In June 2003, my beautiful wife began experiencing severe chest pains. Jayebird was rushed to the old Mercy Hospital in Durango where it was revealed that her aortic valve was failing. In a few hours, she was transported by fixed-wing aircraft to Albuquerque.
Time was of the essence!
Jayebird was taken to the Heart Hospital of New Mexico, one of the finest heart surgery facilities in the Southwest. We were ensconced in a room with a view of the city and the distant purple mountains. While the nurses settled my wife in I gazed out the large window and recalled the two of us meeting in Old Town Albuquerque in late 1972. And then on January 28 we were married in Roosevelt park. As I reminisced, tears began to flow. Could I actually lose the love of my life in this building here in the city where we met?
I snapped out of it, and redirected my thoughts to more pertinent matters.
Luckily I was able to stay in the room and keep an eye on the Bird. I slept on a comfortable foldout chair, and, to my surprise, the food was actually quite good. The nurses and entire staff were a merry band of professionals and treated my wife like royalty. They all went on-and-on about the incredibly talented surgeon who would be operating, which put my mind at ease. Then they insisted that the whole thing was gonna to be a piece of cake. (I almost believed them.)
And then the much acclaimed surgeon, Dr. Kevin Richardson, appeared out of nowhere to examine Jayebird. He was a tall, handsome man with a winning smile and a calm demeanor. He described the aortic mechanical valve replacement surgery to us in reassuring terms that instilled great confidence.
My only concern was that he seemed so damn young. But they had told us he was a phenom starting college at an early age and then sailing through medical school and his residency. He answered all our questions and told us cheerfully that he’d see us in the morning.
She was cleared for take off.
Early the next morning Jayebird, who had been fasting, was prepped and ready to go. Dr. Richardson had given me permission to accompany the morning procession down to the operating room – so off we went. When we finally entered the OR area the first thing to hit me was the frigid air. I mean downright cold! Jaye and I peeked over our masks and said farewell with our eyes. I turned and headed back up to the ground floor and the cafeteria where I held a three hour vigil over breakfast and a bottomless mug of coffee.
The operation was a complete success – only one catch: Jayebird was required to take the blood thinner Warfarin for the rest of her life! (And to think we have to test her blood level every Saturday morning.)
Finally Jayebird was carted back up to our room. Now it was recovery time. Peace and quiet were the order of the day. My wife slept as a concert harpist from the New Mexico Philharmonic was making the rounds out in the hall. When Jaye awoke she heard the beautiful harp music and thought she had died and gone to heaven – until she saw me sitting there grinning at her. Heaven? I don’t think so.
A few days later the harpist was playing right outside our room when we heard what sounded like a shotgun blast. Every heart patient on the floor jumped and the harpist yelped; she had broken one of the bass strings. Incredible but true . . .
One of the special treats were the therapy dogs that made the rounds spreading good cheer – especially the big Standard Poodle. We had a few visitors including my late friend, Mark, and his niece, Farrah Forke who played the helicopter pilot on the popular NBC sitcom Wings. All things considered, Jaye had a good recovery. I think we spent five days there, but I’m not sure.
One thing I am sure of: Dr. Richardson was truly a brilliant, young surgeon.
And 21 years later he is at the top of his game and still at Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center!
DC has been a frustrated musician for over fifty years, and now has decided to become a frustrated writer. Learn more at DCDuncan.com. He’ll keep you posted.