jOHN HAD HIS LVAD IN OCTOBER OF 2010

iT WAS HARD AT FIRST, BUT i (MARILYN THE WIFE) LOVE TO TRAVEL AND DO MY GENEALOGY) SO I REALLY WANTED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD, BUT I PUT A HALT ON IT FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. JOHN AND I ARE BACK TO TAKING VACATIONS, WE HAVE A MINI VAN AND ALL OUR EQUIPMENT FITS VERY WELL. I MAP ALL OF THE LVAD HOSPITALS OUT, ON OUR VISOR WE HAVE CARDS THAT SAY HE HAS A LVAD ALSO ATTATCHED TO THE VISOR WE HAVE A "USB" STICK THAT HAS ALL OF OUR MEDICAL INFORMATION, DOCTORS NUMBERS AND AND EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE LVAD IS ETC. I DO GET AWAY TO VISIT MY FRIENDS AND GET SOME GENEALOGY IN, I'M NEVER GONE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, AND CHECK IN WITH HIM NIGHTLY. ALSO ALL OUR NEIGHTBORS KEEP A GOOD "EYE" ON HIM.

TRAVELING DOES GET HIM DOWN UNTIL WE REACH OUR DESTINATION, AND WE CAN SET THINGS UP AND HE CAN RELAX MORE.

I HOPE THAT EVERYONE THAT HAS A LVAD REALIZES THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, YOU JUST FIGURE THINGS OUT AND GO FOR IT, WHEN WE TRAVEL WE BRING IN THE EQUIPMENT BUT HE ONLY USES THE BATTERIES TO SLEEP WITH, HE DOES NOT HOOK UP TO THE MAIN BASE UNTIL WE ARE AT OUR FINAL DESTIATIN. AS WE ARE FINDING OUT, HOTELS DO NOT HAVE PLUGS THAT ARE CONVENIENT TO PLUG EVERYTHING IN. SO GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, DO NOT GET DEPRESSED OR FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF, JOHN MADE A AWSOME RECOVERY, HE PAINTS THE DECKS , DOES THE LAUNDRY, AND IS BACK TO DRIVING (THANK GOODNESS)

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL.. MARILYN