Jessie & Marks Great Climb #2

Jessie & Marks Great Climb

Singing & Dancing In The Sun.....

What a great walk today!

I've been laid up for a few weeks and decided to try a nice slow walk to who knows where (as long as its toward downtown Park Ridge).

Of course I met some guys from work. One, turned out to be someone I met 40 yrs ago. George Ruckridge. A swell guy and a man that made it big in the Police Dept. Then had a great job with the Board of Education Security.

I saw the group sitting outside Starbucks. I walked over and it took some time to recognize him.

We exchanged a few words and I continued my walk. Thru and around the business area of Park Ridge.

Found a few new businesses and restaurants. I guess riding a bike, makes it difficult to see all thats new.

Another coffee cafe away from Panera and next to a bakery. A little distance further, I found a Tea Cafe on a quiet street. Seems like a tough location.

I aimed back for home and had my IPOD tuned in to some good tunes. First, the country songs with Johnny Cash shuffled to Frank Sinatra back to Pansy Kline.

I got to where I was away from the business area and looked up and saw a beautiful blue sky.

Just then a bouncy song came on with Gene Kelly---Dancing In The Rain.

I looked up and saw not one cloud. The Great Blue sky was blocked only by great ruffles of green and deep red leaves. The contrast in beauty was special.

Maybe so special because I was hopping and singing along with Kelly...except the words didn't fit.

Do you think I could change the words to: Dancing In the Sun...yeah, sure but it sure didn't sound like Kelly.

It had its own special tone...alive/living...great to experience life again tune.

Yes, its great to be alive.

From Here To There...Part #3

Day #3
I'm feeling worse than when I came in. I mean, I never felt bad. I always felt good even when the medical people told me I was sick.

My upper chest/left shoulder hurts. My bladder is going to burst. All because I can't move around until at least 12 hrs after the surgery.

Luckily, I must have been nervous before the surgery and just peed until I was dry.

The surgery started at 1 pm and so 12 hr later would be 1am Weds. I laid in my bed waiting and looking at the clock.

Sometimes, it wouldn't move at all. Other times, it jumped 20—40 minutes. Especially, after my girls were with me. Karolyn, Jill & Sara, and Jessie.

They made it bearable. Or should I say easier. Yes, easier. It wasn't that bad. A couple Tylenol took care of any discomfort.

But at 11 pm. Nature called and I answered. One, two, three. Out of bed and over to the bathroom. No dizziness, or pain. OK, excellent.

Anyway, Weds, I got sent downstairs to the Pace Maker lab. Here, Jan & Dr. Estrada checked out the pacemaker and entertained me. Both were fun.

Jan was smart and pretty. Dr. Estrada was smart and- and funny, ah, yes funny.

They gave me a machine like the one between Jan and me. She explained how to use it to transmit a test from my pacemaker to this room. I don't have to test it, in person. Just over the phone and occasionally in person.

Soon, Pam, the wonderful nurse assigned to take care of me, told me I could go home. I called Karolyn and she was there in minutes to pick me up.

I signed the papers and INSISTED I walk out and not be wheel chaired out. I blinked as I insisted and they smiled and let me walk out.

Again, because of all the wonderful folks working in every department, this was a Another Great Adventure.....thank you all....and thanks for the support of my family.. I love you all.

From Here To There...Part #2

Wednesday morning started with the starving from midnight on.


With Karolyn and Jessie waiting along side me, we received a surprise visit from my cardiologist and his assistant physician Angie.


The floor nurses made me take off my clothes and prepared me for the surgery.

Soon, a smiling and happy Harold arrived and had me sit on a Gurney!




He carted me down on the public elevator to the Holding room.


He turned me over to 2 sweet, beautiful nurses .
Holly and Irena stuck me with needles and pins.





They took my camera away from me so I will have to just word it.

I was pushed into the surgery room where all these folks with masks on were talking and running around.

The main conversation was who was going where for lunch and what time they would be back.

I hoped they all wouldn't go and leave me.

Then a tall skinny masked guy came in and tried some calming words to me.

I said “Who are You?” I'm Dr. Deboer. I'm the surgeon.

I said you look tired, are you up to it.





He said don't worry, and directed the anesthesiologist “give it to him”.

I yelled to everyone, “C'ya Later” and got a few laughs.

I could still hear the laughing when I opened my eyes in the Recovery room.
But, I was still dreaming of my computer.

The screen had all my photos on it. Yes, thats not unusual. But the fact that all the characters on the photos were active and talking to one another, that was cool.

I told the nurse and she said it was the drugs. I said I knew and was trying to enjoy the hallucinations.

Within 45 minutes they carted me back to the room. There I saw Karolyn and Jessie both smiling along with a couple of nurses until they tried pulling this big body from the gurney to my bed.

