Curt's turn

Well, I bring news about Curt this time.

Curt will be having double, possibly triple bypass surgery on Monday morning at St. Joseph's hospital in St. Paul.

Here's the condensed history with a disclaimer that I am describing what is happening the best I can and without any medical background. Suzie should probably dictate to me for future postings so that I can be as accurate as possible about the situation.

How this started...

Curt has been extremely tired lately, so tired that some days he can hardly keep his head up. His blood pressure has also been very high and hasn't been controllable even with medication.

In trying to diagnose the problem, doctors discovered that Curt has an aneurysm on the thorax, which leads to the heart. This aneurysm requires a surgery where they insert a stint to help ease the aneurysm and prevent it from going off (going off is probably not a proper medical term). This type of aneurysm is the same thing that John Ritter died of a few years back but his was undetected.

In preparation of this surgery, blockage was discovered which brings us to yesterday (7/12) when Curt went for an angiogram.

During the angiogram, the doctor discovered that the right side of his heart probably NEVER worked properly and more than likely has been 100% blocked since birth. However, there is no damage to this side of the heart because the heart developed collateral feeders on it's own. The input of these veins are all well developed.

The left side of the heart, also known as the "death artery" has two blockages. Because the blockage is in this side, it was considered too dangerous to perform an angioplasty yesterday, as death is probable if it doesn't go just right.

This means he will be having bypass surgery on Monday morning. The way I understand it, this will definitely be a double and possibly a triple bypass.

What we know so far...

• Doctors have performed this surgery 'millions' of times. Curt's doctor happens to be the chief of cardiology and has been in the cardiology field for 30 years, so that level of expertise and skill provides some comfort.
• the surgery is expected to last 4-5 hours
• at this point, Curt will be hospitalized for 7-10 days
• once home, he can't lift anything over 10 pounds
• no driving for 1 month

Because of these restrictions, Myra found some nursing home care for herself and is there now. She's at a presbyterian home in Cambridge and she is adjusting nicely. At this point, she'll be there until Curt is back on his feet and can help care for Myra again.

Myra will stay with Matt & Tess Sunday night. Matt and Myra will pick up Curt very early Monday morning. Curt has to get checked in and prepped at 5:30 a.m.

If you would like to talk to Curt or Myra this weekend, email me and I'll get you their phone numbers. I will keep this blog updated so you know how the surgery went, prognosis, etc.

P.S. If you're wondering why Myra can't stay at home this weekend, it's due to the fact that she still requires more physical care than Curt is able to provide this weekend and obviously after the bypass. For instance, she's at dialysis right now and that requires getting downstairs, into the car, into dialysis, back into the car, back home again and up the stairs.

Please put Curt & Myra in your prayers this weekend.

I'll be in touch.