Bad things do happen to good people. :<{

[Frank Hagan]

Here's the promised update on Jan's condition:

Short version:

The cardiologist believes her condition is congenital, rather than part of a disease process, and all we have to do is monitor it through yearly "stress echocardiogram" tests. She should be around to outlive me, which is the natural order of things, after all.

Long version:

Jan has pulmonary hypertension (PH), which usually carries with it a median life expectancy of 2.8 years after diagnosis.

There are two types of PH that are disease conditions, primary PH and secondary PH. Secondary PH is caused by some other disease, such as sclerderma, trauma from drugs such as phen-fin, etc. Primary PH has no known cause, but may be genetic. There are only 300 cases diagnosed each year, making it a "one in a million" type of thing. That "median life expectancy" number is almost worthless; usually PH is not diagnosed until the disease is well advanced, and a number of drugs are working wonders with people who have the disease (they are still expensive, administered by an injection pump you wear on your belt, and have some nasty side effects for some people). But there are people who have lived 12 to 13 years, and are in better health today than they were when diagnosed.

So you can see why we were worried. In some cases, the PH is simply the way that person is built, and it never progresses. The doctor thinks that is the way it is for Jan. If so, that's a very good thing. If not, she'll have some progression in the disease in the next year, and we will at least know we caught it early. Another good thing.

Thank you all for your kind words, and the phone calls I got from some of you. I do appreciate it.

[Craig]

That is good news Frank. Thanks for the update. We are very glad this is looking better. Saralee is having her final preop with the Dr today and surgery tomorrow afternoon.

[Frank Hagan]

Craig, you guys will be in our thoughts and prayers as well. Best of luck with the surgery tomorrow, and let us know how it turns out.

[Craig]

Rog Frank. I will be staying in her room after the surgery so will let you all know how things go on Friday. The coach is about 20 or so miles from the hospital.

[Guest]

Waiting with my fingers cross for some updates!!

[Craig]

Many thanks to all of you for your good wishes and prayers for Saralee

[Frank Hagan]

Great news, Craig! Here's to a speedy recovery.

[Bud_Wilson]

Great news, Craig This calls for a grog of 95.5 Pussers to a speedy recovery. Y'ALL COME Cap'N Bud.

[Steve Day]

Craig,

That is indeed great news! May her recovery be swift and sure.

We are looking forward to being down there in your area this summer and meeting up with you folks.

Steve