Meet My Dad!!

My dad, John Newton Ryland, III, (or Jack) is quite an amazing man. He and my mom Darlene have been married 54 years and live in Danville, Virginia. He is affectionately know as "Peepaw" to his three grandchildren Catharine, Emily and Jacob and "Pops", "Peeps" and "Daddy" to his four children: Jack IV, Dave, Suzanne and Kathleen. He is Uncle Jack to his nieces and nephews who are very near and dear to his heart. My dad has a great sense of humor and very quick-witted. He can also be a stubborn, strong-willed individual and needless to say is determined to recover quickly so he can return home. He is a Virginia Tech Hokie fan and is looking forward to football season! Since he missed his beach trip in July, my dad is also looking forward to some R & R at Emerald Isle in late September...maybe a birthday trip for both he and my mom!!

My dad is here at Duke because of Aortic Stenosis. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the valve. When this happens, the heart has to push harder to get blood through the smaller opening and less blood circulates through the heart and to the rest of the body. In older patients, aortic stenosis may be caused by calcium that builds up on the valve. This buildup also hardens the valve, which can hinder its ability to open and close properly.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

From Track Star to Race Car Driver

Today has been wonderful!! We got to the hospital and found Catharine and Tommy there and my dad full of smiles and laughter.  Catharine made my dad  a "Build a Bear" named Bessy (good 'ole cow name no less) dressed in scrubs with a working, beating heart.  Tommy whispered something to him about watch where they pinch you and made my dad laugh so hard he had to hug that heart pillow.  Some sort of male bonding occurring there I suppose!!   It is so good to see him working slowly but steadily toward recovering.  He has walked twice so far;  once for two laps and the last trip was three laps!!  Woo hoo...Richard Petty's got nothing on my dad!  The OT (Occupational Therapist) stopped by and chatted with my dad about what he may need when he goes home.  She walked with him first and attached his "Batman Cape" (extra gown..no flashing allowed) and told Tommy to stand by his room with the lap flag.  The next "walker" Dianna, (or "Lady Di" as my dad had dubbed her) was able to get Dad to make three laps.  He did warn her that she better hang on because "natural combustion may take over and propel him forward".  She laughed and said let it fly because she was ready for some fast action.  That's the kind of day it has been!!  
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