Bill MacKenzie

[MDixon]

Many of you know Bill. I received a note tonight inviting me to a webpage for a hospital site. Here is the note from the site:
- -

Bill will be having heart surgery on Monday morning. He reported to the hospital on Wednesday morning for a stress test and has been High Point Regional Hospitals guest ever since. What they saw concerned them enough to keep him. He will have 4 vessels replaced and a valve. The valve would have had to be replaced in about 3 years anyway, so it was decided to do it now while they were in the chest. Recovery will not be affected with the valve replacement, just time will be added to the surgery.

He will be taken down about 6 am tomorrow morning. The surgery should last about 5 hours. Sandra and I will be at the hospital and Bruce who is visiting Charlottesville on business will come down on Tuesday. He will be in SICU for at least 24 hours then be moved to a room in the Cardiac wing of the hospital. There will be no phone in his room and they discourage visitors. This web page will be the best way to learn of his progress. I will keep it updated as I get new information.

Keep Pop in your prayers and thoughts!! We all appreciate it.

As they post more information I will try to keep this thread updated, here is the Hospital Contact Information.
High Point Regional Hospital
601 North Elm Street
High Point, NC 27262-4398
United States
336-878-6000
http://www.highpointregional.com

[DBuns]

Thanks, Mike!  For those newer members who may not know Bill, he was pretty much the "CARBOY Patriarch" and a great guy.  He's given a lot to get the club to the place we are.

Raise a glass to him today, if you get a chance!

[Mark G]

Sounds like a great reason to break my "no beer during the work week", double fisted in fact.

Mark

[MDixon]

2 April 28, 2008 at 06:12 PM EDT
The surgery went very well! Dad was stable during the whole procedure! No transfusion was needed, lungs and kidneys functioned well !!

They replaced 3 arteries on the heart, the right cardiac was totally blocked and there was evidence of a previous heart attack. The scar tissue was insignificant according to the Doctor but present. They used a vein from his leg and the mammary artery in the chest. Using this artery makes the surgery easier and much shorter. The aortic valve was replaced with a calf valve so we are expecting an occasional moo when all is said and done. :-)
The surgery took between 5 and 6 hours.
The folks in the ICU were wonderful! Pop has his own special nurse tonight, Sherry will be taking care of him, weaning him off of his anesthetic and O2. The goal being to wake him and get him off the respirator ASAP. They are expecting him to walk to his room tomorrow morning, and I'll be there with camera flashing! Document, document document!! He will be very interested in the picture of all the equipment he was attached to!
The family support at High Point Regional was fabulous! We got constant updates.

Personally I cannot stand to see anyone on a respirator, but there is a picture. I'll post the link instead of the picture, his color looks good IMO.
http://www.carepages.com/usr/G74518/P1455881_FS.jpg

[jimn]

Thanks for the info.

Is Bill's Carepage open for viewing?

[jimn]

P.S. My dad have very similar surgery two years ago, he's doing well. They are good at those open heart surgeries these days.

[MDixon]

Is Bill's Carepage open for viewing?

I don't know, you could try
http://www.carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=dedpetvet&uniq=307281&ipc=patientupdatebrand

[MDixon]

April 29, 2008 at 09:20 AM EDT
AM update!

Sandra visited this am at 6. The respirator was out and he was fully awake. They may have to put it back in, as he is talking way too much!! Bribing the nurses for more water!!
More later............

[DBuns]

Anyway to send Bill a card?

[MDixon]

Probably could call the hospital to find out the room number or where to send one...

[jimn]

I don't know, you could try
http://www.carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=dedpetvet&uniq=307281&ipc=patientupdatebrand

It is open if you are registered on CarePages.com. I think most folks leave it Public since it's a way friends and family can communicate to the patient (and patient's family).

[jimn]

I put this on his message board. Anyone can sign up and add to it if you're interested.

---
Hey Bill,

All of your CARBOY friends want to say hi and that we're thinking about you. We're drinking a cold one (or two) for you.
---

[MDixon]

April 29, 2008 at 09:18 PM EDT
PM DAY 1

Well, the old Dude is feeling just like he is an old Dude! Sore and a bit of pain, it's been a bit over 24 hours now. He feels much better sitting in his chair than laying in the bed so he's been up most of the day. His new best friend is the heart pillow!
His recovery so far has made the DR happy, he's doing great, but great still means a few more days in the hospital then at least a week in assisted living.
They had him up walking twice today, and that tuckered him out! But he was able to walk a good distance considering it was only 15 hours after surgery.
He is not sleeping much and is really tired, but then again who ever sleeps in a hospital. Between all the nurses, old and new visiting, poking, prodding, bleeding, temp taking and cleaning there isn't much sleep time allotted! He's been kept company most of the day too starting at about 6:30 with Sandra, Sharon from about 10 am until 2:30. Bruce arrived right after the big move from SICU to his room, Michelle after work and Bruce and Sandra again this evening. He really needs to rest but he's afraid he's going to miss something! And I guess we all think we're helping....... We do hope he gets a good sleep tonight!
The throat is a bit sore so it's a soft food diet for a while. His voice is very raspy, but with time and no talking that too should go away
Pop says HI to everyone and is anxious to read all the comments! Keep them coming!

I wonder if Bill needs more armbands :?:

[MDixon]

May 02, 2008 at 03:28 PM EDT
Day 3 and 4 were tough, the tubes were still in and hurting. Pop started walking and made his first lap, the more laps the sooner he goes home.

By the end of day 3 all the tubes were out. More to come later, have to leave the room Pop will be coming to on Sat May 3!

[MDixon]

May 03, 2008 at 09:26 PM EDT
Hard to believe Pop had his chest cut open on Monday!! He left the hospital today in the morning. He walked to the ambulance, the kids were busy, then walked to his temporary room....... couldn't even talk when he got there... the walked down to lunch, was escorted back to his room by a friend in a motorized chair just incase he couldn't make it........ he made it so he didn't get a ride!
He also made a trip to see Mom, but at least he was pushed in a wheelchair.
He got his first shower and feels like a new man.
Bet he sleeps well with all that activity today!!
he's already bored....... pity..... told him it was OK to be bored for a week or so!!

he's getting sick of the kids riding his backside about being careful, at least the nurses are on the KIDS SIDE! :-)