Everything seemed the same except my upper left chest hurt me.

From Here To There...Part #1

I'll tell you how.

It started with that phone call. Jim, we need to do a AngioPlasty.

Then, the angioplasty went good.

To: the angioplasty might have blocked a small artery that controls your heart beat.
so you must wear a monitor.

To: tomorrow we will put in an PaceMaker.

I arrived on Monday at St. Francis in Evanston. Things went bad from the start with “OH, no one told us you were coming.”

Sorry your bed will be ready in just a few minutes (55 few minutes). We were rolled to our room 2038 which was on the 2nd floor.

Immediately they put on another heart monitor. But first shaved my chest. Wow, last week my groin area got the razor and this week the chest and stomach.

Nurse Lin from India did the shaving. And told me about herself.

She has been in the country for 5 yrs and graduated from Maine East H. S. a very good H.S. She lives with her parents and still goes along with all the old customs.

She said she didn't date in H.S. as her parents would have been very angry. If she would have dated then or now and someone saw them that would tell her parents. “OH MY , the trouble I would be in.”

Finally, her parents get the say on her husband. Even though 50 of her relatives that live here can pick who they want.

She laughed and giggled while she told me the story. I could have talked to her much more but she had other duties, like hiding from me.

How Did I Get Here from There.....

How did I get from this photo to
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.-----this photo....the answer tomorrow

I'm Back....

Yes, Karolyn just drove me home with a lump in my upper left chest.

A cut about 3 inches long and clued together.

There are MANY photos and many stories. I will start posting later tonight or maybe tomorrow. It time for a shower ( with scrub brush )and a nap.

It was some Adventure.

I'm glad that I started to look at life's surprises and turns as another Adventure. Thanks Ross Boyle.

talk late
jim

NEWS FLASH

Dr Gaiha just called.

You must come in tonight and get a PaceMaker put in tomorrow.

So, I'm leaving now. Be there overnight tonight and have the
PaceMaker put in tomorrow.

Home by Weds.

C'ya Weds.
Jim

A Real Live Hero--my Hero

Today while in McDonald's My Hero walked in.

I got excited like a kid and jumped out of the booth and pranced around not knowing what I should do.

So I ran up to him...yes, ran...like a kid or groupie.. Grabbed him around the shoulders and told him he was my hero.

Shook his hand and after some words returned to our group.

One grumpy man said whats wrong with you.

I said its Jessie White. He's my hero.

Later, Mr. White came up to me and said "The last time I saw you, you were Officer Friendly in uniform weren't you".

Yes, thanks for remembering me.

Mr. White..I remember you at Cabrini Green at night lining up mattress springs for the kids to jump on.

Then you would teach them how to tumble.

There were no camera's around, you did it because you're a good guy.

A few more words and I took out my camera. Took a photo.

It was true. I would work Cabrini Green Projects in Chicago. The worse housing project.

I would have my 2 guns, radio, flashlight and billy club. Mr. White would just have his enthusiasm.

I thought something was wrong with him. And the thing was, at the time he was an elected Illinois Congressman. He was down in front of the most dangerous building in Chicago, working with the kids.

Today he was out with his Jessie White's Tumblers.




After he left, I realized that here was a man who had 15 kids with him. He walks into McDonald's ahead of the kids to get organized.


And a crazy man runs/hops up to him and hugs him.

Yet, he was a courteous as a Hero....yes, Mr. White--My Hero.

Just An Evening Out

My week in Photos...Aug 15, 2008

Yes, it's been an interesting week.

THE HEART
I returned to Dr. Gaiha's office Thurs for a checkup after the angioplasty.

We passed in the hallway but didn't say anything.

Then as he entered the exam room, I reached out for his hand and shook it.

He had that special smile and I had tears. What can you say?

I said: THANKS.

He shook his head up and down.
Then told me, something is wrong with my heart beat.

He pointed out a little artery that might be causing the problem.

Its too small for angioplasty but feeds blood to the part of the heart muscle that regulates the beat.

So I returned today for a heart monitor. 24 hrs and a written description of what I do during those hrs.






The bday:

Sunday we celebrated Jills bday. The numbers are rising but she's still one of my little princesses.

We had a wonderful chocolate cake. Sang out of tune and just had a good time.









Coffee:




Here are a few photos from coffee. Our long friends at the first photo. (mon-weds) group.
Then a photo of a table of ladies that we have recently gotten to know. They are all sweet.






GRAPES:




Karolyn planted a small grape vine a few yrs ago.
Last year we had thousands of grapes and hundreds of birds that swept in and around my fishing line to get to the grapes.

We got none.

This year I saw a bunch and we ate them.


How did the birds miss them, who cares, we got them.

