Well I am back in action, and it was not the run-of-the-mill heart attack--I went into full cardiac arrest right here in my office, but the EMTs were already working on me and had an IV going, I was hooked up to the EKG machine, and they had the right training and equipment. I had called 911 and the response was pretty good, considering several of the people were in the same restaurant I had left earlier just as this hit me. The first one in the door, followed by the sheriff, was an EMT who is also the county coroner, so I was covered in any event. The EMTs were great, the new hospital in Durango, out in Grandview, is 15 minutes more in time from Silverton, but I had good people working on me. I had a stent put in the blocked artery and a second was attempted this past Monday, but proved to be a kink in the artery that was flowing fine but did't look good on the scans.
My room window looked out on US 160 in the not too far distance and I knew about where the narrow gauge roadbed was and marvelled a time or two thinking I had ridden those long gone rails 43 years ago on the last Rocky trip.
Out of this was the sobering news that I am the first cardiac arrest victim to survive from Silverton. The cardiac surgeon attributed it to excellent work from the EMTs and that I have a strong, healthy heart, except for the blocked artery. He said that plus me never smoking were what saved the day. He said most people don't survive cardiac arrest when it happens in the hospital--so mend your ways, cut out that excess blubber, eat healthy, and exercise--my future is being laid out for me. And, I have a lot more pictures and slides to share as time permits. Thanks for the visits, calls, and emails--I appreciate it greatly.
Fritz
