And the saga continues with a big challenge over the next few days…

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On this date in 2014, our ship was Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.

There are no words I can write to describe how safe I feel being at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, in the competent hands of professionals, none of which I’ve experienced in the past. Every doctor or technician I encounter has the utmost credentials, exhibits kind and caring service, and treats each patient individually, not just as a number and income source in the system.

Doc Theo, a family practice physician in South Africa, was the only other doctor I’ve ever seen who was so qualified, caring, and competent. I last saw him in April 2023, 16 months ago. Since that time, with escalating heart-related problems, I sought the help of a few cardiologists as we traveled from South Africa to Ecuador to Nevada.

The most accurate test results I received were in South Africa. Still, the cardiologist in Ecuador last October and then in Nevada in March misdiagnosed my issues, according to the tests and doctors I have seen at Cleveland Clinic, only in the past few days. The problems I have with my cardiovascular system are still not fully diagnosed, with many more tests on the horizon that have nothing to do with my valves.

First, I met with Dr. Grimm, a heart “plumbing” specialist. He’d ordered numerous tests, including an angiogram, yet to be scheduled, an invasive test to see the status of the patient’s veins and arteries, done in the cath lab. Yesterday, we were waiting to hear about other tests to be scheduled to complete my diagnosis. I was told to call Dr. Grimm’s office at the clinic to arrange my future appointments.

When I was on hold, the scheduler finally came to tell me my next round of appointments would begin on November 7. I was shocked! Did I not just wait four months to start this process? She explained that many others were waiting ahead of me and that she could do nothing about it.

When I explained my symptoms, leaving me in a wheelchair to get around, I kindly asked her to do better. November 7th wouldn’t work for me. I was very diplomatic. She asked me to stay on hold, and she’d see what she could do. I waited a full 20 minutes to have her return on the line asking if we could get back to the clinic in 20 minutes for an appointment with the doctor who is a specialist in the heart’s electrical systems, an electrophysiologist, Dr. Keogh.

Within five minutes, we were out the door after asking the front desk to order a Cleveland Clinic shuttle, one of which makes a loop in the area hotels from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Within minutes, the shuttle arrived, and we made it to Dr. Keogh’s reception area.

After we arrived, I checked My Chart to see if the appointment with Dr. Keogh wasn’t until 4:00 pm. It was 12:30 pm. This wait would be better than waiting until November 7th! Moments later, Dr Keogh’s nurse escorted us to his office. He’d had a no-show and could see me now. Tom and I giggle that it was “safari luck,” an expression we’ve always used when we had great sightings on the many safaris we’ve experienced.

Minutes later, Dr. Keogh entered the room, and his expertise and knowledge far surpassed any cardiologists we’d seen in the past. I felt like I was in the best of hands. The first thing he told me was I had to stop taking the dangerous drug Flecainide, which I have been taking for Afib since last October when we were in Ecuador. It was the only afib (for heart rhythm control) that worked for me.

Ecuador doesn’t allow that drug to be prescribed in their country. When I couldn’t any more than the one month’s supply I had on hand, we left Ecuador and headed to Nevada, where a cardiologist said I had terrible valve disease and needed surgery immediately. He didn’t hesitate to prescribe more of the drug until I could have surgery on my valves.

Dr. Keogh explained this drug could kill me with a massive heart attack and I must stop it now. It’s been 26 hours since my last dose. The drug leaves one’s system in about 48 hours, when the Afib undoubtedly will return. When he reviewed all of my tests thus far, and I explained that Flecainide prevented my heart rate from going above 90, the stress test I’d had on Thursday could have been inaccurate.

When we left his office, he said he’d devise a plan for me and get back to me soon. Time is of the essence when I am going to be in what is called persistent Afib within two days when the drug is out of my system. When we returned to our hotel room, my phone rang. It was Dr. Keogh. He decided I needed to retake the nuclear stress test without Flecainide in my system. Then, he could better determine where to go from there, such as a pacemaker, ablation, surgery, or other treatment modalities.

Within minutes, I received a message from My Chart stating I had a new appointment, rescheduled for another nuclear stress test on Tuesday at 9:30 am. It was such a relief, especially knowing by then, I’d be experiencing awful Afib. Dr. Keogh didn’t want me on any Afib drugs for the repeated test. He explained that if the Afib gets too awful, we should head to the emergency room to oversee my care. That was comforting.

