Tuesday 26 June 2007
BHF Website Problems
STOP PRESS!!!! There seems to be a problem with the sponsor page on the BHF Website. www.bhf.org.uk/sponsor/davidkelsall may not work. Instead, http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=7900&p=78770 may take you there. Alternatively try http://www.bhf.org.uk/get_involved/sponsor_a_friend.aspx and enter my first and last name in the appropriate boxes and click on 'search'. This should then display a link to my web page.
Sunday 24 June 2007
CABG to Snowdon in 6 months
Hi,
I'm not usually one to blow my own trumpet. However, more than most people, I have something extra special to celebrate - life itself! I am really proud of my recent achievement and I hope that it is not too egotistical to want to share the news of my success via this blog with my friends, colleagues, former colleagues and anyone else who knows me. I am particularly keen to spread the word to people who have sponsored (or offered to sponsor) my recent personal challenge - and haven't paid yet. (Hint: I will be looking for money soon :-))
On Thursday 21st June 2007, 6 months to the day after a quadruple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), I walked to the top of Snowdon with 2 of my sons, Adam and Nick. (Phil would have been with us too but for some GCSE core science module exams. Despite the anxieties of his first GCSE exams, he resolutely offered to stay home alone ... knowing how important this challenge was to me. Thank you, Phil.)
Adam and Nick were brilliant too. We set off a good pace, kept together throughout, and all the time the boys were checking how I felt, and resting whenever necessary. They were both pretty cool! Thank you guys for making my day so special!
The physical challenge has been the most important thing for me. However, recognising the fundraising potential I was pleased that we could use the walk to raise funds to help combat heart disease. If all the pledges come in, the walk will have raised in excess of £2500 for the British Heart Foundation and the Milton Keynes Community Cardiac Group.
Our Route
We went up by the Watkin Path from Nant Gwynant, south of Snowdon. This rises 3329 ft (1015 m) in 3.9 miles (6.2 km) to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa, in Welsh) at 3560 ft (1085m). We came down the Miners Track, a descent of 2371 ft (723 m) in 4.1 miles (6.6 km) to Pen-y-Pass. We than walked back to the car - a distance of about 4.25 miles (6.75 km) by path and road.
The climb took us 3 hours. This is pretty good, and very close to what you might predict by Naismith's Rule, not bad, eh ... considering that one of us has had his heart replumbed recently :-). Much of the last 200m of ascent is over scree - and it's difficult to tell where the path is (or even if there is a path).
Rather characteristically, the summit was covered in cloud. So the views weren't that good. In fact, they were lousy. (This is the 4th time I've been to the summit I think, and I've only had good views on one occasion.) It was really busy though. There were lots of people, which came as a bit of a surprise, because we had only seen 2 small groups and an individual during our ascent. Most people obviously come up Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass or Llanberis.
My quick-witted friends have been quick to point out that there is a railway up Snowdon :-). Yes, there is. However, this year they are redeveloping the facilities at the summit. This means the trains don't run to the summit, and all that exists of the cafe, is the the new metal framework. The redevelopment came as a bit of a surprise and it rather stymied one of my objectives of the walk ... which was to send some cards from the summit. Normally the summit of Snowdon has one of the highest postboxes in the UK, and paying a bit extra postage gives you a "Summit of Snowdon – Copa'r Wyddfa" postmark. So I had to send cards from Beddgelert a bit later in the day.
The descent to Pen-y-Pass took about 2 hours, Compared to the Watkin Path, the Miner's Track was like the M1 ... there were scores of people on it. The return from Pen-y-Pass to Nant Gwynant took about 1hr 40mins. Walking to the floor of the valley of the Afon (River) Glaslyn from Pen-y-Pass was the real killer. The drop is about 200m in about a mile, and it doesn't half 'jar' your knees.
