeld. We were in class together when you got Hanni. You were putting the final touches on ‘Long Time, No See.’
I’ve been away from email for a couple weeks and look what happens! I’m very happy things turned out as well as they did. If you have to have a crisis, you may as well have a smooth one 🙂
Hearing about a ‘flapping’ tumor is a first for me too. Hey, maybe You’ll make the medical journals.
Incredible you can go home so shortly after major surgery. Medical marvels, eh?
Well, rest up. Take full advantage of all the doting you’ll get from Mike 😉
You probably won’t be reading this for some time as I’m sure you have quite a backlog by now.
Take care,
John and Seeing Eye dog, Bob
John,
Of course I remember you! You’ve chosen the perfect place to get in touch with me – years ago I started this blog on a whim, but lately it turns out to be the perfect place to let folks know what’s going on in a crisis. If people want to keep up, they can link to the blog, and once they’re satisfied with being in the know, they can leave it as is, we don’t have to barrage our friends with group email messages and the like. Speaking of email messages: I have not been so good at responding to those the past few weeks, but I *am* trying to respond to all the lovely comments people have been leaving here.
All to say, I’m glad you fought through the assistive technology and left a comment here. I was thinking of you a lot at the beginning of the year when I was working with those Northwestern University Engineering students on a way to keep track of the clothing in my closet. Way back when I first met you, you had already come up with a scheme. I wanted the NW students to get in touch with you to find out how yours worked, but when I tried to find your contact info I realized I didn’t have it.
And so, you give me many reasons to be glad you wrote. One, your good wishes help me push on through this, the cardio rehab phase. Two, always good to hear from friends I’ve made at the Seeing Eye. Three, now I can update my contacts file. Four, I want you to know about the scheme the engineering students came up with for keeping track of our clothes, you can check that out by linking here:
http://bethfinke.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/fantagstic/
Love your Seeing Eye dog’s name: Bob. That is fantastic.
And so are you, John. Thanks for writing me.
Miracle Girl and Knight Mike, Thank you for sharing your stories – truly minute by minute and thanks to the advice of friends. Wishing you a speedy recovery and your story will help others to pay attention. Sounds like you had a great medical team too.
Wouldn’t that frost your gonads–great news that you’re healing!!!!! That damn low back chair did it.
Aha! That low-back chair. I’ve been looking for someone to sue (bought a megamillions ticket Friday but only matched one number). Thanks for providing this inspiration — and a laugh, too!
Beth! My gosh… I was little behind and your blogs, and wow, quite apparently so much has happened in these past few weeks. I am so glad to hear that everything is okay and that you having a speedy recovery. Are hearts are with you, albeit half way across the world! Much love and please take care. Lee and Andrew
Wow!!! Beth, I am absolutely speechless – I’ve been away for four months, mostly out of communication – and when I try to catch up, the world has turned around! Soo happy you are on the mend and you are ‘popping back’ once again.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and your return home soon. Yes, we’ve all witnessed a miracle — yeah!!
Annelore (from your memoir class)
[…] fake eye polished. Chuck is one of the volunteers who has been taking Whitney on long walks while I recover from surgery, and here he is with a guest post about walking with […]
Beth is a miracle. She’s made of tough stuff. What an ordeal – thankfully with a happy ending.
Hey everyone, thanks for reading and for your concern and thoughtful, caring comments here. They’ve been enormously helpful.
I’ve been occupied by Beth’s convalescence and preoccupied and distracted by the whole ordeal. Sorry it’s taken awhile to weigh in back here, I’m sure I will again down the road a bit.
Meantime, I recommend that yo avoid benign tumors on your aortic valve at all costs.
Mike, Beth is lucky to have a writer-nurse (or vice versa). May your lives soon be less difficult. What wonders of examples you are to the rest of us. Thank you. Virginia
[…] and stood next to me as I gave my presentation. The only thing that might have tipped them off that I had open-heart surgery weeks ago was seeing the beginning of a scar at my neck. That, and my request to sit on the piano bench […]
hi beth finke. mr mike jg let me know you’ve been under-the-weather, to say the least. holy-moley lady! i a so glad to hear things are on the up. saw your smiling face in the easter seals disability etiquette quiz and thought i’d shoot a note hullo and to tell you to stop cashing in on your 9 lives. 😉
Ha! Yes, I think I’m at least on Life #8 now, and not in a big hurry to go any higher. Thanks for alerting me to that disability etiquette quiz, I worked on that for Easter Seals long before any of this heart stuff started happening, will be interesting to check it out myself now. Gee, I may even use it in a blog post here.
[…] to climb back on the horse, er, bus…One of the many, many things I’ve had to avoid since my unexpected emergency open-heart surgery is riding a bus alone with my Seeing eye dog. Surgeons were afraid the bus would take off before we […]
[…] wish? She wanted to be with friends. We planned our visit to Portaferry for May, but Beth’s SOB aortic valve tumor canceled that. We arrived in Dublin on the Fourth of July instead, after Beth’s doctors said […]
[…] Sheelagh wondered what I remembered from everything that happened to me last April. When I got to the part where the miracle workers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital used a […]
[…] from Seattle! I flew out here with Whitney – our first solo trip since my emergency open-heart surgery last year. This was a major milestone, and I’m not ashamed to admit I was pretty anxious about it […]
[…] 25. Exactly one year since the benign tumor on Beth’s aortic valve nearly did her in. For just a split second I was brought back to the paralyzing feeling I got when the cardiologist […]
[…] immediately got the same paralyzing fear I had a few years when I was told Beth’s heart had stopped, that she had been shocked back into rhythm, and that she was headed to emergency open heart […]
[…] also very lucky. I have good health insurance. I have a great cardiologist (the same one who helped save Beth’s life lo these many years ago). I have a great primary care doctor who’s a careful gatekeeper, and who helped shepherd me […]
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