Todd 4-10-11

Faithful readers of these updates already know that I do not visit doctors on a regular basis. Okay, okay...I'll admit it again...I NEVER visit doctors. I have not been to one in about 35 years. I'm not proud of it. I have been meaning to go soon. I am also fully aware that this presents an interesting dichotomy, as I am a terrible hypochondriac. But my friend and former workout buddy Todd has been going to doctors. Todd is a single, 44 year-old parent of two children. He goes to doctors a LOT! Of course, you would too if you had 100% blockage in three coronary arteries, a left ventricle that has suffered severe damage from a heart attack you never even felt, an aortic valve that is "flapping in the breeze" and could not walk across the room without gasping for breath. The water pills helped somewhat. They helped him get rid of 17 pounds of fluid that was accumulating around the lungs. Getting rid of the fluid caused the 5 minute coughing spells to abate somewhat. The other 8 medications that he's on have not quite kicked in yet. Todd is obviously in end stage heart failure and has been consulting with doctors and surgeons daily. The most pessimistic (and one of the most talented) of them pulled up a stool, looked him in the eye, and said "My team and I can be ready to operate by the end of the week, but I do not expect you to survive the procedures." This news has prompted Todd to begin answering his cell phone "County Morgue." But it's not all levity. Todd has been placed on the donor/transplant list at University of Michigan Medical Center (I am getting chest pains while writing this.) The plan was, in the event of the operation going horribly wrong, to keep him alive for the trip from Royal Oak to Ann Arbor Michigan (a 60 mile ride). To be cont...