Past, Present, Future

Quote of the day:
"How simple ... a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. ... All that is required to feel that here and now is happiness is a simple ... heart."
--Nikos Kazantzakis, in Zorba the Greek.

Yesterday afternoon we had a very informative meeting with a nurse practitioner in the cardiology department. She spent about an hour carefully reviewing with us exactly what had happened over the last six weeks, how things stand now, and what happens next.

How things stand now: She expressed a combination of amazement and delight that Merrie had made it through what she called a “touch and go” situation, and that Merrie responded so well to the three drug-coated stents. While Merrie continues to get stronger in just about every way, the nurse practitioner told us to expect some trips to the ER.

What happens now: It is the proverbial one step at a time. The next step is an appointment next week with our cardiologist who will likely address prospects for surgery to repair or replace Merrie’s mitral valve.

In the meantime, we are planning a quiet celebration for Merrie’s birthday this weekend.

“Celebration” has a new meaning for us.