Posted: 2/7/06
Looking to the future with a healthy and grateful heart
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Itís less than a week until Valentineís Day, and there are hearts everywhere.
But a heart is more than a symbol of love at Valentineís Day. It represents life itself. When the heart is in danger, life hangs in the balance.
Bob Cavanaugh of Caledonia knows what itís like to have a failing heart. And more importantly, he knows what itís like to get a new heart and another chance at life.
Bobís heart problems started when he was only 43 years old. In May of 1992, he was working in the woods when he felt a terrible pain in his chest. He went to the doctor, and discovered that he was having a heart attack. He went into surgery, and had five bypasses performed.
He eventually returned to work, and after about a month suffered congestive heart failure. Doctors gave him two to three years to live.
ìIt was quite a blow,î said Bob, whose own father died at the age of 52 when Bob was only two.
For two and a half years, Bob was on a transplant list. He gradually began feeling better, and eventually was takenoff the list. He spent the next 11 years off the list.
Bob gradually became weaker and weaker. Every winter, he would end up back in the hospital.
ìIt was life, but not quality life,î said Bob. ìI wasnít scared of dying, but I didnít want to go too soon.î
In 2005, Bobís already precarious health situation became even more serious. His liver and kidneys began to shut down. He was told that without a new heart, it was only a matter of time. He began dialysis, and spent 10 hours a day at his home on the dialysis machine.
ìAll the medications are hard on the kidneys,î Bob explained.
In May of 2005, Bob thought he was at the end of his life. But like he had done before, he pulled out of danger just in time.
On November 22, Bobís wife Vicki was cooking in preparation for Thanksgiving when she got a phone call at about 7 p.m. The Caller ID said ìUniversity of Wisconsin,î and Vicki knew before she answered what the call was about.
She reached Bob, who was in Chatfield, and started packing and calling the coupleís children, Kurt, Kevin and Kelly. They took an ambulance to La Crosse, and the Med Link helicopter then flew the couple to Madison. They arrived about 9:30 p.m.
At 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Bob was being prepared for surgery at the University Medical Center in Madison. The surgery lasted until 2 p.m.
The next day was Thanksgiving, and Bobís
birthday. He received a new kidney.
ìIt was quite a birthday present,î he said.
ìI was ready for it,î said Bob. ìIíd been around too long halfway.î
Faith heals
Although the transplant team was excellent, Bob felt that there was something extra that was helping him in his surgery and recovery.
ìYou still have to have the good old Lord behind you,î he said.
The thoughts and prayers of his family and the community also contributed to his recovery.
ìI could feel the prayers wash over me, and I would wake up refreshed,îsaid Bob.
A lot of people are to thank for making the process easier for the family to handle: Father Leif and Sister Michaeline, Vickiís employer, Gundersen-Lutheran; the ambulance crew, family and friends. Bob and Vicki are thankful for the numerous cards and the many phone calls they received. It all helps, they said.
During Bobís recovery, he and Vicki stayed at an apartment near the medical center which is owned by Gundersen-Lutheran. They had all the comforts of home, and were able to cook their meals there rather than going out to eat.
Picture of health
Since his surgery and return home, Bob has been making good progress. He has had eight biopsies, and there is no sign of rejection. He had to return to the hospital when one of his incisions came out, and he had to have a hernia repaired, but other than that his recovery is going as planned. Gradually, his visits to Madison will be reduced from every two weeks to every month. Bob takes 45 pills a day to keep his body from rejecting the organs, which came from the same donor. Having a single donor for both organs is an advantage, said Bob.
The identity of the donor is not known to the Cavanaughs and may not ever be known. The Cavanaughs will write a letter to the family of the donor, which will be reviewed by the medical center before being passed along to the family.
ìYou have to give them time,î said Vicki.
Bob doesnít know anything about the donor, but said he has the feeling that this person had many organs harvested. He imagines it would be hard on a family to hear from multiple recipients at once. If the donorís family ever wants to contact him, he will be eager to talk to them. The decision to donate a loved oneís organs is a hard one if itís not arranged beforehand, he said.
Looking towards the future
Today, Bob and VIcki can do something they havenít been able to do for a long timeóplan for the future. ìWeíre going to do some traveling, probably a couple times a year. Weíre going to do some stuff we like,î said Bob.
Unlike the dialysis machine, medicines are portable. He no longer has the frustration of having to have someone else do everything for him. Family support is still important, said Bob, but heís not helpless as he was before. And he has more energy to play with his five grandchildren.
Vicki is happy that they are no longer living under a dark cloud, and instead of living one day at a time, they can start making plans.
And this year, when Valentines Day arrives, their hearts will really be in it.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com