him

Joe had minor heart surgery this month. I'm actually still processing that phrase, minor heart surgery. His effective resting heart rate had steadily declined over the last decade, along with an increased flip-flop feeling in his chest. Initially his low heart rate was attributed to his years as a trail runner and all the tests they ran came back “healthy and normal”. Then his heart rate dipped into the 40’s and concern began to rise. A year of tests and specialists found us waiting for a heart procedure with no definitive outcome, just a lot of hope. And so we held our breath for six months, and waited for January 17th.I didn’t get to meet everyone who was a part of his surgical team, but I want you all to know that somewhere in Burlington, VT there is a young nurse or anesthesiologist who is a Phish fan and started singing “Thank you Mr. Miner….” to Joe as he was getting wheeled in for surgery, and then he turned on some Grateful Dead tunes for Joe while he was drifting off. UVM has the most amazing staff.After 5 hours of surgery, I finally got to see him in recovery, slipping in and out of anesthesia fog. I just stood there watching the machines flash and beep as I gently rubbed his arm and hand - - oxygen levels normal, resting heart rate 72. Science is amazing.There are more tests and a few months for full recovery before we really know where he’s at, but he feels so much better already and we’re both feeling grateful and relieved.So here we are, 27 years of hanging out this month. He's my favorite human, my best friend, and more than ever I realize time with our favorite humans is truly the most precious thing we have.xo,s