Now, I’m scheduled for the angiogram next Friday instead of November 7th. And so it goes with more tests and an upcoming scary few days, especially when we are moving to the new hotel on Monday. Whew.

I can’t express enough gratitude for the love and support I have been receiving from so many of our worldwide friends and readers. You all mean the world to both of us!

To all of our family, friends, and readers in the US, have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend and a happy weekend for our international readers.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 31, 2014:

We were on Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas. The following day, we were off on our first tour to Le Havre/Normandy, France, for an all-day excursion to see WWII Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, and American Cemeteries. For more photos, please click here.

We’ve arrived in Cleveland!…Clinic appointments begin tomorrow…

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This is artwork from the Victoria and Albert Museum, which we could walk to from our South Kensington, UK hotel.

What a relief to be here. If something goes wrong, I am where I’m supposed to be. Although I am a little anxious about what’s to come, the peace of mind of finally being here outweighs any apprehension. No doubt, most of us feel a little out of sorts when facing significant medical appointments when we have no idea as to the outcome.

Will I have surgery right away? What if I must wait for a surgical opening for another few months? Will the breathlessness worsen while I wait? Hopefully, these questions will be answered in the next few weeks or sooner. In any case, knowing what is on the horizon will give us both peace of mind to finally know what is upcoming.

The two-day drive was easy when we only drove about 350 miles each day, allowing us to stop for breakfast, a restroom break, and refueling without feeling rushed. We arrived at the Cleveland Clinic complex around 4:00 pm. Little did we know there were two Intercontinental Hotels in the immediate area.

We ended up at the wrong hotel, the Intercontinental when we were booked at the Intercontinental Suites Hotels, a few blocks away. In no time, Tom maneuvered me in the wheelchair back to the car, and off we went to the correct location, having no trouble finding it.

No words can express how grateful I’ve been to have the wheelchair. Thanks to many readers who encouraged me to buy one during this challenging time. It was the best purchase we’ve made in years. Hopefully, after recovering from my treatment and recovery, I won’t need to use it.

There are some nuances in using a wheelchair when, in fact, I can still walk unassisted about 20 feet without gasping for air. This morning, at the breakfast buffet in the hotel ($22.00 per person plus tax and tip), I insisted on getting out of the chair to serve myself. Tom was concerned I’d have a problem, but the short buffet was within the 20-foot range, and I did fine. It would have been tricky to serve myself while seated. I’m trying to maintain a level of independence. I’ll need constant help after surgery, so I’d like to preserve a little leg strength and mobility while I can right now.

Last night, we ordered room service, and it was mediocre. I ordered the most sparse Cobb salad I’ve ever had, and Tom had a grilled cheese sandwich with potato chips. That bill was almost $50. We’re trying to keep our daily food purchases $80 – $100 daily, leaving us with $50 for breakfast and $30 – $50 for dinner.

Thus, we decided to order some groceries from a local market, with free delivery from Instacart for the next month. This morning, I ordered two roasted chickens, two premade chicken and veg salads, and cooked white rice for Tom. Our room has a refrigerator and a microwave, and the grocery order was $34, including tax and delivery. There’s enough food to get us through three to four dinners. We’ll only be in this hotel until September 2.

Once we know what the future holds, we’ll move to a nearby Residence Inn by Marriott to stay through my recovery, for however long that may be. Once we know what’s on the horizon, we’ll book the Residence Inn through Bonvoy member benefits for a reasonable price, as we did at the same hotel in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

How are we holding up? Actually, very good. We are upbeat and looking forward to getting all of this behind us so we can continue our world travels.

My first appointment is at 12:45 pm tomorrow, and we don’t need to arrive until noon to check-in. A Cleveland Clinic shuttle will pick us up and take us where we need to go, which information is clearly outlined in “My Chart.”  From there, I have two more appointments. We should be done tomorrow by 5:00 pm, with more appointments to be arranged in days to come.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 27, 2014:

Our new friend/reader, Liz from Bristol, England, took the train to visit us while we stayed in South Kensington, England. Meeting Liz, with whom we’ve stayed in touch over the years, was a joy. For more photos, please click here.

We’re on the road to Cleveland at long last!..

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If we could have cooked our meals in London, we would have purchased some items at this Farmers Market.

Often, we’ve been asked, “Why did we choose to go to the Cleveland Clinic rather than to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, a short 90-minute drive from our current location, which is also highly rated worldwide for heart treatment?”

