« Conflict Creates Progress–Don’t Let the Unpleasant Get in the Way of “Better”
See Dana Run! A Newbie Half-Marathoner with a Mission »

Happy Birthday Milton! A Miracle of Modern Medicine

By Linda | July 1, 2013

My father turned 85 years old today.  This past weekend I went to Miami to see how he was doing just days after his being released from the hospital for another “tune up.”  He was having trouble breathing for weeks.  It sounded like fluid overload and heart failure.  Finally he gave in and when he really couldn’t breathe he ended up in emergency for admission.

Milton has had a “heart condition” for the last 35 years.  I remember when he had his first by-pass, and the doctors told us he didn’t have many years left.  And it was about 10 years later when he received one of the first implantable defibrillators–and again we were given a guarded prognosis.  At least four time since then, three in the past year, that defibrillator has saved his life.

Then there were more grafts and some stents, when, I cannot recall.  “His heart is failing,” I was told 10 years ago. I have lost track of the number of times he was rushed to the Aventura hospital for his heart.  Every time we worry; every time he has walked out on his own two feet.

When I saw him this past Saturday morning I was unprepared for this now thin again grey haired man who walked without difficulty.  Could that really be so much energy in his step?  He told me they took really good care of him in the hospital.  He loved the doctors.  He loved the hospital.  He obviously loves being well again.

We ate lunch, shopped for some birthday clothing, and went out to dinner (that is my younger brother on the left).  Next morning we went food shopping to replenish his fridge with “heart friendly” food.  It had slipped him mind that he was to be on a low sodium diet.  The low sugar diet had taken over all his attention, so this time the salt got him.  It’s not so easy keeping track when you are 85.

And the hospital discharge papers were no help to me, and even less to him.  Over 10 pages of information that was frankly irrelevant.  I couldn’t figure out why he was on which medications, e.g. he had an antibiotic, but had no infection, he was on reflux medications but no reflux symptoms or risk factors.  He had 4 pages devoted to anti-coagulation and stroke, neither of which pertained to him.  And the checklist of his “discharge education” didn’t jive with what he knew about what had happened and what he had to do to make sure it didn’t happen again.  Too much information, too little communication.

I spoke to his primary doctor today. He will see him tomorrow and get him back on track…..and maybe some dietary counseling, too.

But in the end, he is here at 85, still enjoying his life and dealing with his health.  Never thought we would see this day, but awfully glad that we did.  Happy Birthday, Milton!

Photo:  Larry Brodsky, Milton Brodsky and Linda Brodsky June 29, 2013

This entry was posted in My Family/My DNA, Telling Stories and tagged Happy birthday, heart disease, parents. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
« Conflict Creates Progress–Don’t Let the Unpleasant Get in the Way of “Better”
See Dana Run! A Newbie Half-Marathoner with a Mission »

6 Comments

  1. The WP
    Posted July 1, 2013 at 8:35 pm | Permalink

    A happy birthday to your dad! And may there be many more happy, healthy, and joyous returns of the day!

  2. Linda
    Posted July 2, 2013 at 4:08 am | Permalink

    Thank you!

  3. sona bonnas
    Posted July 2, 2013 at 10:18 am | Permalink

    Happy Birthday to Milton. I miss his visits here. So glad for the update and the picture. He amazes me.

  4. Linda Brodsky
    Posted July 2, 2013 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

    me, too!~

  5. Nicole Dayka
    Posted July 19, 2013 at 11:31 am | Permalink

    What a blessing your dad is for your family. Now I see where you get your positive attitude and determination from, it seems like your dad definitely uses mind over matter.

  6. Linda Brodsky
    Posted July 19, 2013 at 11:37 am | Permalink

    Yes, he does have a positive attitude and he is determined. Thanks for such an insightful remark!!!

    Linda Brodsky, MD
    Linda Brodsky Respected Pediatric Surgeon, Advocate and Mentor for the Next Generation of Women Doctors, and Founder of Women MD Resources

    Women MD Resources



  • Linda Brodsky, MD is a
    Proud Contributor of
    #1 Best Selling Book

    Get Your Woman On
    Buy Now!

  • My Website

  • Follow me on Twitter

  • Categories

    •   Accidental Crusader
    •   Adventures in Advocacy
    •   Anger Management
    • Ask Linda
    •   Flashbacks
    •   Mentorhood
    •   My Family/My DNA
    •   On the Job
    •   Telling Stories
    •   The Confessional
    • Travels with Linda
    •   Uncategorized
    •   Women at Work
    •   Worthy Causes
  • Blogroll

    • AAUW Dialog
    • About.com: Patient Empowerment
    • About.com: Women’s Issues
    • Alas, a blog
    • American Medical Women’s Association
    • Association of Women Surgeons
    • Blogging 1.0
    • Disruptive Women in Health Care
    • Down Syndrome Parent Group of WNY
    • Emergiblog
    • Gloria Feldt: Speaking Up on Women’s Lives, Health, and Media
    • Grand Rounds
    • Great Women in Science History
    • Hadassah
    • Health Beat
    • Health Care Renewal
    • Heart Sisters
    • Historiann
    • Institue for Women’s Policy Research–Fem Chat
    • Jewish Women’s Archive
    • Kevin MD
    • Moms Rising
    • Nancie Aronie
    • National Committee on Pay Equity
    • National Women’s Health Network
    • Parenting Pink
    • Play This Way
    • Talking Science
    • The Differential: MedScape Med Students
    • The Mothers Movement Online
    • The Raise Project
    • The Wall Street Journal Health Blog
    • The Wifely Person Speaks
    • The Women’s Museum
    • Thus Spake Zuska
    • WAGE–women are getting even
    • Well- The NYTimes Health Blog
    • Women’s Health News
    • Women’s Health Zone
    • Womenstake
  • Meta

    • Log in
© Linda Brodsky, 2008
Design by Channel V Media