Observations

-The first day of my hospital stay was laying in a bed in ICU. Early that morning they did an angiogram and found the blockage. They left a balloon pump in to ease the pain and the plan was for me to rest as they will operate the next day. According to Gayle, she was told that anything could happen, a heart attack, stroke or various other issues that might alter that plan. It reminded me of the draft lottery during the Vietnam war. Your fate is dependent on the the random selection of events of life. So I am laying there with tubes and IVs coming out of me, either sleeping or waiting. I vaguely recall people coming to visit. Apparently there were a few that just watched me sleep.

Nakedness. I never knew what naked meant until I was shaved of every hair on my body. A strange feeling.

Poked, exposed and naked: You get used to the fact that you are like an open museum exhibit with people constantly coming to view, touch, withdraw fluids or try to inject you with some substance.

Catheter: well, in a word, freedom. No trying to urinate in a bottle, no worrying about fluid intake, waking up in the middle of the night, etc. Only the restriction of movement.

Trust: Remember the trust walk of church camp? Well that compares little to the trust in the staff, especially the ICU nurses. You want to do what? Ok go ahead.....

Cost of Medicine: If I add up the value of the equipment used, drugs dispensed, labor of the staff, etc., I have exceeded my net worth. Thank goodness for Health Insurance, even with deductables.... The guy next to me had a stent put in and had no insurance. They told him he was discharged and to get a check up at the county hospital or free clinic. They warned him to don't stop taking his meds, but didn't offer much in assistance for the cost of those meds.

Tough Love: ICU nurses. I have great respect for them.

Fight on: My heart surgeon made sure I was aware of his alma mater... I could see my friends Mel and Sam smile with approval as they watch from their seats at the Collesium.

If you are not wearing your bifocals, it is difficult to tell what the buttons on your bed are. Especially the call nurse button. Took me four days to figure it out.

Friends: You begin to understand the impact of friends and their support when in a helpless position. Thank you all.......