It has been about four months since we were informed that Ron's heart was attacked by a virus, leaving him with about 10% of normal cardiac activity. As many of you know, we have been blessed with an unparalleled level of support from the greater Sarasota-Manatee community and wanted to take a moment to keep everyone current with our progress as we try to find solutions for Ron.
Since having the defibrillator installed in September, Ron has been following the recommendations of his cardiologist, Dr. Mumma. He has been on a regimen of medication and behavioral modification (No Salt! No Stress!). We were hopeful that over time, Ron's heart would respond to these less invasive treatments. We also got a second opinion from the physicians at New Jersey's Deborah Hospital. The cardiac team who saw Ron assured us that the doctors in Sarasota are doing a great job and confirmed what we had been given to understand about Ron's heart thus far.
With all of this in mind, we were very hopeful when we went to see Dr. Mumma recently. Although Ron has been feeling a bit stronger physically, the tests did not reveal any notable improvement in his heart's functionality. This means we we must proceed to the next levels of treatment. We are now investigating stem cell therapy with Dr. Grekos in Bonita Springs. Of course, the possibility of a heart transplant cannot be ignored-but we are very hopeful that a less invasive solution will be found.
Although we were disappointed with this recent news, we also recognize that during trials such as this, the importance and significance of our friends, family, and community cannot be understated. We have been the recipients of gestures of kindness and support spanning the spectrum from the wonderful benefits held on Ron's behalf to the unknown person who mowed our yard recently. We cannot thank all of you enough and want each of you to know how much your help has meant to us. Thank you!
Lastly, we are entertaining all reasonable offers for the restaurant. Please spread the word.
Danae and Ron
Danae and Ron
