This has been the year of the heart and
the year of the royal ancestors for me. In January a stent was put in an artery
in my heart to open it up. Recuperation took longer than the few days or weeks
I was expecting. In the end it took roughly five months for me to return to my
normal active self.
It has also been eye opening in terms of
how much waste goes on in a hospital and how focused mainstream medicine is on
medication to the exclusion of almost everything else. I call my new local
hospital a garbage dump due to the enormous waste they create. And the medical profession seems focused on medication almost to the exclusion
of almost everything else, except surgery and the like. This is shocking. And
we wonder why we have a drug abuse problem.
The lowest point in my recovery came the
first weekend in May when on the Sunday, when for the very first time in my
life I had serious problems climbing the Niagara Escarpment via a very easy
way. I had to stop and rest as I was VERY winded. Two days later, while walking
downtown on some errands I very nearly collapsed. I felt very discouraged and
depressed. That I might have to give up cycling and walking.
The cardiac rehab program I enrolled in (I
found it about it accidentally and not through my cardiologist.) and my own
determination to improve helped to turn things around. On August 2 I cycled 105
kilometers, which included a long, steep climb up the Niagara Escarpment, which
I did without stopping, except for the crossing of two roads half way up. Today
I’m back to my normal walking and cycling routine.
Coinciding with all of this has been my
discovery of two gateway ancestors, which has helped me cope with the shock of
learning I have heart disease. A gateway ancestor is an American colonist of
proven European royal descent. The first was discovered in January shortly
after having my stent put in and the second in early October.
I am a direct descendant of numerous
medieval rulers of Europe, plus many prominent people from the time. Highlights
include: Lady Godiva (who did not ride
naked through the streets of Coventry), Charlemagne, Alfred The Great, Hrolf The
Walker or Rollo, William The Conqueror (and four proven veterans of the Battle Of
Hastings), William Marshal (the most famous knight in history), three of the
signatories of the Magna Carta, at least three veterans of the crusades, at
least two veterans of the Hundred Years War, David I of Scotland and most of
the main historical figures in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. (I am related to,
but not descended from Macbeth himself.) I’m also related to Wenceslaus I, Duke
Of Bohemia, famous as Good King Wenceslaus of the Christmas Carol, he was
murdered by his brother, my ancestor Boleslaus I, The Cruel.
For a history lover, like me, this has
been a real gift.
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