I was born and raised in East Barre, Vermont. I moved to Connecticut in 1978, where I met and married the best woman the state had to offer!! Sue has been my rock. I think I am just your average guy who tries to treat everyone as I would like to be treated.

My Job

Prior to this illness, I was a machinist, in precision parts. I've made parts that have gone into outer space (Gerber Scientific) and deep in the ocean (Trident Submarine at Electric Boat) as well as printing presses, heavy equipment and more. I then went to work for the local electric utility as a maintenance machinist at Millstone Nuclear Power Station and have been there 17 years. After my illness was diagnosed, I was offered and accepted a job as a work planner.

My Health

I've been fortunate to have a fairly stable 18 months post-op. I attribute this to the cardiac rehab group and maintaining a daily exercise regimen, as well as maintaining a strict diet. I've lost about 80 pounds but still need to lose another 25 pounds or so.

My CHF

I suffered from angina for about 3 years. I was being treated at a pain management clinic for an old neck injury and all the pain was in my shoulders and neck. Although I explained to many of the doctors and told them about profuse sweating and terrible pain when exerting myself, my heart problem wasn't diagnosed until an EKG was done at my annual physical for work. By then, I'd had numerous MI's with substantial muscle damage. My EF was 12% and my heart was "grossly enlarged." I also had blockages which required a triple by-pass.
     I was lucky enough to be in a hospital that gave me the option of radical surgery to remove a portion of the dead part of my enlarged heart. They weren't able to remove as much of my heart as they had hoped and it is still grossly enlarged. A transplant is in my future. My EF since surgery is 17-20%. I would recommend Yale University and Dr. John Elefteriades to anyone. Dr. Elefteriades is chief of staff and also the head of the transplant team at Yale.

My Meds

My Hobbies

I love to walk and have been involved with a volksport walking club. I also like yard work and gardening. Oh, I can't leave out my Gravely tractors, tillers, saws, blowers and more. If my health stays stable, I'd like to buy and restore an antique farm tractor and go to a few fairs next fall.

Update Update Update Update

February 1, 2002 - I have been totally disabled since November 15, 1999. I applied for Social Security the following March and started collecting in June of 2000. My EF is somewhere between 10 and 14%. I do what I can, when I can. As far as I am concerned, every day I wake up is a good day.

  Richard -- January 17, 1998

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jon C.