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Stay on the Sunnyside of Life

After complaining of chest pains while riding his bike home from work (which he's done rain or shine 10 miles a day, for 31 years), Claude went to the ER at Sunnyside hospital. Diagnosis? Turned out he'd had a mild heart attack (but very little damage to his heart, which is great!), but would need quadruple open heart bypass surgery - which shocked us. After 10 days in the hospital, he's now recovering at home. Thank goodness it didn't happen the previous week when we were diving up in the middle of nowhere, Vancouver Island, BC. And of course the whole event wound up being a mini-family-reunion! :)
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I ran into Mark Smith at the hospital (turns out he works there!), a scubadiving friend we hadn't seen in years - he sends his best to Claude.
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I ran into Mark Smith at the hospital (turns out he works there!), a scubadiving friend we hadn't seen in years - he sends his best to Claude.

  • Waiting for the cardiac rehab initial assessment. 5 weeks post op. After his initial assessment, they were blown away by how 'in shape' he was for only 5 weeks after surgery. Chalk it up to all the walking we've been doing daily since day one, rain or shine!
  • Here's the front desk of the cardiac rehab facility. The patients hook up to EKG leads prior to exercising. Each one is transmitted wirelessly, and the staff monitors them simultaneously on that computer monitor you can see near the right edge of the photo. To the left around the corner are more exercise machines, and a classroom where the education portion takes place. It's a three day a week program, and will continue for 3 months.
  • Haha, cutie! You can see the wireless antennae poking down through the ceiling behind Claude. The EKG transmitters fit into his shirt pocket. After exercise, nobody can leave until their heart rate and blood pressure goes down to normal ranges. They're closely monitored and supervised. It's a GREAT program and comes highly recommended.
  • Before surgery, waiting.
  • Chris wrote this on the whiteboard in his room
  • Abagael is just along for the ride.
  • Mike Dobbs from HP brings well wishes from Claude's co-workers
  • The mech team signs a large poster of get-well wishes
  • More get-well wishes!
  • Carson and Jacob send a message to Poppa in the hospital
  • Great Grandma Nichols hold Abagael
  • Hanging out before surgery, visiting with his parents
  • I ran into Mark Smith at the hospital (turns out he works there!), a scubadiving friend we hadn't seen in years - he sends his best to Claude.
  • Cheerful flower arrangement that son Jon created.
  • Morgan and Chris (from Boise), Great Grandma Nichols holding Abagael, Claude (still with his cargo shorts on, before surgery!), and Great Grandpa Nichols.
  • When the nurse comes to draw blood, Great Grandpa and Chris make a beeline for the hallway outside Claude's room!
  • Abagael loves holding her head in her hands!
  • The gnome stops by after surgery to check on things and keep Claude company and let him know everything is 'normal'. (as 'normal' as gnomes are, anyway)
  • Heading off for some test or another. Look! He has a non-rebreather mask on - the kind we use in our dive rescue training! :)
  • On one of his walks around the ward with Aimee and granddaughter Lucie.
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