For me, having already had open heart surgery 5½ years ago and with remaining severe cardiovascular disease (hereditary) and my age, I decided I wanted to go to one of the highest-rated valve disease cardiovascular surgeons in the country, if not in the world, regardless of how long I had to wait to see Dr. Gillinov. It’s been a four-month wait for my appointments, which are upcoming next Wednesday.

If I had to wait another month or two, it wouldn’t have been possible as my condition continues to deteriorate, as evidenced by the necessity of using a wheelchair to get around outside this hotel room, which I can maneuver if I frequently pause when moving about. But any trip outside, even to the car, requires using the wheelchair.

It’s helped make the past few days tolerable and allowed me to see family and friends. They even accommodated me to stay in the wheelchair during Friday’s pedicure.

Following are some of the reasons patients choose Cleveland Clinic for their procedures and surgeries.

  1. Reputation for Excellence: Cleveland Clinic is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States and worldwide. Its reputation for high-quality care, particularly in specialties like cardiology, neurology, and orthopedics, draws patients seeking the best possible outcomes.
  2. Expertise and Innovation: The clinic is known for its cutting-edge treatments and surgical techniques. Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic are often leaders in their fields, offering advanced procedures that may not be available elsewhere. This expertise is especially appealing for complex or high-risk surgeries.
  3. Multidisciplinary Approach: Cleveland Clinic offers a collaborative environment where specialists from various fields work together to create personalized treatment plans. This approach ensures comprehensive care, addressing all aspects of a patient’s health, which is particularly important for those with multiple or complex conditions.
  4. Advanced Technology: The clinic invests heavily in the latest medical technology and equipment, allowing for minimally invasive surgeries, robotic surgery, and other advanced techniques leading to faster recovery times and better outcomes.
  5. Patient-Centered Care: Cleveland Clinic is known for its focus on the patient experience. From pre-surgery consultations to post-operative care, the clinic emphasizes clear communication, patient education, and support, helping patients feel more confident and comfortable throughout their surgical journey.
  6. Research and Education: As a major research institution, Cleveland Clinic is involved in numerous clinical trials and studies, offering patients access to the latest medical treatments and innovations. This research-driven approach means patients benefit from the most current and effective surgical options.
  7. Global Accessibility: Cleveland Clinic attracts patients from all over the world, offering specialized international patient services, including translation, travel assistance, and culturally sensitive care. This global reach adds to its appeal for those seeking top-tier medical care.
  8. Positive Outcomes: Cleveland Clinic’s high success rates and positive patient outcomes contribute significantly to its appeal. Patients often choose the clinic based on recommendations from others who have had successful surgeries there and its track record of excellence in complex cases.

These factors combined make Cleveland Clinic a top choice for patients seeking surgical care, particularly those with complex conditions or who want access to the latest medical technology and treatment advancements.

We’re moving along the road to Cleveland and will stop for the night, well before dinnertime.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 25, 2014:

We had no trouble finding the distant Laundromat, Bobo’s Bubbles, in South Kensington, England. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…Suggestions from dear readers…Five days and counting…

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Women today can’t wait to leave their bras after a long day. Can we imagine how women felt wearing these types of corsets all day?

Our dear readers and long-time cruise friends, Judy and Gary, sent some suggestions on topics for future posts, including the following:

Here are a few topics to consider;
Favorite cruise lines
Favorite ports
Best and worst cruise ship excursion you’ve taken
Best and worst meal you’ve cooked
Favorite and least favorite country you’ve visited
Favorite and least favorite city you’ve visited

Firstly, thanks to Judy and Gary for making these good suggestions. It was kind of you to come up with ideas for us, and we will consider each for future posts. As many of our years-long readers know, we have touched on these topics in one way or another, except for the “best and worst meals we cooked,” which we’ll have to think about for a day or two.

We will address the first of these points in Part 1 today and continue with the balance over several future posts.

Favorite cruise lines and why… We were big proponents of Celebrity Cruise and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for many years, preferring their cruises over many others. When we first started cruising, we made a mistake in attempting to experience several cruise lines so that we could select a favorite. In doing so, we missed out on acquiring many loyalty points, which could have escalated us to a position where more perks were offered by working one’s way to various tiers. Realizing this, down the road, caused us to focus on two cruise lines, Celebrity, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean, both of which we enjoyed for many years.

