Post for Dad

Another reason for the lack of posting recently, i've been mentally and emotionally preoccupied by a medical emergency with Dad. He was very suddenly diagnosed with heart problems after an angiogram last week. They gave him the results, kept him overnight, and gave him a triple bypass the next morning. Unbelievable. Fortunately, the surgery was a 100% success. The doctors say he'll make a full recovery and be stronger than before.

It's an amazing story though, because they were lucky to have caught the problem before any damage was done, and he was lucky that he went in for a test, basically on a whim. Heart problems don't run in our family, he doesn't smoke or drink, and he keeps a relatively healthy diet. He did a stress test simply because they were offering it free somewhere, he didn't have any symptoms. That's one thing about my Dad: he loves a deal! My parents would come home from the store with four bottles of ketchup, because they were Buy 3, Get One Free!.

Anyway... they had him come back for an angiogram "to be safe". He was probably thinking, yeah, THAT'S how they get your money! When he got the results, they said one of his arteries was 99% blocked. One % more and he has a heart attack, causing permanent heart damage or worse. Since they caught it, there's no damage and will live his life like nothing happened. He'll actually be stronger, now that blood is circulating better. Pretty damn lucky. No. Not luck, a miracle.

This leads to more good news, my parents will still be able to visit me in October, because he should be fully rehabilitated after about 2 months. I'm already working on an authentic Chinese, yet heart-friendly menu for his visit.

Happy Father's Day!

~Kev