The Heart of the Matter

What you'll want to know first, is that I come bearing good news of my Dad's health.

The procedure was a success in every sense of the word. To say I've never been more impressed with a complete medical facility and it's incredibly positive and gifted staff would be the understatement of my lifetime.

Per the previous post, he was admitted to the Shands facility at the University of Florida Medical Center at Gainsville in order to have a hole in his heart repaired. All of the tests leading up to the actual procedure had indicated that the hole (in the septum dividing the right and left atrium) was about the size of a dime.

When Dr. Paolillo actually got the catheter threaded through the veins, he saw that the hole was actually larger; about the size of a quarter. You can imagine the effect that's had on my Dad's health and energy.

Not good.

To repair a hole of this size used to require open-heart surgery. But because my Dad's already had two of those, it was determined that a third would be an undesirable risk.

Instead, Dr. Paolillo employed a Cribriform, correctly called For now, a fairly short report from Orlando.
the AMPLATZER Multi-Fenestrated Septal Occluder. Think of it as the steel-mesh portion of a steel-belted radial tire. The device is inserted through the catheter tube, and is deployed so that one disc opens on each side of the heart's atrium wall, thus closing off the hole.

In time, the heart tissue grows over this mesh, effecting a permanent seal.

And how did it go you ask? In a word, excellent! Dr. Paolillo reports (after several post-op tests) that about 98% of the leakage is sealed, and the remaining 2% will be sealed by the heart tissue when it grows over the device.

Here's the amazing part though. Ever since his first heart-attack back in 1970, every major procedure he's endured has been wrought with complications, life-threatening infections and other major setbacks.

This one was a comparative breeze.

Thank you all for your prayers, well-wishes, fantastically kind e-mails and even kinder contributions.

I am deeply thankful to the the Good Lord, to the staff at Shands and to each and every one of you.

Comments

[Guy S.]

Outstanding! May your dad have many happy productive years ahead of him. And glad to see you made it back safe and sound.

[Jim]

Thanks, Guy

But I'm not home yet, that'll be a Monday morning flight. Glad I get to hang around to help here for another day though.

Jim
Sloop New Dawn
Galveston, TX

[Russ]

Wonderful, Jim, just wonderful.

I lost my Dad a number of years ago, before his time (or, alternately, his time came sooner than we expected.) I hate the thought of other people having to go through that.

Here's to your Dad's swift and compete recovery!

[Velociman]

Blessed, indeed, my friend. My thoughts are with you and yours. Give your Dad my best regards.

[Jay G]

Jim,

That is just EXCELLENT news. Good to hear!!!

Ditto Velociman, give Dad my best.

[Da Goddess]

So glad that your dad did so well! Sounds like you have a crack medical team on his case!

[A Recovering Liberal]

What wonderful news! Pleased to hear that everything went so well.

Would some of my cookies aid your dad's recovery? If so, just send a snail-mail and his preference of edibles (c:

[SondraK]

Sigh....SUCH good news is SO welcome.
Good on "the bright"...
Blessings, XOSondraK

[DeAnna]

I'm glad to hear the good news.

[Bob Baird]

Jim-

Great news!

Bob

[Jack]

I am very happy to hear that your father is on the mend. I can understand your relief, because my father has just completed his chemotherapy after surgery for bladder cancer. He is getting better after the chemo did a serious number on his red blood cells. I hope your father's recovery is trouble free and rapid. All the best to you and yours.

[Catfish]

Great news. Can't ask for anything better, I hope he recovers fast.

[Sam]

Great news Jim...My thoughts are with y'all.

[Marcus]

I hoisted a drink in celebration to that, bud! And then I noticed you weren't here, so I drank one for you. I cudnt leave out your 'rents, 2 more glasses at 40%. Then I realized Linda was here alone, so I toasted one to her. Cheers! heres to ya

[Denita TwoDragons]

What a BIG relief it is to hear that your Dad's heart is on the mend! Give him a big hug from me! :-)

G-dspeed!

--TwoDragons

[Bonfire7]

So glad to hear good news on your father! Will keep prayers coming for speedy return to normal.

M

[Valerie]

Jim,
Unable to check the blog until today...what fantastic news! Hope your flight home is comfortable and quick.

May this usher in a new perod of health and vitality for your Dad and your step-Mom to enjoy together!

Thank you for keeping us posted.

Val

[Anna]

Wonderful news. Having gone through that adventure with my father less than a year ago, I know the sense of complete relief after hearing the great news. I still cannot believe how the siblings and the rest of teh family went though that and can look back on it now.

[Hal Duston]

It is always amazing what can be done with "closed heart surgery" these days. It's rather like taking your automobile to the mechanic who kneels down behind the vehicle, announces "I'll be working from here", and overhauls the carburetor by fishing things up and down the exhaust pipe.

[Nocamba]

This is really great!
I liked it much - more of this please!!!

CU soon