Thats about it. for now.

later

My Weekend...almost not...

I just returned home from the hospital. (Sat 2:00 pm).

Last week, I took a Thallium Stress test at the drs office. We went to follow up on it and he told me, you will take an angio-gram on Friday.

Firday, at 11:00am we went to the new Cardiac Cath Lab at ST. Francis hospital.

I think it was designed by a rocket scientist. Very up to date and futuristic. With multiple LCD monitors.

Yes, that angiogram led to an angio-plasty and another Abbot stint put into my Main Right Artery.

Seems it was 90% blocked. Immediately afterward the dr had his assistant show me the video/photo of the blocked artery before and after ballooning.

The artery looked like a super highway. It’s a big wide one and suddenly the right side closed up to the left side just leaving a little space for the blood to flow thru. 90% blocked

It opened my eyes wide.

My previous damage was to the left lower/mid ventricle area. Several arteries in that area were ballooned and stinted.

Dr. Gaiha's assistant Angie was in the lab and commented that of all the years of doing the procedure, she never had anyone wear a baseball cap. Its not a baseball cap, its my Siesta Key Hat.

I felt good or I should say great before the stress test--thru the angio-plasty and into the little room before and after.

I was talking to Karolyn when suddenly 4--5 nurses ran into the room and all had a scared look on their faces.

Where does it hurt, do you have pain in your chest,,your jaw,...your arms.

No I feel great.

As we talked they unwrapped all kinds of stuff and put the Paddle pads on my chest. Oh Shit...something is going on.

Hey I feel great.

Mr. Elliott you have a block. Your main right artery, It has electrical lobes leading to your heart for the heart beat.

It might have been caused by the angioplasty damaging it or the meds or your heart is really bad.

I looked at the monitor and it said my heart rate was 36..no 76..no 39 no 47...no 59....no 35.

The monitor just kept flipping between all those numbers for heart beats.

BUT I FEEL GREAT...

Karolyn said Maybe she should go...I looked in her eyes, thought about my situation and said GOOD BYE....she said GOOD BYE back. WE both knew what we were saying, there would be no c'ya this time.

After 20 minutes they all eased up and returned to their stations.

I wasn't nervous for myself. I felt bad about leaving her with our weak financial condition. Its funny what we think of.

Well, they shipped me to the Cardiac Intensive Care at 7pm.

Today the dr told me with the bad weak heart and damaged from the previous heart attack, that if that artery blocked up, "you would be in heaven now"

So "aren't you glad I made you take the angiogram"

Hell yes.

Dr Gaiha is from India, and he for the first time ever in all our conversations said: if that artery would have blocked up, with your damage on the other side of the heart and it being WEAK, you would have been in heaven.

I joked and said, Dr. Gaiha, again I have to thank you. What do you mean weak heart? I exercise, ride my bike for miles and walk and stretch.

He said it’s not getting stronger and it’s been weak since your heart attack.

He said he didn't know what to do. OKAY, do I stay or go home.
Oh, that’s why I'm here--to sign you out. GO HOME!

I came home to our annual block party and 40 folks are expected between my house and my daughters.

My son Jack and Thomas bbq 100 brat wursts and smoked pulled pork
It was wonderful. 1/2 brat and 1/2 pork and a slice of "Cubs" ice cream bday cake for Colin from Dairy Queen.

Then I started my new diet. Only a little milk in the coffee.

Sorry no photos but one.

Walking The Ducks

Hey, remember that group of photos I sent out. Well, it was
forwarded to me and I sent it many of you.

It involved some guy named Joel who watched ducks walk thru the business streets of some city.

Well today Karolyn and I were at the Park Ridge Library to listen to Jimmy Buffet type of music. It was part of a Sunday At The Library.


Lots of kid fun things to do. Games and balloons.



We're sitting down listening when we saw a little girl running after something.


When I looked closely it was a mother Duck with her 5 ducklings. They were walking toward a 6 way intersection.


So, being a quick thinking Hero type, I ran over there and as they hit the concrete street, I stopped traffic.


Yes, heroic Jim came to the rescue. It was cute as the cars stopped and folks started to take out their camera phones and give me tips on what I should do with MY friends.



Well, I followed them along a sidewalk when teens got alongside them. The ducks immediately turned and walked into the street and stopped under a car.



They started to move after 5 minutes toward the street. I shushed them back and told the folks to let them have the sidewalk to themselves.




Two older yuppy types joined me and I slowly slipped away back to the concert. Leaving the yuppies and ducks.


Unfortunately, the music ended just as I sat down in my chair. Karolyn and I both started laughing.



Sorry about the poor photos. But I'm not a super hero like Spiderman,

I'm just an everyday Hero. A protector of Ducks. A real Quack Hero.