I don't know how to thank all of you wonderful people for your prayers, good wishes, cards, and gifts.  I get a lump in my throat when I think how blessed I am by knowing some of you in person and some of you through your diaries.   I must thank Yetzirah for cluing me in on this site; otherwise, I would never have known you, and would never have had the wonderful moral support you've given me through my illnesses.

I'm doing well, but not as fast as I would like, of course.  I still can't walk very far without getting very tired.  But this, too, will pass.

Now the news from the surgeon.  It's shocking, so be prepared.

Doctor told me that when they usually see an aortic aneurysm it's "this" big, and he held up his index finger and marked off the top half.  However, the aneurysm I had was...and he held up his fist.  A nurse told me that I had a leaky cardiac valve, but I misunderstood her.  It was the aorta that was leaking and ready to blow.  I was this () close to dead.

If I hadn't had that awful, horrible, painful abdominal blockage, or whatever it was, I wouldn't have sought medical care.  It was at Doctors Urgent Care clinic where an x-ray showed the aneurysm.  The doctor there told me to go immediately to Mercy San Juan, as they were expecting me.

I think I mentioned that MSJ ER was a mess, so I think G-d must have had his hand on my aorta to prevent the fatal burst.  And it would have been fatal.

Now I have to make an appointment with the abdominal surgeon to see if we can figure out what caused that problem in the first place.  (Well, I have my own opinion about that.)  However I am due for a colonoscopy this year, so maybe this is just hurrying up the process.  But, please, I hope whatever the problem it is, it doesn't require more surgery.

Also, the ache between my shoulder blades is related to the aortic stent, and Dr V said that would go away as I heal.  

Have I complained enough?

My dear friends, I want to thank you again for all your kind, healing thoughts.  Please keep it up.  I still need you!

I have an appointment to see my own doctor tomorrow, and will get a referral to the other surgeon, and see if maybe he can give me a short supply of sleeping pills, just enough to get  me back on my regular sleeping pattern.  This sleeping two hours, up two hours, then sleeping again maybe three or four hours just doesn't do much for energy.

Shalom