The Squamidian Report – Sept. 23 / 17
Online Version
Issue #800
Including:
From Lorne
The Ontarion
Hi All,
Welcome to number 800. Incredible, isn't it. And it only took 15 years to get to this point.
“There's fresh snow on the mountains
Bright in the morning sun
The crisp fall air is telling me
That winters coming on.”
Anyone know that song? I do and it fits to a tee right now. When the
heat and drought and smoke cleared out we went rather prematurely into
fall with some rather spectacular weather and some very much needed and
appreciated wet days as well. Because instead of sitting at about 10
degrees above normal we ended up sitting at about 10 degrees below
normal and that meant snow on the local mountains. Sure is nice to see,
glad its up there. There was snow on some of the mountain passes as
well giving drivers a taste of winter while it was still officially
summer. And of course summer is over now, as the 22nd . 1:01pm Pacific
Time to be exact. For us it was the summer that never was because it
was a month late getting here and then turned very uncomfortable with
many days that were too hot and too smoky to even go outside. Perhaps
fall will make up for it, time will tell.
On a totally unrelated note, we were driving home from our usual
morning coffee up at the gondola the other day and as we came up the
highway along the section just past the Adventure Center, a female elk
stepped out of the forest and onto the shoulder of the road. That
section of highway run through a thickly forested area even though it
is 'in town'. The vehicles that spotted the elk slowed down, the ones
that didn't see her pulled into the passing lane in order to shoot on
past the slowing traffic. The elk made a couple of attempts to head out
onto the roadway but eventually changed its mind and melted back into
the trees. Elk are big and can do a lot of damage if hit by a vehicle.
For anyone on a bike, even a small deer deer can be deadly, and elk are
the size of horses. We were in the car and everything ended just fine
but its always good to be reminded of the presence of the local wild
life.
There are actually 2 elk herds in this area, one up the Upper Squamish
and one known as the Mamquam herd. They tend to wander along the
Mamquam River and up into the Indian Arm Pass areas, and, they tend to
hang out on the local golf course which is beside the river. That
drives some friends of our crazy because they are the care takes of
that course and the elk do a lot of damage to the greens, and the big
males can be a bit intimidating when the females are in a mood to be
impressed.
This was the first 'live' one we've seen but I've seen a few so far
along that stretch of highway that were no longer 'live'. For each elk
that was hit there was at least one vehicle that was written off. This
particular herd has grown to the point where there is now enough of
them to permit a limited hunting season this fall, which is not
something I'm interested in and therefore really don't know much about.
But it does indicate that they are doing well and their numbers are
climbing. They just need to stay away from the highway for their own
good as well as for the good of the other users of the highway.
Well, thats all I've got for this, the 800th. But hey look, Lorne has
sent in something as has Greg. Greg is home recuperating between
surgeries and has somehow found the time and energy to write his
column. Thank you both for taking the time and making the effort.
doug
****
From Lorne, Regarding Ewan and Alison's Wedding
That was sure a wedding to have survived from. Alison's parents,
Penny and Sheldon hosted the Celtic- Jewish union at a beautiful,
historic mill in Ancaster. There are many photos posted on facebook
that illustrate better than I, the grand event. In one most
memorable pronouncement, I gained two more relatives.
Wishing Greg the best at this very hard time in Greg and Carole's
lives. Looking forward to many more Squad contributions from you,
my friend. The 1000th edition is just down the line.
Lorne
****
THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello everyone!
I’ve found it hard to resist being part of the 800th Squid/Ontarion so
I’m going to tough it out and write what I can for this week!
I’ve been indisposed for the past two weeks but Doug has carried the
ball in his usual leadership role with grace and style. As you all
know, I’ve been in hospitals plural having my heart analyzed in St
Mary’s Hospital Kitchener and my left carotid artery cleaned out in
Guelph General Hospital. It’s been quite a ride and what I would call
“a Cut Throat Week!” and it’s not over yet but hopefully the remaining
two surgeries will go as well as the first! I was scheduled for open
heart bypass surgery last Friday but it was discovered that both of my
carotid arteries were slightly more than 80% blocked and that the heart
surgery was not possible until the worst one was cleared in Guelph. I
was placed in the skillful hands of a Vascular Surgeon by the name of
Dr H Nasser. He had been following the progression of my artery
blockages for the past 8 or more years and fortunately was available to
do the surgery needed to clear my left carotid artery. This will allow
the surgeons at St Mary’s to do my bypass surgery in a few weeks. Then,
it’s back to Guelph General a few weeks after that to have my right
carotid artery cleared by Dr Nasser to finish the job!