Otherwise, compared to last time I went up Snowdon, I really felt much better this time - not so out of breath. With all the walking I do (between 2 and 4 miles most days), I know that I am physically fitter. I also do much more cardiovascular exercise than I used to and I eat better - a much more Mediterannean diet, with much more salad and fish and much less red meat - and not so many treats. The exercise and diet have paid off. I weigh more than 2.5 stones less than a year ago (~17kg), and my BMI is nearly 25.
I also know that I couldn't have achieved this challenge without a huge amount of support from many people. The thank-yous will follow ... but, first, let's have a few photos of the day.
Photos
The captions are below the photographs to which they refer.
I'm not usually one to blow my own trumpet. However, more than most people, I have something extra special to celebrate - life itself! I am really proud of my recent achievement and I hope that it is not too egotistical to want to share the news of my success via this blog with my friends, colleagues, former colleagues and anyone else who knows me. I am particularly keen to spread the word to people who have sponsored (or offered to sponsor) my recent personal challenge - and haven't paid yet. (Hint: I will be looking for money soon :-))
On Thursday 21st June 2007, 6 months to the day after a quadruple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), I walked to the top of Snowdon with 2 of my sons, Adam and Nick. (Phil would have been with us too but for some GCSE core science module exams. Despite the anxieties of his first GCSE exams, he resolutely offered to stay home alone ... knowing how important this challenge was to me. Thank you, Phil.)
Adam and Nick were brilliant too. We set off a good pace, kept together throughout, and all the time the boys were checking how I felt, and resting whenever necessary. They were both pretty cool! Thank you guys for making my day so special!
The physical challenge has been the most important thing for me. However, recognising the fundraising potential I was pleased that we could use the walk to raise funds to help combat heart disease. If all the pledges come in, the walk will have raised in excess of £2500 for the British Heart Foundation and the Milton Keynes Community Cardiac Group.
Our Route
We went up by the Watkin Path from Nant Gwynant, south of Snowdon. This rises 3329 ft (1015 m) in 3.9 miles (6.2 km) to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa, in Welsh) at 3560 ft (1085m). We came down the Miners Track, a descent of 2371 ft (723 m) in 4.1 miles (6.6 km) to Pen-y-Pass. We than walked back to the car - a distance of about 4.25 miles (6.75 km) by path and road.The climb took us 3 hours. This is pretty good, and very close to what you might predict by Naismith's Rule, not bad, eh ... considering that one of us has had his heart replumbed recently :-). Much of the last 200m of ascent is over scree - and it's difficult to tell where the path is (or even if there is a path).
Rather characteristically, the summit was covered in cloud. So the views weren't that good. In fact, they were lousy. (This is the 4th time I've been to the summit I think, and I've only had good views on one occasion.) It was really busy though. There were lots of people, which came as a bit of a surprise, because we had only seen 2 small groups and an individual during our ascent. Most people obviously come up Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass or Llanberis.
My quick-witted friends have been quick to point out that there is a railway up Snowdon :-). Yes, there is. However, this year they are redeveloping the facilities at the summit. This means the trains don't run to the summit, and all that exists of the cafe, is the the new metal framework. The redevelopment came as a bit of a surprise and it rather stymied one of my objectives of the walk ... which was to send some cards from the summit. Normally the summit of Snowdon has one of the highest postboxes in the UK, and paying a bit extra postage gives you a "Summit of Snowdon – Copa'r Wyddfa" postmark. So I had to send cards from Beddgelert a bit later in the day.
The descent to Pen-y-Pass took about 2 hours, Compared to the Watkin Path, the Miner's Track was like the M1 ... there were scores of people on it. The return from Pen-y-Pass to Nant Gwynant took about 1hr 40mins. Walking to the floor of the valley of the Afon (River) Glaslyn from Pen-y-Pass was the real killer. The drop is about 200m in about a mile, and it doesn't half 'jar' your knees.Otherwise, compared to last time I went up Snowdon, I really felt much better this time - not so out of breath. With all the walking I do (between 2 and 4 miles most days), I know that I am physically fitter. I also do much more cardiovascular exercise than I used to and I eat better - a much more Mediterannean diet, with much more salad and fish and much less red meat - and not so many treats. The exercise and diet have paid off. I weigh more than 2.5 stones less than a year ago (~17kg), and my BMI is nearly 25.
