Paul's Heart

Life As A Dad, And A Survivor

08 Feb 2013
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On No! It’s Snow!


Next week is going to be a very busy week, and a very important week.  I suppose I will get a lot of time to prepare for it this weekend as the weather fearmongerers are at it again.  We are to prepare for a snow storm of historic proportion.  My area is not expected to get hit as hard as say New England, but I need to take this storm, called Nemo, seriously.

Seriously.  Nemo?  An epic disasterous snow storm has been named after one of Disney’s most beloved characters?  I wonder if there are royalties in it for ABC for every time the Weather Channel mentions the name.  I do not see the point to have to give snow storms names now, but it looks like it is something I have to accept.

But again, seriously, the weather service could not come up with a more ferocious or evil name that begins with an “N”?  Nosferatu.  Napoleon.  Nixon.  Nina (of 99 Luftballoons).

In areas of severe amounts of snowfall, you never hear local residents express fear, despiration, panic as today’s trends seem to take us.  Syracuse, Erie, Denver, Minnesota all see more snow in one day often more than we see in an entire year.  Growing up, I remember being able to shovel out tunnels from the snow piles, barely able to lift my legs above the surface of the snowfall.  Of course, as a child, this often meant a snow day off from school.  Snowball battles, skiing, forts, were all the pure enjoyment of a major snowfall.

I recall in my high school years, attending school in a district that did not provide bus transportation, we never saw snow days.  You either took public transportation, a relative drive you to school, or you walked.  Now if you will excuse me, I will now channel my grandparents for the following speech… “why, when I was a kid, I had to walk uphill and downhill, four miles each way, across high bridges, heavy rains, head high snow piles and…”  Phew they are gone just before they can add “barefoot”.  But where I lived that is exactly what happened.  Whenever I visit home with my family, I am always quick to remind them, I actually did it.

But on February 11, 1983, we did get hit with a major snow storm that did have an impact on school, over two feet.  It did shut everything down.  But I definitely do not recall every hearing “end of the world” tones and having to rush out and strip the shelves of everything from bread to toilet paper.  It would snow.  The snow would stop.  We would shovel.  Then move on.  In fact, while many schools had cancelled even the next day, our schools were open, even without a delay.

I still love the snow today.  I have had to alter my lifestyle a bit due to recent health issues.  My heart surgery caused an approximate ten degree drop in temperature tolerance meaning the cold bothers me a little easier.  To think, just five years ago, I was still wearing shorts in January and February regardless of the weather.  Pulmonary issues make it a little more difficult to trudge in the snow.  But then of course, there is age.  Once we hit our mid-30’s it seems we become concerned with the act of shoveling snow.  It is a fact, that snow shoveling is one of the more strenuous acts many of us do, made worse by the fact that it is not often that we have to do it, and we do not train for it.  But we have heard story after story of someone having a heart attack while shoveling snow.

Nearly five years ago, unknowingly, I could have faced that fate.  With a fatal condition developing over the years from radiation therapy for my Hodgkin’s Disease, the main artery to my heart at that point of winter was now close to 90% blocked or scarred.  As it would be discovered just two months later during a stress test, it was literally seconds before the blood flow was restricted to my heart.  I felt it happen.  It scared me.  I stopped.  The feeling stopped.  I went about my business.  Until April.  Following that stress test and subsequent heart bypass surgery, I was told that I had actually prevented what was destined to be a fatal heart attack.  This should have been enough of an attention-getter.

The following winter after my heart surgery, I must admit, I was outside with the snow shovel as always.  I have a three care driveway and approximately 150 feet of sidewalk to shovel.  That winter was not particularlly difficult as far as deep amounts or frequency of storms, but I was out there with shovel in hand.  I found out, that I have neighbors as well, who knew of my health history and quickly came out with their own shovels and snow blowers scolding me to put the shovel down and get back inside.

But being from a stubborn family, I believed that I could still shovel.  Two things I did under my own power, mow my lawn and shovel snow.  Last winter, I finally caved in.  After the first of three decent snowfalls, I could tell that my body was no longer up to shoveling, lifting, and tossing snow.  To push it any harder would have been foolish.  And I know that (see the post “Stress Kills).  So prior to the second storm, I broke down and got a snowblower.  And it was not so bad using it.  And I could still enjoy being out in the snow, and not end up being “out” in the snow.