Why did we like these cruise lines? They were slightly more perk-orientated than other cruise lines, providing a modicum of elegance with exceptional service and perks we eventually received as we climbed the ladder of tiers. As time passed, we enjoyed more benefits as we sailed on more and more cruises worldwide.

What cruise line eventually became our favorite? During the pandemic, everything changed. We had many cruises booked during this outrageous period, and we had eight canceled cruises, most of which were on the Azamara Cruise line, which Celebrity owned at that time. Only one cruise remained that we booked before the pandemic, Azamara, although we booked several cruises after the pandemic ended. During this time, we finally went on the one remaining Azamara cruise and decided it was our new favorite. It was about 25% more expensive than Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, but tips and drinks were included, almost compensating for the price difference. Also, there was an added level of elegance we appreciated. But most of all, we enjoyed the smaller size of only 600 passenger occupancy as opposed to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean from 1800 to 8000, sizes that don’t appeal to us.

Azamara doesn’t have all those activities that appeal to children that we’d never use, such as theme parks and rides. If we wanted such activities, we’d go to a theme park. Although children are allowed on Azamara, their ships are geared toward adults, making the environment quiet and low-key, which we prefer.

No doubt, with my current health issues, we haven’t been on a cruise since last October, ten months ago. Since the onset of our travels in 2012, we have sailed on 34 cruises and look forward to cruising in the future once I am fully recovered. We’ll see how it all goes.

A special thank you to Judy and Gary for their thoughtful suggestions. We look forward to covering each topic as we continue.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 20, 2014:

Tom is getting used to visiting museums. In this case, we were at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, within walking distance of our hotel. For more photos, please click here.

Nine days until departure…11 days and counting until Cleveland Clinic…

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In the city of Paris, we never saw a free-standing single home. All the housing consists of apartment buildings such as this. We’ve found living in apartments such as these unappealing. We’re glad we stayed in Paris for this shorter period than our usual two to three months. Apartments such as these are costly.

Right now, I am struggling with topics for our daily posts. We’ve bombarded you with travel-related topics, and we prefer not to be redundant any more than is happenstance as we cover topics we’ve covered in past posts.

In the past 12 years, we’ve published 4,366 posts, much more than most online resources of our size. Recently, I’ve changed some of the daily format to elicit more interest from our readers. No, we haven’t been losing readers. If anything, we’ve added more new readers during this dull period than we’d expected. We appreciate every one of you and your continuing readership.

The bottom line is that I am facing a challenging time until we arrive in Cleveland, and then, although feeling safer being there, I will be dealing with the news on how they’ll proceed with my case. No, it’s not keeping me awake at night or impacting my appetite, and much to my surprise, I don’t feel depressed or suffering from anxiety.

However, it’s unnerving when I become breathless from putting on my shoes, making a salad, or walking to the car outside the door of our hotel room, no more than 20 paces. Each time I get up from my secure and comfy spot on the sofa in the living room to go anywhere in our hotel room, I hesitate, wondering if whatever I am about to do is necessary.

I wouldn’t be so careful if my heart didn’t react each time I became breathless. I can feel it struggling to get blood flow to my legs. Of course, my caution is centered around avoiding a heart attack. Otherwise, I feel fine when staying relatively still and like my usual upbeat self most days. Tom and I continue to laugh, tease one another, and enjoy quality time together.

Now, I understand more fully how others feel when facing serious illnesses of one type or another, regardless of their age or situation.

Although I wish to implement more of the following suggestions, I am doing my best.

Staying strong in serious medical issues is a profound challenge, but it’s possible to find strength through a combination of mindset, support, and self-care. Here are some strategies that might help:

1. Acknowledge Your Emotions  

  • Allow yourself to feel: It’s okay to feel scared, angry, or sad. Acknowledging your emotions rather than suppressing them can prevent them from overwhelming you.
  • Seek understanding: Educate yourself about your condition. Knowledge can reduce fear and give you a sense of control.

2. Build a Support Network

  • Lean on loved ones: Share your journey with friends, family, or a support group. Talking about your struggles can ease the burden.
  • Professional help: Consider seeing a therapist or counselor specializing in chronic illness or trauma. They can provide coping strategies tailored to your situation.

3. Focus on What You Can Control

  • Healthy lifestyle choices: Eating well, resting, and staying active (within your limits) can improve your physical and mental resilience.
  • Mindfulness and meditation: Practices like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga can help you stay grounded and manage stress.
  • Routine and structure: Having a daily routine can create a sense of normalcy and control, even when much feels uncertain.

