We have discovered we will be able to salvage at least some of our summer. The Mayo trip went as well as good be expected. There was lots of testing, lots of doctors, and lots of waiting. At the end of the 2 days, Kevin was set up for a Transcather Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) to replace his faulty aortic valve with an animal valve. It should be good for 10 years or so, and then they can add a new one with the same approach. The really good news was that his heart is actually remarkably healthy for someone with his degree of aortic stenosis! We did catch it in time. So in two weeks we will be in Rochester for his surgery. I went ahead and made reservations in a hotel for 3 nights, since that is the worst case they contemplated. If he has zero complications, he might be released the same day. If they just want to do additional monitoring, it will be one night, but if they have to put in a pacemaker (15% chance), it will be two nights. No matter what we need to stay within 100 miles of Mayo for 24 hours after surgery, so we will just relax in a nice hotel room. My news was also good. My bone density is strong (as expected), and the surgeon said she thought any additional surgery would not be helpful. That’s what I had read too, but it was nice to have it confirmed.
I do want to talk about the entire “Mayo Clinic Experience” though. It is really a production! First, the entire Rochester downtown surrounding the main clinics is under construction. We very intelligently chose to use valet parking which only costs $7 more than the parking garage costs. Best decision ever! Monday’s first appointment was a 7:00 am and we stayed until almost 5:00. There would be an appointment for something, then an hour or two wait, then another appointment, then some more wait, repeat. All but one of the appointments our first day was in either the Mayo Building or the Gonda Building, both huge modern high rises connected to each other. Easy to navigation, and there are people to help you find you way. The only thing that was complicated was finding the main cafe (first floor) and the multitude of other eating establishments in the “subway.” This is just a set of walking tunnels connecting all the main buildings in the downtown area. They had a Bruegger’s Bagel, so we split a bagel sandwich a couple of times. I LOVE Bruegger’s Bagel – real boiled and baked bagels, not those sweet silly not-boiled things you get at Einstein’s or Panera’s. The last appointments on Tuesday were at St. Mary’s Hospital campus a few blocks away from the downtown area. It seemed further because of all the construction detours! But St. Mary’s is where the heart surgeons stay and where Kevin will have his surgery. We have already had the patient education too, so pretty prepared. He will need to have an echocardiogram 30 days or so after his surgery, and then he is discharged either to an Iowa cardiologist or the Mayo valve clinic. He hasn’t decided which.
Right after that echo we are headed to west central Wisconsin for a ukulele festival and a bunch of RZR riding! We will wander around Minnesota and Wisconsin until we need to head to Red Bay, AL for some work on the rig. It will probably be the last time to Red Bay. It wasn’t dreadfully out of the way coming back from Arizona in the winter, but I think we will start using Redland RV in California. It is closer to where we travel.
And Kevin got his long-anticipated 4 color 3D printer! He is in love. This picture is o his first “Benchie,” the standard initial 3D print that all printers have set up. Ignore the weird colors. Those are just the sample filament that came with the printer.
The new printer prints so much faster than his old one, even if it is just printing one color. The advantage of the new drying cabinet for the filament is that he no longer gets filament breaks even on long prints. Being in an Iowa basement has a tendency to get the moisture too high, even though he runs a dehumidifier right outside the printer room. He has already made a number of useful things including an adjustable table-top music stand holder for me and some just miscellaneous storage things. He is currently printing a movable dragon for our youngest granddaughter!
Probably not much more to say until we get back from Rochester.