Elvin's heart surgery

Remember this happy occasion last summer? A few years after the sudden death of my sister Janet, her husband Elvin got married to long-time family friend Pauline. Today Elvin will be having triple by-pass heart surgery.

Back in the mid-nineties Elvin had a near heart attack and has since had two stents (spellchecker wants me to spell this stint, but that's not how we pronounce it, so I'm not spelling it that way!) put in. He also has been on a MISSION to keep a healthy heart with a most rigorous exercise routine and an incredibly disciplined diet. I have never met anyone with so much discipline. (In fact, we sisters have joked that when we tried to be accountable to each other about our diets it just didn't work, because we were too understanding with each other. One time I got the bright idea that maybe we should be accountable to Elvin!!) Unfortunately, heredity is the thing he can't have discipline over, so in spite of all he's been doing, this surgery is necessary. Without the lifestyle he's been living, it probably would have been necessary much, much sooner.

When we visited him at the hospital last evening, I asked him what ever in the world could possibly be blocking his arteries, given the fact he hardly has any meat or fat in his diet. He said that calcium and plaque can also clog arteries. I gotta check that out. Heart trouble is also a part of my heredity. Janet's death was caused by an arterial dissection, somewhat like an aneurysm. That's also what actor John Ritter died from, which his widow has put in the news lately, with the push for research which she has begun.

We wish Elvin a successful, UNCOMPLICATED surgery.

On a happy note, my brother-in-law Scott, who had the neck/spine surgery, is returning to the classroom today! He has been doing very well. He said the pain he has right now is from the physical therapy. That's a good pain. Have a great day back at work, Scott! Those kids will be so happy to have their zany teacher back!