I also know that I couldn't have achieved this challenge without a huge amount of support from many people. The thank-yous will follow ... but, first, let's have a few photos of the day.
Photos
The captions are below the photographs to which they refer.
Adam and Nick near the start (Nantgwynant)
Adam and me below disused incline (mineworkings) at Clogwyn Brith
Looking down (south west) from near Bwlch Ciliau
Yes!!!!! Adam, Nick and me at the Summit
Adam and Nick - resting on the Miner's Track
Nick, Sooty and me - on the Miner's Track
Looking upto Snowdon Summit (Yr Wyddfa) from Miner's Track below Llyn Llydaw
Thank-yous
So many people have helped me over the last 6 months or so. I am grateful to all - and I hope people will understand if I've overlooked them from the following list:
- the paramedics who took me to hospital
- the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff at Milton Keynes General NHS Trust - in A&E and CDU (Clinical Decisions Unit) - under Dr Medhi, in CCU (Coronary Care Unit) under Dr Mulligan. Drs Das and Qureshi. Dr Jay (a retired consultant and a fellow patient in CCU) - he explained a lot of stuff to me.
- the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital - esp. wards 5D, CCCU (Cardiothoracic Critical Care Unit), CTU (CardioThoracic Unit) - the surgical team (Prof David Taggart, Dr Chris Palin, Mr Ashwin Rey, Drs Iyoob and Kulla) - the physiotherapists that made me walk less than 24 hours after the operation (that hurts :-))
- my family. My sons coped brilliantly. They have shown a maturity beyond their years and I was so glad to see them after the operation - even though I looked a mess with the bagpipe assembly of a central line to the jugular vein dangling from my neck. My mother was great and came to stay for 2 months as I recuperated. My sisters gave moral and practical support.
- my friends - particularly Sonia (for her visits and practical support to the boys and my Mum), Tony and Chris (for the regular friendly visits to check how I was doing and the weekly meal to let my Mum off the hook), Sue and Tom (for their friendship and support and for the weekly meals as I was returning to work), Olney Inebriates - for the bypass jokes
- my colleagues - many visited me in hospital or at home, or called to see how I was just after my operation. I spoke to some even when I was still on morphine just after the operation. Special thanks to David, Alan M, Darren, Zhiqiu, Sonia, Abdul, Asim, Brendan, Peter, Simon and Alan B.
- the cardiac rehab team at Milton Keynes General NHS Trust - to Wendy, Alison and Charlotte - for showing the way ahead
- Milton Keynes Community Cardiac Group - more rehab
- my GP and friend, Brian Partridge, and the staff at the surgery. I think we learn from each other :-).
- everyone that has sponsored me. As people may guess, I have really scavenged my address book and really enjoyed contacting some long lost friends and former colleagues. I have been really staggered by the generosity of so many people. I'd like to make special mention of my Mum (again) and my Aunty Joan for collecting money from their friends. I'd also like to mention Catherine Lockwood at BUPA. (She sorted out a complaint for me - where a computer glitch had held up a payment for many weeks - and when I later cheekily asked for sponsorship, she arranged a collection around colleagues in the call centre. How cool is that?)
Behind many of the gifts are special stories. I've been genuinely surprised at how many people have been either personally affected by a heart problem, or have lost a loved one to a heart condition. Clearly I am not alone in benefitting from the work of the British Heart Foundation or the Milton Keynes Community Cardiac Group.
Thank you for giving so generously ... and if you haven't had chance to give yet - it's not too late :-). You can still give online.
STOP PRESS!!!! There seems to be a problem with the sponsor page on the BHF Website. www.bhf.org.uk/sponsor/davidkelsall may not work. Instead, http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=7900&p=78770 may take you there. Alternatively try http://www.bhf.org.uk/get_involved/sponsor_a_friend.aspx and enter my first and last name in the appropriate boxes and click on 'search'. This should then display a link to my web page.
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