And Now for Some GOOD NEWS!!!

As has been noted, Dad has been feeling improved since receiving new pacemaker with the defibrillator and third lead to the left ventricle. He saw Dr. Musselman, his cardiologist last week who thought it was time to do another Transesophageal Echocardiogram and take a look at how the heart is performing.

Remember that the TEE is a test where a sensor is inserted down the esophagus where it can get super close to the bottom of the heart and get a much better image of how the heart is functioning. It was the TEE exam in early February that showed the severe leakage in the mitral valve that was to be surgically repaired.

It was a foggy early morning in Dallas today as we drove through the grey darkness to the hospital. Walnut Hill Medical is a brand new, tiny, private hospital adjacent to the Texas Healthcare Presbyterian Hospital (yeah, the one famous for Ebola.) Dad barely had time to complain about the wait before they came to take him away and the test was over quickly.

The results were much improved today. The leakage was less severe, mitigated by the stronger impulses generated by the new lead from the pacemaker. One of the acute symptoms Dad was feeling when all this started was waking up at night in a panic caused by the poor blood flow and resulting loss of oxygen. He has been sleeping through the night since coming home from the hospital.

Dr. Huang, who is the TEE specialist and who performed the earlier test said the improvement was significant. and in her judgment put the need for mitral valve surgery in question. If Dad is feeling better, is the major surgery worth the risk and hardship at his age?

Dad will meet with Dr. Musselman in the coming weeks and they will make the final decision. But for now Dad just intends to party on!