So for those of us in the path of the Might Nemo, have fun, do not be afraid.  Snow is no different than when we were children.  But the consequences of not using common sense as adults is what is to be of concern.  If you must shovel, pay the neighbor kid to do it.

writer’s note = I woke up this morning (February 9th) to a history, epic, monstrous two inches of dry powder snow.  Of course, the local grocery store shelves were empty, gas got bumped up a nickel a gallon just in time… thank you Nemo and the weather mongerers for the shot into the local economy you gave us.

Posted in Cancer, Family and Friends, Recreation, Side Effects, The Heart
07 Feb 2013

“Milk. It Does A Body Good.”


That is the campaign slogan I believe from the Ad Council.  And in every magazine ad for this slogan is a celebrity with a milk mustache.  But we know, you did not need to be a celebrity to wear a milk mustache.  As kids, we did it all the time, often getting scolded for making a mess.

Today we can be “scolded” over Vitamin D for another reason.  We in the northeast corner of the United States suffer from a Vitamin D deficiency.  This appears to be a relatively new concept but fairly obvious to understand why.  We do not get to see a lot of quality sunlight as it is, and then when the colder weather comes, and seasons change, we see even less daylight.  So unless you take suplements or drink tons of milk, your body is not replacing Vitamin D sufficiently. 

Beginning in the late Fall months and into Winter, we are destined at one point to develop at least one common cold.  If we are unfortunate, it will get worse and turn into bronchitis.  However, if you get repeated illnesses, or their duration lasts entirely too long, some doctors are now turning away from five prescriptions of more and more antibiotics and instead looking at blood levels of Vitamin D.  It should be of no surprise if our Vitamin D levels fall below the range of 30-100.

For myself, during what is considered standard protocol for me when it comes to my annual bloodwork, I hit a Vitamin D low of 22 three years ago.  I was given a prescription for 50,000 units for the quick shot, followed up by 2000 units a day.  Currently, I just take 1000 units a day and have maintained a safe level at this point.  I rarely develop colds.

Wendy on the other hand, comes down with a sinus infection monthly, if not more frequently.  She is also dealing with other issues.  But one of the first things that was checked as a concern was growing that she was dealing with something auto-immune, was her Vitamin D level.  Vitamin D as it turns out, plays a major role in supporting your immune system.  So besides living in the northeast with the winter blahs, your immune system may also pay a price.  A couple of years ago, when this first became a concern with Wendy, her level was checked and scored in the single digits, practically non-existent.  Today, Wendy knows she is battling something more serious, as she continues to struggle to get her Vitamin D level up to a decent level, which if achieved, might reduce the number of colds and sinus infections that she gets.  But for now, the plan is only to continue on the supplements.

In my case, it is the same thing.  I have a low level, right around the minimum.  I do not get sick as often as Wendy does, but with my immune system being compromised already by not having a spleen (asplenia), it is important for me to do what I can to boost that blood level.

In recent months, I have come across many people, close friends and family, who have been battling bronchial symtpoms for a long time with no resolution.  It is almost instictive of me now to ask, “did you have your Vitamin D checked?”  Almost always, the answer is going to be “no.”  But it is something that is reasonable to be requested.  Some insurance companies, or even some practices will tell women that Vitamin D will not be checked until having gotten through menopause, which is just plain silly.  If you are sick a lot, right now, you should not have to wait for the big change to get this checked.

I must stress, that I am not a doctor, but I would like to play one on TV.  I am however, an advocate for getting an accurate diagnosis, leaving no stone unturned.  I believe the sooner you get diagnosed, the sooner you can get treated with the least severe of modes.

So… drink you milk.

Posted in Cancer, Side Effects, The Heart | Leave a comment
06 Feb 2013

My Fight For Education


A few years ago, I made one of the most illogical decisions in my life, to run for a public office.  I had no political experience, a fairly average voting record, and the only political interest I may have had, was occasionally flipping through the channels on the television and occasionally catching bits and pieces of a biased “news” channel.  But something changed in 2009.

A new phase in my parental status was expected to begin following the Labor Day holiday.  But a huge cloud was hanging overhead.  It was a looming teacher labor crisis, common in school districts all over the country.  The climate was mirroring a similar contract negotation within our school district, which resulted in a strike then.  All that mattered to Wendy and I though was that it was Madison’s first year in school, and we had no other daycare options available if the teachers would go on strike.

And then it happened.  The announcement was made that the teachers would go on strike.  A court order mandated that the strike had not been given proper notice and the teachers return to the classrooms.  But another walk out would occur incurring the wrath of many in the district, including myself.  All I knew was that teachers make enough and only work part of the year.  Now before I hear from anyone what a jerk I was, I know it.  Like I said, this was uncharted territory for me and I was pissed off not having a firm arrangement for Madison’s care.

