Mike chauffeured me home on Tuesday.
Listening 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 my own funeral. Doctors did have to shock my heart back to work last Thursday, so it was kind of like that. But I’m still here, and I’m more grateful than ever for my wonderful friends and family.
I am a lucky girl.
Turns out the cardiac surgeon who happened to be on hand to do my emergency open-heart repair job last week is one of the top cardiac surgeons in the United States. Patrick McCarthy came to Northwestern Memorial Hospital via the Cleveland Clinic. And a Couple nights ago, he came to my hospital room to introduce himself and see the miracle girl sitting up in a chair and talking. The benign tumors he’d removed were like a sea anemone, he said. “It was flapping around your aortic valve and attaching itself here and there for a while, and then flapping around again.” He’s done over ten thousand heart surgeries and has seen a benign tumor on the aortic valve a few times before. Never one this big, though. He said it was as big as a marble.
The famous doctor sounded very pleased to have a photo of the tumor he could send to the cardiologist who’d had me ambulanced here last Wednesday. “It really is very exciting.” Considering the outcome, I had to agree.
Mike and I both thanked Dr. McCarthy profusely before he left the room , of course, and I told him surviving all this has given me a lot to ponder. As we shook hands to say goodbye, I jokingly asked if he thought I should join a religious cult now and move to an underdeveloped country to help people less fortunate. Dr. McCarthy didn’t bat an eye. “No,” he said. “I think you should buy a lottery ticket.”
Dear Beth–
We’ve all got our fingers crossed for you & that ticket! We’re sending you all our best from Johnson!
Hey Beth, Welcome home! Count on you to have an exciting tumor!
love,
Jean
Beth! Welcome home! You look healthy and happy in this photo and I think buying that lottery ticket is a great way to celebrate. Of course, you’ve already won a prize greater than cash– but a few mega millions wouldn’t hurt, right?
Fingers and toes crossed for you on that lottery ticket. Of course that means, if you win, all book clubs to be held at your penthouse suite with bon-bons and champagne being served to us by single, shirtless men.
Oh, this message about the single shirtless men waiting on us at book club cheers me up far more than any of the pain-killers they sent home with me. Even if my brand of luck turns out not to be the sort to win lotteries, hey – I have credit cards, and one joy/danger of having a near-death experience is it can help justify spending $$$.
My friend Jean Thompson (see her comment above) mailed me an audio version of her new book “The Humanity Project” to listen to as I rest and recuperate. (THANK YOU, Jean!)The NY Times gave The Humanity Project aVERY glowing review last month (no surprise there, Jean is a sensational writer), so lottery win or not, when we choose The Humanity Project for book club I’ll hire us some shirtless single men to wait on us and lure the award-winning author to join us.
Thank
God I survived this heart ordeal – I have so much to live for!
I’ve been following Mike’s blog comments and are so happy to hear you are up and out of the hospital! You are truly amazing, can’t keep a good woman down (even marbles around the aorta!)
So, SO glad for the amazing results of the last days, Beth. You are quite the Energizer bunny! Here’s to a few decades of smooth health sailing from here. You deserve them! –Molly
You are something else there girl! Hope you have checked your email and Facebook. Lots of VSC wellwishes there. Take good care. Amy
Thanks for the heads up, Amy – I have been a bit out of it lately, which includes paying no attention to FB. With all the meditation and yoga going on at VSC, though, I felt the vibes!
For other blog readers, the “VSC” Amy refers to here, and Zane mentioned in the first comment, stands for “Vermont Studio Center” the artist retreat I was at early in April.
A beautiful place with wonderful people. Like Amy.
PS: Love to Trish and Rebel, too.
Beth: So glad to hear about your constant improvement. Just take good care of yourself and we will see you soon, Lois
Beth… you are so amazing! You always find humor in everything and have such a positive attitude. Truly a Miracle Girl!
We all thank God, the Doctors, Surgeons, Emergency Staff and especially Mike for taking such great care of our special friend. I am so glad that you are home and getting better. Please remember what I said in my e-mail to you. Thank you for updating us. Take care and don’t over do things.
Lots of big hugs coming to you via e-mail!!
