This is a long story.
It all began the first week in May, when I traveled to Aurora, Colorado, to help Karen with her car. This statement is incorrect; I have been working on this story my whole life; it only surfaced that day in early May, 2025.
Karen and I were hard at work on the front suspension of her Hyundai when I needed to take a break. After a brief rest, I was back under the car, an action which immediately resulted in my need for more rest. Following a short discussion, Karen called 911 emergency services.
The short ambulance ride to the University of Colorado Anschutz had me feeling a lot better. Fortunately, the EMTs with their stethoscopes and electrocardiogram machine knew a different story; I was not well. I was having a heart attack! No pain, no dramatic clutching, just an extreme need to sit and rest.
UC immediately put me on the schedule for a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, or as the surgeon called it, "cabbage". I was to find out later that this surgeon, Dr. Tom Reese, is among the best in the country. Today, some 8 weeks later, I truly believe he is the best. I just completely lucked out and fell into his orbit.
The surgery took place on May 8th. By the 14th, I was fit for travel, and with Julie and Karen at the wheel, we headed for home. We had fair weather, a comfy car, and the very best drivers. We were home on May 17th.
Currently, in early July, I participate in Cardio Rehab at the Mayo Clinic, 3 sessions a week. Healing is slow, and it's hard to not lift more than 8 pounds or overexert myself. It will get better. I will recover. Heck, next week I am allowed to lift 20 pounds.
Karen finished the car by herself.
The long story part of this tale is that coronary artery blockages do not occur overnight. I have always considered myself reasonably fit, but my body was quietly saving for a rainy day by storing plaque in the coronary arteries. An insidious and silent threat. Waiting.
