At Home On Piety Hill

I just finished the redesign of our Overcoming Necrotizing Fasciitis website. It is now leaner, faster and easier to navigate. I’ve also added some new features and resources. Join the hundreds of thousands of visitors, who come to the site each year to find information, solutions and hope for those suffering from necrotizing fasciitis.

Newsday.com: Anesthesiologists Take Pride in Music: “Anesthesiologists Take Pride in Music

By LINDSEY TANNER
AP Medical Writer

October 2, 2005, 4:03 PM EDT

CHICAGO — General anesthesia or local? Hip-hop or Sinatra? These are among the decisions facing Dr. Frank Gentile in his double-duty job as anesthesiologist and self-styled DJ of the OR. He doesn’t use a microphone or speak in a fake baritone. But the eclectic range of CDs he loads onto the anesthesia cart headed for the operating room would impress any bona fide disc jockey. Gentile’s collection is between 50 and 100 CDs, and his iPod holds about 5,000 songs.

‘I choose my music strategically. I know my surgeons’ tastes,’ says Gentile, the anesthesiology chairman at Edward Hospital in Naperville. There’s Eminem and 50 Cent for one surgeon who likes rap — the songs are ‘cleaned-up’ to avoid offending anyone. For another doctor it’s Metallica. Others prefer oldies or opera. Gentile picks different types of music for different stages of surgery. Many surgeons prefer up-tempo beats for the final stage and one doctor Gentile works with ‘always closes to J-Lo.’ Many U.S. operating rooms have sound systems, so playing music during surgery has become commonplace. Some doctors say it relieves the tension; studies have shown it can also benefit patients, even reducing the need for anesthesia somewhat during surgery. ”

Finally, they must believe me!

Everyone seems skeptical when I tell them about surgeons and music at UC Davis. The first time I was wheeled, conscious, into the OR I spotted a desktop stereo system perched high atop some shelves, against the pale green tile. I asked, “do you guys use that during surgery?” The answer was in the affirmative and I learned later that the trauma team under F. William Blaisdell listened to classical music, while other trauma teams preferred classic rock. Thank God I wasn’t being grafted to Free Bird! Having your skin “harvested” with the dermatome is torture enough without being subjected to classic anthems such as Black Dog or Highway To Heck!

I was also informed that the plastic surgeons listened to rap and hip-hop, but I was skeptical… until my friend with necrotizing fasciitis confirmed this fact to me months later. Some of the younger doctors were prepping him for the “peel and stick” operation and the collapsible gurney did just that as they were preparing to move him to the operating table. While this was going on, some gangsta rap was blaring at about 113db. He told me that he was cursing a blue streak when the plastics surgeon ran in and turned off the music. “I want a real surgeon,” he shouted. “These guys aren’t even old enough to buy beer!”

This post should be read to Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I’m the only one and I walk alone

Every morning, Denise and I wake up shortly after 5AM to go out for our daily walk/run. We’ve done this probably since we lived in Maine, ten years ago. However, there’s something about me… about my little pea brain, that I’ve known since I began running way back around 1982. I like to exercise alone. When I’m with someone else, no matter the physical activity, I always feel like I have to catch up with or wait for them. I think it’s the downside to my “hospitality gene.” I am driven to accomodate people. “Come on in…” “Would you like something to drink?” I feel like I have to keep the conversation going.

So, when I go out walking or running, I’m constantly keeping tabs on my partner(s) and that takes a lot of energy. I’d probably be an ideal cross country or relay runner. However, when I run by myself, I seem to do a lot more running and a lot less walking. Plus, it’s relaxing because I’m not trying to make my partner(s) happy.

This leads me to another subject: my legs. Those of you, who know the condition of my legs probably wonder why I keep running. Well, actually it seems that a certain amount of walking or running keeps the skin on my reconstructed leg in pretty good shape and the pumping prevents edema in my “good” one. Here’s what my leg looks like today:

This is fairly good condition, but the scarring on my thigh gets red and warm to the touch this time of year. I have wondered why that is over the past five years and have tried a number of possible fixes. I’ve concluded that my leg overheats this time of year with the 10 - 20º spike upward. The leg can probably moderate heat when it is cool outside, but is unable to catch up when it’s warm out, because there’s no soft tissue, sweat glands or hair to dissipate the heat. So, I have to limit my exercise — not too much, but not too little, either.