WOW! It’s amazing what these skilled operators can do these days!
The heart surgery will be the virtual lifesaver but without the
“endarterectomy”, (artery fix) the heart surgery is much too
risky. With the blocked neck arteries, the risk of a major stroke is
very high and it could have spelled the end to a beautiful life! I’m
not ready for that yet my friends!!!!
Anyway, I’ve survived the first of three major surgeries and intend to
do the same for the next two episodes! Hopefully by December sometime
it will all be over with and I can look forward to a happy and healthy
recovery. I’m going to do my darnedest to be completely fit by the New
Year!
I mentioned to Doug that I’ve enjoyed writing our columns each week for
all these years so much that I’m not ready to let this health problem
put and end to the Squamidian/Ontarion at this point, if he’s willing
to keep going for a while yet! I have really loved writing for all of
you and am very grateful to each of you for sticking with us for 800
issues so far! I think I’ve convinced Doug to hang in for a while so
we’ll see how the next 6 months or so goes! Please stay with us for a
while yet!
The adventure I endured last Friday lasted two hours from first slice
to the last staple to close the opening in my neck. I had to stay awake
during the surgery so the surgeon could be sure I was still responding
to his questions. It was a very difficult ordeal indeed. I could
actually feel the work being done to open my neck to access the artery.
At that point, the Dr had to clamp off the artery just below my ear and
slightly above the collarbone. Then he sliced open the artery from top
to bottom and scraped out the plaque that was blocking the blood flow!
Once that was completed, he enlarged the artery diameter by stitching a
strip of “bovine” skin between the two sides of the artery rather than
sewing the two sides directly together.
MOOOoooo!Moooooo! This made the artery larger so it
can now carry a larger amount of blood to the brain. There was a rubber
ball placed in my right hand so when he asked me a question such as
“Did you feel that?” I could answer him by squeezing the ball to make a
squeaking sound. By doing this he knew I was still aware and still
there! LOL! During the two hours of surgery when he clamped off the
artery I dropped the ball and couldn’t answer him verbally as I had
been able to do earlier. When I asked him about that happening the next
day, he told me that when he clamped off the artery, the blood flow in
the right one should have been enough to supply my brain for five
minutes while he cleaned out the left one. Unfortunately only 80% of
patients have enough flow in the other artery to sustain the brain. He
said I am among the 20% who need him to bypass the clamped off artery
surgically while he cleaned out the left one. The bypass is then
removed once he hooks up the fixed artery after a thorough cleaning! He
told me that once he completes the “endarterectomy” on the Right
Carotid after my heart surgery I’ll have full blood flow to both sides
of my brain! AMAZING EH? Anyway, he told me that for that two minutes
that I was unable to answer him, I was technically brain-dead! He
laughed when I told him that I’d been accused of that many times before
in my life! He said now you are among the few who can actually say you
were brain-dead and lived to tell about it!
It’s actually so incredible that I am in shock just thinking about it
again! He kept me in hospital until Tuesday of this week to make sure
that my blood pressure was under control and that all aspects of the
surgery were successful. Most patients of this surgery are sent home
after 48 hours but I guess with my other complications I got special
treatment! I said to him that I had no objections to being kept as long
as he felt necessary since I had no Doctors or nurses at home to help
if the new artery blew a seal whereas in Guelph General I did! Carole
and Adam picked me up at 3pm on Tuesday and by the time we went to the
pharmacy on the way home to pick up my new drugs it was 6pm when we
arrived here at the house. My neck has been aching from the strain of
holding my head hard to the right while the surgery took place. The
actual surgical site and side of the neck is still numb. Since being
able to rest my head on my pillow for a couple of days and nights I’m
feeling much better. Also with the very kind and loving attention of my
amazing wife and “home” nurse “Carole”, I’m doing just great! I’m also
being well attended to by Adam who has been just terrific through all
of this and promises to be by our sides until this incredible ride is
over and I’m back to as close to normal as I’ve ever claimed to be!
Hahahahaaaa….
I Love both members of our little family very much and can never repay them for their love and kindness!
I’d also like to say how much we have appreciated the kind thoughts
expressed by all who have called and written to wish me well and to
give Carole and Adam moral support! Your kindness will not be
forgotten! Thanks for all the prayers and kind thoughts. I’ll need them
again in a couple of weeks!
That’s about it for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report!
Bye for now… Greg
PS: Something To Think About>
If you’re looking for some interesting reading, go on your computer and look up “endarterectomy”!
****
Have a good one..
the doug
The Fine Print!
The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.
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