Russ Dowden and Claud - AnUpdate

I asked J Claud how he was progressing and told him I would forward this to all of the unbelievers who do not frequent the RAFINO web site on a daily basis ... soundslike he is very much returning to the J Claud we all know and love ... russ
--------------------------

Thanks Russ for asking.

I am doing surprisingly good.  As the Dr says for anyone my age and in my condition.  I had open heart, 4 bypass and aorta valve replacement on 18 July.  During the operation the breathing tube that they put between my vocal chords irritated the chords and triggered "Acid reflux".  Therefore my voice is weak and raspy and my throat is sore.They also triggered a little "A-Fib stroke" which threw them into overdrive and increased the intensity of my re-hab.

Next side event was an announcement from my nurse that they had to move me to isolation because a MRSA infection had been located in a urine sample.  I stayed in isolation until I left the East Texas Medical Center on 20 August.

I was in pretty good shape but decided to get more re-hab work closer to home and not add to Virginia's already busy schedule taking care of me.  While at the Willows Re-hab I passed blood in my urine and the Dr. sent me to the Hospital ICU for evaluation.  The ICU diagnosed a bladder infection and put me on an antibiotic drip followed by 10 days of pills.  It is clear now with no more bleeding.  I came home from The Willows on 10 September and am getting Home health re-hab and nursing care from them. 

They are putting me through a strenuous program in order to get me fit for a cruise to Europe 17 Oct.  We made plans for the cruise before the Doctors' conspiracy that caused them to butcher me.  My scars are healing nicely and I have no complications with the incisions in chest and leg where they took a vein for the bypasses.  I walk with a cane for stability and do not have any problem getting around.  I cannot drive and I ride in the back seat away from air bags.

It is now my bed time and a thunder storm with much needed rain is blowing around outside.  It is a shame that it could not have come while all the wild fires were burning up East Texas.  We were not in danger from the fires, but had friends that were burned out.

I am sorry to hear that you still communicate with those who do not frequent www.rafino.org on a daily basis.  Robby has carried on like the trooper that he is while I laid up and rested.  I still have 2,700e-mails to check, answer or delete.This explains my delay in responding to you.

Thanks again for caring,J. Claud