On the mend

Since retiring to the beautiful northern Black Hills region of South Dakota, we’ve become acquainted with many other retirees. Among these new-found friends are Roger and Fran Whorton, who grew up near Waterloo, Iowa, and were wed in 1966.

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Roger served a stint in the Marine Corps and ended up as a career officer in the U.S. Coast Guard as a pilot. He served in a variety of interesting assignments, including one as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Air Station at Barber's Point in Hawaii. They have three grown children. Roger retired as a Captain in 2002, and he and Fran moved to Spearfish.

In the few years that we’ve known them, the Whortons have had their world altered considerably, due to a life-changing health condition. Roger has reflected upon their experience, and he's been kind enough share it with the Black Hills Journal. That's Roger pictured above -- on the mend -- and showing a renewed appreciation for health. He cites the role that stress can play in recovery, or lack thereof, especially when induced by burgeoning costs for major surgery.

In the final of three installments, Roger Whorton pens another episode of...

A HEART'S STORY

(Part 3)

by Roger Whorton

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Home is the place to recover. Hospitals do a great job at taking patients through the critical times, when you are helpless and need treatment. But danger lurks in the form of hospital infections and illnesses, especially after an operation. If I knew then what I know now about hospital infections! (Read more...)

The guys in the black tee shirts

Since retiring to the beautiful northern Black Hills region of South Dakota, we’ve become acquainted with many other retirees. Among these new-found friends are Roger and Fran Whorton, who grew up near Waterloo, Iowa, and were wed in 1966.

-

Roger served a stint in the Marine Corps and ended up as a career officer in the U.S. Coast Guard as a pilot. He served in a variety of interesting assignments, including one as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Air Station at Barber's Point in Hawaii. They have three grown children. Roger retired as a Captain in 2002, and he and Fran moved to Spearfish.

In the few years that we’ve known them, the Whortons have had their world altered considerably, due to a life-changing health condition. Roger has reflected upon their experience, and he's been kind enough share it with the Black Hills Journal. That's Roger at left, a scooper of snow and seemingly fit as a fiddle. As we learned in the last installment of his story, Roger had done all the "right" things -- from a healthy diet to regular and frequent strenuous exercise. So, what happened?

In the second of three installments over the next few weeks, Roger Whorton writes - - -

A HEART'S STORY

(Part 2)

by Roger Whorton

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The doctors said I needed quadruple bypass surgery, and it was scheduled for ten days later, on Monday, May 12th.. My wife and I arrived very early in the morning. I remember very little of the day. After briefly talking with some administrative people, I was gowned and an IV was started. I met the anesthesiologist briefly, and had a short conversation with him. Someone was shaving my arms and legs, and then I was out—really out.

The next thing I foggily recall was that it was about 0330 the next morning and I was with two guys in black tee shirts. (Read more...)

All is well with the world

Since retiring to the beautiful northern Black Hills region of South Dakota, we’ve become acquainted with many other retirees. Among these new-found friends are Roger and Fran Whorton, who grew up near Waterloo, Iowa, and were wed in 1966.

-

Roger served a stint in the Marine Corps and ended up as a career officer in the U.S. Coast Guard as a pilot. He served in a variety of interesting assignments, including one as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Air Station at Barber's Point in Hawaii. They have three grown children. Roger retired as a Captain in 2002, and he and Fran moved to Spearfish.

In the few years that we’ve known them, the Whortons have had their world altered considerably, due to a life-changing health condition. Roger has reflected upon their experience, and he's been kind enough share it with the Black Hills Journal. That's Fran and Roger in the photo, enjoying their grandchildren before learning about Roger's condition.

In the first of three installments over the next few weeks, Roger Whorton writes...

A HEART'S STORY

(Part 1)

by Roger Whorton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mid-April of this year, 2008, I appeared to be a picture of health at 61 years old. Trim and active, I had never smoked, carefully watched my diet, and had exercised all my life. A month later, I had open-heart surgery and a quadruple Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).

How did things change so rapidly? (Read more...)