May 30, 2026

So pleased to know that all went well this morning.  We are fortunate to be so close to the Ottawa Heart Institute, the finest one in all of North America. Over the years you have been through far too much. Certainly, now you can enjoy life with limitations and forget about the rest of this ever changing world.

Graham has to have his Pacemaker and Defibrillator changed this Summer, as it is 10 years since he had the massive heart attack aged 41. At the time he was still a part-time working Fireman at the airport between Calgary and Banff; 5 Days beforehand, he went through the 3 monthly check-up as required for all active fire personnel, no problems at all and was told he was in better health than the younger people. It was a "day off" so he puttered around at home, by the afternoon he felt tired, when supper time came around he told Ana he was not very hungry; 15 minutes later he called out to her "Call the ambulance I'm having a heart attack".

Thankfully the Surgeon had been trained by the well known Ottawa Heart Surgeon. It was discovered that it followed through his Father's family for several generations. Ian, Nicole and 9 year old Alex had just arrived in San Francisco from Australia as Ian was the Key-note speaker at a large Biologist Conference and were to spend Christmas with her Family in Edmonton before returning to Australia.

Once Graham was out of hospital I joined them all for a week! One evening Graham and Ana told us that they decided together they did not want to pass this heart problem to another generation. I remember we were all in tears. Graham had completely gutted a 40 year old house and rebuilt it by himself as their Family home. The only part that was not finished was the lower level bathroom; in that one week he instructed Ian exactly what to accomplish while he sat on a chair watching every single item, plumbing, electronics, finishing the floor and hanging a door.

As Graham said "Older brother did an excellent job and I didn't have to pay him!" A year later they sold that house, making an excellent profit.

Post Scriptum:

Quite the picture, but I did not like the feel of Graham's left shoulder, a large lump about 3 inches across, thankfully the new one will be less than half that size.

He has been told after the next ten years he will probably be given a new heart!

A few weeks ago I read that a little girl aged 2 or 3 was given a new heart and now she is 4 she is able to associate with other 4 year old's extremely well.