I was having problems at work, because I stand so long throughout the day. The past six months or so, I’ve been wearing Jobst pressure stockings from the knee down. They keep the swelling down, which keeps the grafted skin (and donor sites) soft, hydrated and attached to my leg! They are definitely hot and get my thigh overheating sooner than normal, but I hit the air conditioner right away and all is well. Pretty amazing, this body of mine! I praise God for His mercies every day.

I’d like you to meet my new mates from Australia: (l-r) Adrian the soundman, myself, Peter the producer and Malcolm the cameraman. They were sent to our home by Beyond International to film a vignette for the television program Medical Incredible on the Discovery Health Channel. Since my miraculous healing and recovery from necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh eating bacteria, I’ve been contacted a number of times by producers of similar programs, but our plans always fell through. So, I didn’t want to broadcast this adventure until it actually materialized. This post will be a work in progress… my Blogger Dashboard is not working… I can’t edit posts or BlogThis!, so I have to post and update as I have time.

It was so much fun. They shot me running over the hill to our house about five times, up and down our street a few times, and the entire length of Gethsemane St. twice! They shot me coming and going, as well as moving along beside me in the van. I got quite a workout.

There were also family shots and what more appropriate than Denise and I relaxing in our hammock?

So, what were some highlights?

• The crew flew into San Francisco and our segment was the first one they shot. They were very friendly, patient, fun and we got along very well. The moment Peter the producer came through the door, we learned that he shared our love of retro furniture and knick-knacks. In fact, they had lunch at Planet Juice and Peter crossed the street to visit one of our favorites, the Hospice Thrift Store, where he purchased a real prize: A Canonette camera.
• Camille and Sue Bauman were on hand when my interview was shot. Camille was very helpful and spent time chatting with Adrian — they really hit it off. She also took the photos of the crew filming us. One of the lights was malfunctioning so they had to fill using a large reflector, which Sue professionally handled. Peter thanked her for her work as a gaffer, but quickly added that she wouldn’t be in the credits. Shucks.
• I suppose my interview went well enough… a little over an hour and I only got choked up a few times. Peter later informed me that they shoot about 6 hours of film, in order to get about an hour they can use and, then, the editor works with it, which results in a 10 or 15 minute segment for the show.
• We planned to get some tape of me playing basketball at Gold Run School but, fortunately, the District backed out. The Glenn’s had graciously allowed us to use the court, which hosts the annual GLENNBA half court tournament. So, we packed up the gear and headed over there. It was a beautiful afternoon with Melanie, Sydney and Beau there to welcome our Australian visitors with their usual hospitality and charm. Zach signed a release to become an unpaid television star and we went to work on the court. It was really cool, because they got all kinds of shots of Zach getting “nothing but net,” which they will edit with snippets of me doing jumpshots, so I end up looking like some sort of marvel on the court. They also took a lot of closeups of Zach and I guarding one another, but focused on our legs and the ball being dribbled. Finally, we lowered the backboard so we could stuff it and they shot that, as well. It will be fun to see what makes it into the living rooms of millions… I hope this is Zach’s big break!
• Denise came home from work and they interviewed her. She was very direct and to the point… she was Denise. Then, we all gathered around the table for homemade lasagna, salad, bread, a little red wine and our new found mates regaled us with tales from down under. We had a wonderful time getting to know these wonderful blokes.
• We were all pretty exhausted, but met early the next day to shoot a reenactment at the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. It was awesome! Steve, the PR man for the hospital, arranged to have an ambulance and three EMTs perform their life-saving techniques on me, as I drifted in and out of consciousness, spiraling into a coma. Trish, Tim and Steve were absolutely great! It was just as I remember it — the ambulance even smelled the same! Doctor Hunter in the ER was very accomodating and they were having a slow morning, so the folks in the ER were cheerful and seemed to enjoy the deviation. It was neat, because it was sunny and bright shooting the interviews, but the day of the reenactment was dreary and rainy, just as it was when this all took place seven years ago.
• We returned to our home, where the crew set up the living room to reenact me on the couch, uncomfortable and writhing with pain. They filmed me rubbing and looking at my right leg, which appears fairly normal, and they will reverse the film to make it look as if I’m concerned about my left leg. Pretty tricky, eh?
• At noon, they signed our family guestbook, left us a bag of Minties (excellent) and assorted Cadbury Favourites, and they were off to film other miracles of modern medicine! I have a feeling they will also be meeting a number of folks, who see a gracious and powerful God behind their survival, as my friends and I do.

