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    A Piece of Cake: A Remarkable Experience
    A Piece of Cake: A Remarkable Experience
    A Piece of Cake: A Remarkable Experience
    Ebook78 pages1 hour

    A Piece of Cake: A Remarkable Experience

    By Roger Kohler

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    About this ebook

    Sixty-six-year-old Roger Kohler was heading for a heart attack, and he didnt know it. During an annual exam, he mentioned to his doctor that he was feeling tired after his walks on the beaches of Cape Cod with his wife, Adele, and their golden retriever, Bella. His family practitioner arranged an appointment with a cardiologist, and Kohler received some important news: He needed open-heart surgery, and soon.

    In A Piece of Cake, Kohler narrates the story of his experience dealing with heart diseasefrom his initial diagnosis through his heart surgery and his recovery. He shares the details of how he felt before and after the surgery.

    An inspirational story, A Piece of Cake draws attention to the number one killer today in America, where an estimated 1.1 million will have a heart attack this yearand one-third of them will die. Like Kohler, many never show prior symptoms of heart disease. Kohlers personal experiences provide insight into the impact heart disease has on human lives.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchway Publishing
    Release dateMar 15, 2013
    ISBN9781480800397
    A Piece of Cake: A Remarkable Experience
    Author

    Roger Kohler

    Roger Kohler was born in Sydney, Australia, and immigrated to the United States after marrying. He has been in the real estate business for thirty-eight years. Roger has three grown children and lives on Cape Cod with his wife, Adele, and their golden retriever, Bella.

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      Book preview

      A Piece of Cake - Roger Kohler

      Table of Contents

      Foreword

      Preface

      Annual Visit

      Surprise

      Open Heart Surgery

      Preparation

      Beth Israel

      A Song from Heaven

      Recovery

      A Remarkable Experience

      All’s Well that Ends Well

      References

      To Adele

      Foreword

      Mr. Kohler’s experience was typical, but the lens through which it was seen is truly unique.

      Cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, strokes and rhythm abnormalities among many other facets, is remarkably prevalent in the industrialized world but remains un-diagnosed in many cases. The symptoms of cardiovascular disease can be so subtle as to elude our normal triggers of concern, and this often manifests as late presentations. Doctors and surgeons work endlessly to identify those at risk, but it is not uncommon that someone’s advanced cardiovascular illness will not be identified until later stages, where intervention can be more complex.

      Intimidating though they may seem, doctors are a tremendous resource for the patients they serve, and while symptoms may seem minor, they should be evaluated. More often than not, vague symptoms such as weakness or fatigue are not related to the heart, but a history, physical exam and objective testing can help determine this.

      In Mr. Kohler’s case, his valvular heart disease had likely been present for many years, maybe decades before an astute and wise physician in Harwich detected his murmur and likely saved his life, along with his surgeon in Boston who performed the skillful, artful and wildly complex procedure. I had the privilege of serving between these two physicians, which offered great perspective. In the end, it was Mr. Kohler whose strength and perseverance won the day. It must have been quite daunting to hear a young physician, having met his new patient only minutes before, announce that he needed a referral to a surgeon for open heart surgery. Once the initial shock and skepticism had worn away, Mr. Kohler handled his challenge with aplomb, which is why he enjoyed such a successful procedure and recovery. For him, it truly was a Piece of Cake.

      —John A. Kalin MD

      Preface

      I was heading for a heart attack and didn’t know it.

      The only sign was feeling a little tired and thinking it was normal.

      I had a very thorough and astute doctor who suggested I see a cardiologist.

      I had an echocardiogram and found I needed urgent open-heart surgery.

      Heart Disease is the number-one killer in America today, according to the American Heart Association.

      An estimated 1.1 million Americans will have a heart attack this year, and one-third of them will die.

      Nearly half those who die from heart attack never showed prior symptoms of heart disease.

      I wrote this story because of the extraordinary difference I felt between before and after my open-heart surgery. I was compelled to write it, and it was a great pastime during my recovery. I decided to tell the story, and if it saves one life, it will have been worth it.

      Read this book—it could save your life !!!

      Annual Visit

      I live on Cape Cod and enjoy walking with my wife, Adele, and our golden retriever, Bella, on the many beautiful beaches we have here. I had noticed during the last six months that it was becoming more of an effort to walk the distance I’d walked easily only a short time before. I now believe I was heading for a heart attack and didn’t know it, and I can imagine there are thousands of folks out there who are in the same predicament.

      Roger, have you ever seen a cardiologist? asked Dr. Reagan, my primary care doctor.

      Me? Are you kidding? No, I have never had any chest pains, nausea, dizziness, numbness, or anything related to symptoms of a heart attack.

      I think I’ll arrange for you to see a cardiologist, he said.

      It was another beautiful sunny morning on Cape Cod, a day to be happy and thankful to be alive. I had gone for my yearly check up, and all looked good.

      Doctor, I feel good, but I do feel very tired sometimes.

      The good doctor listened to my chest again with his stethoscope and said, You know, I can hear a murmur. I‘m going to send you to see Dr. Kalin; he is a cardiologist in Hyannis.

      I drove home, and of course Adele asked how it went.

      Oh, it went great. I’m in good shape … but Dr. Reagan has arranged for me to see a cardiologist.

      Really? Why?

      He is just being his usual thorough self.

      A few days later I got a call from Dr. Kalin’s office for an appointment. I was to have an echocardiogram.

      Surprise

      A week later I drove twenty minutes from Harwich

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