Darlene
Thanks everyone for the good wishes. To be honest it’s been easiest to keep up with you all via these blog comments you leave rather than on FB or via email, so THANK YOU so much for bothering — You all make me feel good!
Quite a week…! I really like Dr. McCarthy’s response! You can tie it in with your rehab walks!
I loved his response, too. Thanks for the good wishes…
I bet Whitney is wild with joy to see you again. And all of us in Memoir #1 are delighted you’re on the mend.
When we get together again, you and I will have to compare notes about chest scars, a-fib and other matters of the heart.
Fondly,
Catherine
*Catherine Rategan* Writer, Inc. 312-266-8146 http://www.rateganwriter.com/
Aunt Beth,
This is the best post ever! Hugs Zooks coming your way! Here is hoping the mega-millions are also coming your way. Lots of love from the Ulens!
So very glad this has had a happy outcome. What a scare. Cheers to you and Mike, and the excellent health care team. Much love, Pick
Hi Beth! I’m so glad to hear your voice, though hearing Mike’s was lovely as well. Anytime you want a visitor from your two new VSC friends, Todd and I will scoot on down and see you. Anything we all can do to keep up your spunk is top priority. Hugs, Maureen
Of course your doc took a photo of your tumor. He’s probably whipping it out and showing it to his lunch buddies in the cafeteria. Doctors are weird like that. I’m so glad you’re thriving after your near miss. Hugs from Tennessee.
He really was truly excited about getting that photo…
Hi Beth – I learned about your surgery from a friend of a friend who is taking your Memoir class. I’m SO happy to hear you are doing well and also that we can’t blame this one on the big “D!!” I will keep tabs on you and wish you all the best from the type 1 diabetes lounge!! XOX Merle
Translation for other blog readers: the big “d” Merle is referring to here is Type 1 Diabetes, which is insulin-dependent diabetes, the kind you usually get when you’re a kid, and the kind Merle and I have. Uncontrolled and/or longterm diabetes can lead to heart disease, After the crisis had died down a bit one of the surgeons admitted to Mike that when she saw my records early on she was fully expecting to go into the angiogram and see ruined/blocked/junky arteries.
But my arteries were perfect. Mike says she said something to the tune of “Dude, if I have pipes like that when I’m 54, I’ll be thrilled.” Another surgeon who was there told me later that once I recover from the surgery and have a bit of cardio recovery I should continue doing whatever I was doing before this tumor showed up – take/check my insulin, keep swimming, lots of walking, eat healthy and even keep drinking coffee and beer and wine if I want. My heart is very healthy and that’s why I was able to survive the S.O.B. tumor (that’s what Mike calls it) for as long as I had before it showed up during the echocardiogram/stress test.
Beth, Amiga del CORAZON,
we want to cook for you cats. I’m making tons of lasagna this weekend–just tell me what to avoid with ingredients and we’ll “make it work,” as Tim Gunn would say…..
MUST you continue to live a daredevil life, Ms. Knieval?
xoxo Carolina and Co.
We’re lucky too…glad you are doing well and hope to see you soon.
Aw, shucks. Thanks, Audrey.
So glad you are back in the neighborhood! Let me know when you are up for a stroll!
Wow Beth, you really are one lucky lady! Somehow is the deluge of info I totally missed Mike’s posting about your surgery and ordeal. . .incredible. I always knew you were tough, and isn’t it great to know that your heart is tough too! Good luck with the lottery. . .why not? Take care and hope you are back out enjoying the Chicago spring asap.
Oh Beth-I just read of the events of the past week or so and was shocked! And then so very relieved!! You are one of a kind in every way! So grateful you had such excellent and expedient health care! Continue to amaze us and tell Mike thanks for standing in for you while you could not blog! I hope your recovery continues without a hitch! Take care-love Barbara Gaither
Thanks, Barbara. So good to hear from you. My love to all of you Gaithers, and especially to Carly.
You certainly are one of a kind. Relieved to hear things turned out OK. It must have been such a scare for you (and Mike)!
It was. More for Mike than me — I was unconscious for most of it!