Loving the Rapist’s Child
This amazing story has to be at the top of the list, but my comments would only detract from this testimony to the power of love… I’ll shut my yap and move on to more trivial news and tidbits…

PimpMySafari.com
If you are a card carrying cult of Macintosh member and Safari is your browser, then this collection of plugins and widgets is a must. I still find Firefox to be noticeably faster, but it lacks many of the features of Safari. If you are running Windows, Linux, OS/2 (all sixteen of you, residing in former soviet bloc nations) or Solaris (um… sure), check out Firefox and make Microsoft earn their keep.

Study: Half Of Sexually Active Young People Get STDs
I recently overheard a fifty-something progressive lament the rising interest in abstinence-based sex ed for our government learning mills, as well as the erosion of the cultural advances he and his fellow yert-dwellers pioneered in the 60’s. I beg to differ. Their legacy of free love and boundless sexual freedom will endure for decades to come through unsightly facial sores, Carposi’s sarcoma, genital warts and cervical cancer. I know, I know… as an eminent intellectual in town wrote, those darn kids are gonna do it anyway, so why even bother getting the word out? Dr. James Allen, president of the nonprofit group American Social Health Association, should be flogged for his alarmist and hate-filled research and findings.

‘Flesh-eating’ germs on the rise, doctors warn
Speaking of alarmist! The chances of suffering the flesh-eating bacteria are the same as being struck by lightning or winning the lottery. This is just another case of tabloid journalism! It’s never going to happen to any of us! Not to worry, though… Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology at NYU Medical Center, assures worry-warts and sissies that they can avoid these infections by “…washing their hands, using an antiseptic and a bandage on all cuts and scrapes, and avoiding the sharing of towels, razors, clothing and athletic equipment.”

Postal Service Seeks 2-Cent Stamp Increase
Now, here’s something I’m passionate about. Congress passes a law, making the Postal Service overfund their retirement system, in order to coverup Congress’ profligate spending. This becomes a hidden tax, but the customers don’t know that. So, they direct their anger at postal workers. However, Congress didn’t bargain for Postmaster General Jack Potter’s shrewd comeback…

Apparently, Mouse Pads are So 2004
Dan Cederholm is really on to something here.

Labs Selling DNA Assessments
Finally, a service for adolescents and teens suffering from gender confusion! Here in Nevada County, students can lay aside their studies and ideological indoctrination, head down the hall to the school nurse and be spirited away for a simple test to determine if they have the gay or straight gene (without the meddling of their pesky parents). Although exhaustive research by reputable scientists has proven beyond any doubt (to journalists, anyway) that a “gay gene” exists, some backward hicks remain skeptical. In a related story, interest and funding seems to be lagging for scientists who have been conducting research to determine how genetics influence the sexual orientation of individuals who prefer the company of other species, small children, people other than their spouse, siblings, other members of their immediate families and a host of other anachronistic social taboos.

Breaking The Da Vinci Code
Wonder what all the buzz is about? Here’s a good place to start. Then, check out the second installment.

Drug-resistant staph infecting more people
More on resistant organisms, but this one has some real good advice about how to avoid getting a staph infection and the proper use of antibiotics.

Today, I was honored to be invited to a ground-breaking ceremony and lunch at the Firehouse Restaurant, to kick off construction of the F. William Blaisdell, M.D. Medical Library at the UC Davis Medical Center. It seemed only fair that we were invited, after Denise and I made a generous contribution to the med center of about $1.5 million in 1998 (with some help from the Mail Handler’s Benefit Plan).

Dr. Blaisdell was the surgeon, who saved my life, then my leg, then my ankle and, finally, my foot. We have kept in touch over the years. Many notables were present, but they pale in comparison to my heroes Dr. Blaisdell, Dr. Kathrin Mayer and Dr. David Kilmer. It was great to reconnect and catch up.

All this reminiscing reminds me of a story about another young doctor, Nathaniel Horne and our providential meeting, years later…