4. Stay Connected to Your Purpose

  • Reframe your goals: Adjust your goals to fit your current reality. Small achievements can bring a sense of accomplishment and forward momentum.
  • Find meaning: Finding meaning in your experiences can foster resilience and hope, whether through faith, creativity, or helping others.

5. Celebrate Small Victories

  • Acknowledge progress: Every step forward is worth celebrating, no matter how small. Recognizing these moments can boost your morale and encourage you to keep going.

6. Self-Compassion

  • Be gentle with yourself: Understand that it’s okay to have bad days. Treat yourself with the kindness and patience you would offer a dear friend.
  • Positive affirmations: Regularly remind yourself of your strengths and the progress you’ve made.

7. Prepare for the Unexpected

  • Flexibility: Life with a serious medical condition can be unpredictable. Being adaptable and open to change can reduce frustration and stress.
  • Emergency plan: Having a plan for flare-ups or emergencies can give you peace of mind.

8. Maintain Hope

  • Hope is vital: Even in difficult times, maintaining hope can be a powerful source of strength. This might be hope for better days, comfort, or moments of peace.

9. Stay Connected with Your Medical Team

  • Communication: Regularly communicate with your healthcare providers. They can adjust treatments as needed and provide reassurance.
  • Advocate for yourself: Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek a second opinion if something doesn’t feel right.

10. Engage in Life

  • Pursue passions: Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, even if you need to modify them to suit your condition.
  • Stay social: Connecting with others, even in small ways, can be crucial for comfort and strength.

Staying strong through serious medical issues isn’t about denying the reality of the situation but finding ways to live fully and meaningfully despite it. Resilience comes from a combination of inner strength and external support, and it’s okay to lean on both as you navigate this challenging journey.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 16, 2014:

With almost 13,000 restaurants listed on Tripadvisor in Paris, deciding where to dine is tricky. For more photos, please click here.

Not much I can do…Making difficult decisions…

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We approached Notre Dame Cathedral on a luxury dinner cruise on the River Seine in Paris.

I keep switching between flying alone to Cleveland or riding with Tom on the two-day road trip. The thought of flying alone, even with the help of a wheelchair, is concerning to me. How can I be assured I’ll get the service I need to get on the plane, get to my seat, get help going to the restroom, get to the hotel shuttle on my own, and manage to check in?

Without Tom with me, this is all intimidating, given my current breathing problems. What if I had another “heart episode” on the flight or at either airport? It’s already stressful at airports—getting the wheelchair, going through security, waiting to board, etc. Usually, none of this bothered me. Now, circumstances are different.

The more I think about it, the more I lean toward riding with Tom. This morning, we discussed avoiding a roadside rest for bathroom breaks. Instead, we can stop at a gas station or restaurant. Based on past experience, I can go all day in the car with only one restroom break.

As I write about this, I’m convinced I’ll ride with Tom. We’ll stop for breakfast and one restroom break during each day’s drive, and in each case, he’ll get me as close to the door as possible.

I am contemplating whether I can go out while here. I am wondering if I will be able to go out to dinner with family. It all depends on how much walking I’ll need to do to get to a table. I now know I can’t go to Billy’s on Friday with Tom’s siblings. There’s too much walking required to get in and out and to the restroom.

This morning, I called Cleveland Clinic about this issue. They suggested I go to an emergency room until I explained I’d already done that, spending two days in the hospital with lots of tests. Until I have surgery, there is nothing that can help me. It is the way it is.

We will continue with our plans to get to Cleveland Clinic. In the meantime, watching the Olympics is wonderfully distracting and gets me out of my head. All I have to do is make a salad today, and Tom will do the rest for dinner. Once we use the food we have on hand, we’ll start doing takeaway until it’s time to go.

My son Greg has Covid, and we were out to dinner with him the night before he got symptoms. It will be a relief when the incubation period ends. Right now, it’s been five days, and we are ok. Fingers crossed.

When it’s time to begin packing I will sit on the bed and do what I can. Tom will do the rest. Through all of this, we are still maintaining a good attitude and making the best of this situation.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 5, 2014:

This is a typical Parisian scene of a French Balcony with no room for sitting but offers a view and often room for flowers, such as these. For more photos, please click here.