What the ….?! I go to Europe for a couple weeks and this is what happens. Beth,I just got back last night and read Mike’s and your blogs. I am so happy you’re doing well but sorry you had to go through the experience. And Mike, too. Now I’ll be scared to leave the city. Seriously, you two are the best and too important to this world not to be around a long time. I’ve got some special almonds from Copenhagen for you. Best, Best, Best, Brad
Blog readers: I collected the special almonds last night. Mmm, mmm, good.
So glad you’re doing well, Beth. But, you’ve got to find more tame Next Book material.
Agreed.
Come on MegaMillions! So glad you’re feeling better. It was nice getting Mike’s updates, but even better to hear it from you.
Will always think of Johnson, VT, as the place that gave my friend Beth a heart attack. Not totally accurate, I guess. And yet. So glad you’re alright, and that you’ve got those nine lives. zooks
Thank you, my New Hamshire friend, for coming with your people-person hubby to Vermont and getting me to the airport so I could get home to Chicago safe & sound. You and Greg are one of the many, many who helped make this miracle happen.
Beth, This is such great news on so many levels. The photo says a lot! And Eva and I are very glad you are back home in our neighbourhood. We hope to see you both soon. We’ve missed you at hackneys this past month. Nigel
It may be a while before I’m drinking at Hackney’s again, but hey, I’m sure you heard about the new place going in at your old hangout? I like the name: First Draft.” Perfect for Printers Row.
Welcome back to the blog, friend! Glad to see you up & about. First trip with that lottery money is to New Orleans!
Yes! I’m buying the ticket today….
Beth, so glad you’re recovering. I’m so thankful for you and everything you do for Easter Seals and the blog!
~Rachek
So good to see your smile on the blog Beth. Wow again. I think your chances are good on the lottery. There should be an official moratorium on health issue for you going forward.
Yes. Where do I sign for that morartorium?
Beth,
I guess some days it’s harder to come up with topics for your blog than others.
Anyway, glad to hear that everything is going well. Hopefully this doctor of yours has prescribed taking in more ballgames and doesn’t have you cutting back on beverages for very long.
Busted. Happy to resort to more boring blog topics now, though.
Glad you are recovering. Get well soon! Bob G.
Beth, how blessed we all are that you are in recovery mode now. Medicine is every more and more amazing. My prayers are with you both as you enjoy this next new chapter in your lives.
Beth– wow! So glad you are mending well. Sending good thought your way! Katy Neas
Oh, Beth, I just read about your surgery. You certainly are an extraordinary lady…in more ways than one. Thank God all went well and you are on the road to recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with you from Lindenhurst, Long Island. Love, Maria
Always good to hear from you wonderful people on Long Island. Thanks for the good wishes!
SO glad to hear you’re recovering and clearly keeping your spirits high.
Dear Beth, so glad to hear you’re out of the hospital and doing well. What a shock (pun intended).
Thinking of you.
Rudy J. Lubov
Sent from my iPhone
Beth – What a scare! We are thinking about you here at Easter Seals and wishing you a continued speedy recovery!!
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.
Did you buy one?
Just got back from a week in D.C. and Annapolis and read your Blog. Just one more scare in your life! Glad to hear all is well, come on down to C-U and relax, I’ll buy you lunch (or dinner)!
Penn
I *did* buy a ticket yesterday, and if I find out I won, hey, I’ll buy *you* dinner, Penn! Thanks for your good wishes…
Beth, this was the first post I read after getting back from riding my bike for one week on the Natchez Trace–surprised–at first thought you must have a guest blogger, but, no, it’s you. Hope you’re feeling better SOON.
Afraid it might be a while before I can get back on the tandem (don’t want to risk falling and breaking my sternum…ouch) but happy to report I am on my way to full recovery. Thanks for your note, Jane, and welcome back.
Beth,
What a scare! I’m so relieved to hear that you are on the mend. Get well soon!
Lori
B, I’ll call you. Would like to meet you for a walk, shoot the breeze, hatch plans (world domination), etc.
Hmm. World domination seems a bit much to consider right now. Then again, even post-heart-surgery I’m no weaker than some of these jokamalokes who are calling themselves world “leaders.” Am thinking by Friday I might be up for an afternoon walk to Buddy Guy’s together? We could discuss all this over acoustic blues. I’ll email you privately– thanks for the note, Michael.
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