The media concentration on the strike was typical.  The district presenting their opinions that the teachers were being unreasonable.  The union responded that they were frustrated by the lack of understanding and consideration by the district.  Back and forth, back and forth.  I cannot say what exactly it was that caused this emotion in me, but the school board did something I considered despicable, legal, but despicable.  The board authorized the publication of every teacher and guidance counselor’s salaries in a full page color advertisement in several local newspapers.  I was infuriated.  And just like that, my support flipped completely to the side of the teachers.

This bully tactic did exactly what it was meant to do, raise the ire of the taxpayers and parents.  It is common sense that there will be a difference in salaries for teachers with one year of service and those with thirty years.  I had no idea what a teacher’s salary was, and though a matter of public record, was no business of mine.  My only concern with a teacher was educating my children.  At that moment, I had no idea what direction I would go in, but I was going to support the efforts of teachers, learn what the teachers did and the commitments nearly all make in molding our community’s future.

I followed the negotiations very carefully, and then an opportunity knocked.  Following a recent school board election, a re-elected board member decided to resign (conveniently after defeating an opposing political party opponent).  A replacement would be chosen by the board after soliciting replacement candidates.  I made the decision to put my name in.  Miraculously, a replacment had been chosen.  None of the other applicants had been contacted about the interest or resumes, but the replacement also happened to be from the same political party as the resignee and dropped out of the race prior to the primary so as not to compete with an incumbant.  Amazing what happens even when it comes to local politics.

Denied.

That following January, another opportunity came.  An information meeting was held to teach how to run for a public office, in particular, school board.  It was attended by people representing both political parties and third parties.  A couple of weeks later, I made the decision to officially run for school board.  It was an exciting experience for me.  Four others made the decision to run with me as a full slate of candidates bent on removing the bullying incumbants and restore respect and dignity within our school district.

Two of our candidates had broken the glass ceiling in being elected.  The other three of us, including me fell short of votes by less than 200.  Our efforts fell short just because enough people did not feel their votes would count.  We ran a clean campaign, and for three of us, it was our first campaign.  We had nothing to be ashamed of.  It was less than a week later, the three of us made the decision to continue the fight.  So I will run again for school board in 2013.  A lot of people question the need to do this, especially with the many health issues I have to deal with, but it is simple.

I feel right now, my most important role of being a parent, is to make sure my daughters get the best education possible.  For my wife and I, we believe in public education.  We both graduated through the public school system.  We were both successful because of our education.  A free public education is a right of our children just as it was for myself and others, and the generations before.  It is our obligation for the strength of our community (and country) to provide a strong and quality education.

There are plenty of disagreements from teacher salaries to school choice.  I no longer just look at the actual dollar figure of the teacher’s salary.  I do believe in school choice.  We should be free, and in my school district, we are free to choose from private schools, Catholic schools, even other elementary schools within the district.  And in districts where education is suffering from quality and need, charter schools originally seemed to address those concerns.  But charter schools would come at an additional expense to the district, and trickle down to my home in the form of higher taxes.  But even more hurtful, limited by state mandate, expenses of adding a charter school could not be covered completely by an equal tax increase, which result in only one thing, cuts.  Approval of a charter school in our district will not only raise our taxes, but to make up the rest of the deficit of next year’s budget, our district will have to look at cutting curriculum, programs, and staff.  This will effect my daughters’ education in a dire way.  They are too young right now to know what their future will be, but they should be offered the opportunities that I had, that everyone had to be able to recognize their potential.  And that means offering everything that is possible.  If we as a taxpayer are willing to pay a charter school to teach the programs our district is willing to cut, why cannot we keep them in the first place?  If we as taxpayers are willing to provide a smaller class size (the main argument made to support a charter school), why is our district so unwilling to make that provision within our school system?

There are plenty of other issues.  These are difficult times for education as a whole.  Budgets are strained.  Expenses rise.  But respect, quality, and responsibiltiy cannot suffer for the ill decisions made in the past.

School board director is a volunteer position.  It is a lot of hassle, for no pay, a lot of criticism, but knowing that you are helping to mold the minds of the next inventor, the next discoverer of a cure for cancer, the next president.  I have made a commitment, and have volunteered the last three years attending most of the school board and sub committee meetings to make myself familiar with the goings on of our school district.  It is a monumental task and commitment.  But for my daughters, it is worth it.  And for my commitment, I believe that everyone else’s children will benefit as well.

Posted in Bullying, Education, Family and Friends | Leave a comment

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