Daryl Hatton's
Growing Pains

Coming home – selfie at VGH just after discharge… Things I’ve learned over the last three weeks: We have an amazing health system in BC. Like everything it has challenges but my results were excellent – well beyond expectations. No complaints. None. When faced with a life changing decision and little information I chose well. On Friday night July 11th I was driving back to the North Shore after starting to experience some mild chest pain. My plan was to get closer to home so it was easier on my family to help me if I had to spend the …

Here is more info we learned overnight at the Cardiac Hotel. The best laid plans for long periods of uninterrupted sleep can be easily destroyed by a tiny yellow Lasix (diuretic) pill. The more time spent preparing for comfortable long sleep (removing bandages required for walking, etc), the more urgent the situation on unexpected premature awakening. A post op man with a heavily bandaged arm trying to get out of bed in a hurry probably resembles a turtle placed on its back: lots of limb action flailing away until eventually the physics/engineering puzzle is solved and the organism finally reaches the …

Here is what was learned overnight about the breaking story at the Cardiac Hotel. A hot shower is one of the most unappreciated luxuries in our lives. My first one post op last night was an almost spiritual experience. In medicine trying to solve one problem frequently creates another. In this case the result was “thrush” which I don’t think I’ve had in 25 years. It is a strange experience to look at a damaged body part and have trouble believing it is part of you. My left hand/arm is so swollen it looks like a cheap prosthetic from a …

Here are a few numbers that describe the current situation at the Cardiac Hotel. 100% satisfaction with progress to date 6 : nurses on this floor I could fall in love with 2 : nurses I could marry 2 : nurses here I don’t like – had both of them assigned to me yesterday (just my luck or more likely just how I felt?) 7 : meds I take every day not counting stuff for specific short term issues 1 : fancy chest protector – looks like I might have separated my breast bone 8 : hours I slept first …

Photo of Get Well Card from my friends at Daisy’s Here is the breaking news on the story developing at the Cardiac Hotel Today was definitely better than yesterday(!) I’ve been disconnected from just about everything and finally have some mobility. However, my butt flapping in the breeze with these awful gowns has kept me close to my room. I’m still not in any shape for visitors and there is no room for flowers. Please donate to the little girl and Ride To Give – it will make me happy. With the helipad outside the window I feel like Radar …

This is your action news reporter Daryl (fixed heart) Hatton coming to you LIVE from the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit at Vancouver General Hospital post-op. Short report: I’m good! Next up: First results are in