Bucks
Peaches Meredith Pacemaker Part II
Dear Friends,
Good morning. “Listen to your body,” Mighty Betsy Meredith always says, “and listen to your medical advisors too.”
That certainly turned out to be the case on Mother’s Day weekend. As many of you know, MB and I are members of the Philadelphia Singers Chorale, the resident chorus of the Philadelphia Orchestra. We were rehearsing the Bruckner Mass in E in Philadelphia on that Friday. Half way through the rehearsal, she felt faint and her heart was racing.
Fortunately, the University of Pennsylvania health system was less than a mile away so up to Penn’s emergency entrance we sped. A few days later, MB became the Energizer Pink Bunny again, thanks to the installation of a pacemaker.
Let me set the stage and remind you faithful readers how important it is to be keenly aware of your body…and do what your medical team advises.
About two years ago, MB began to experience occasional rapid heart beats. There was never any pain associated with them but it was disconcerting. Once, we were hosting a reception at our home and the symptoms began again. I rushed her to St. Luke’s Quakertown and let the guests fend for themselves…which they did admirably.
The symptoms promptly disappeared and she was released the next day. One of our guests was Walter Buckley who suggested that we visit his cardiologist, Dr. Samuel Gambier at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, which we promptly did.
His diagnosis was correct. MB’s electrical system, which regulates her heart, was not behaving properly because her heart unexpectedly goes into fibrillation. The top half of her heart begins to quiver, which causes the bottom half to pump irregularly. He also warned her that when she experienced these symptoms, to go immediately to the nearest hospital for help. His worry was that her blood could pool and send a clot to the brain resulting in a stroke.
On May 2, it happened again and another trip to St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital. The staff couldn’t have been more thorough. She spent the night at the hospital; the symptoms stopped and Dr. Erin Fly put MB on cumodin (sp?). Everything seemed fine.
One week later, the symptoms began again. But this time, they didn’t let up. Fortunately we were within shouting distance of my alma mater and up to Penn we rushed. About 20 years ago, Penn merged Presbyterian Hospital at 38th and Market into its system.
Today, all of Penn’s heart patients are treated at Presbyterian, each with a single room. The hospital is absolutely spotless; floors gleam. I was impressed that a hospital in an urban setting could be so clean. The employees obviously care a great deal.
I was also impressed with the speed that the emergency technicians administered to MB. Within minutes, she was wired and plumed with physicians and nurses rushing to administer to her every need. MB was admitted on the spot.
On Saturday and Sunday, she went through a battery of tests to determine what was the best course of action. Dr. John Bullinga, an electrical physiologist, told her that a pacemaker was the answer and he would operate the very following day.
I noticed his height and suggested that he take up sculling. He lives only a few blocks from Boathouse Row. He told me he’d consider my offer. So did Erin Lauer, a tall lanky good-looking Registered Nurse who was part of the staff.
As many of you know, I constantly recruit rowers…especially good-looking women. Over the years, I’ve introduced rowing to about 15 beautiful females. The University Barge Club affectionately refers to them as “Charlie’s Angels.” I couldn’t resist asking Betsy Benedik, a nurse practitioner, if she’d be willing to try? We’ll see.
Over that weekend, one of Dr. Bullinga’s residents kept checking on MB. Very tall and good-looking with long eyelashes plus a ready smile, he might have been part of the cause of MB’s rapid heartbeat. He’d make an excellent rower too.
But I stray.
On Monday, May 4, Dr. Bullinga successfully installed the pacemaker. And just 24 hours later, I took her home. She was not allowed to drive for two weeks and could not play sports or do anything violent until July. That’s good news for me because I no longer fear physical abuse…at least for a while.
I want to thank the following who took such good care of MB and many others whom I did not meet. Everywhere I turned, there were people insuring that the entire hospital was neat as a pin.
Dr. Robert Katz was on duty when she was admitted. He practices with Dr. Kelly Spratt, the very attractive cardiologist who takes care of me too. I enjoyed Kelly’s quip when I asked her about the identity of the sculptures of five physicians on the front lawn? Life sized, they are consulting with each other. Kelly didn’t know whom they represented but was miffed that none of the five was a woman.
Kelly told me that she’s leaving money in her will to add a female sculpture to the mix. I like Kelly’s moxie. She’s exactly like all the women who’ve influenced me along life’s way…MB, my mother, mother in law, daughters, friends, singers, rowers, journalists, associates…you get the picture.
Anyway, it turned out that Dr. Katz knows Dr. Richard Edie who did my bypass surgery at Penn 28 years ago. It was Dr. Edie who advised me that daily exercise would keep me on this side of the grass. I turned to rowing on the Schuylkill River when swimming at the YMCA’s pool failed to give me artistic inspiration.
Returning to Penn at Presbyterian, one of the excellent R.N.’s was Becky Acker. She’s a harpist as well. Monica Queen is an R.N. whom we met on MB’s last day. She was kind and attentive. Firial Aberra is a social worker with a winning smile…very efficient and helpful too.
One of the nurse’s aids is Larry Dang who left South Vietnam 23 years ago. Dang was a nurse in the Vietnamese Air Force before the civil war ended. I was amazed at his excellent English. He speaks three languages.
“Even the food was good,” MB added. “The people are so friendly.”
The only difference I noted between the cleanliness of St. Luke’s Quakertown, Grandview Hospital and Penn at Presbyterian was distance (one hour’s drive) and parking fees. Around these parts, there’s no charge.
MB’s first jobs after college were at the hospitals at Columbia Presbyterian in Manhattan and Penn. She’s a great believer in going to teaching hospitals. Penn has saved her life often…it did again, 24 hours after Mother’s Day.
I’m delighted to report that the “Pink Bunny” continues to march along. I hope this story will remind you to do as MB advises: “Listen to your body, and pay attention to your physicians.”
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith