Masters Track News and Muse

Pete Taylor checks in -- with sense of humor intact

Well, it's hard to keep a good announcer down. Despite his medical misfortunes, Pete Taylor reports from Virginia: "I worked a half day today, the first day since Jan. 21 that I made it to the office." Pete sent me a chronology of his hospitalization. It's pretty graphic in parts, but one thing's for sure: This guy can crack a joke.

Pete summarizes his medical odyssey:

"January 20 (morning). About 2:15 in the morning I received a surreptitious visit from a Mr. A. E. Pain (Agonizing Excruciating Pain). I thought I had met Mr. Pain earlier in my life, but apparently I hadn't. Anyway, as I slept I believe this gentleman (who has apparently been circling the globe for millions of years but has never actually been seen) inserted some kind of rotary drill in my left side (near the waistline). Wound up at Fairfax Hospital ER (officially INOVA Fairfax Hospital, but nobody calls it that) in Falls Church, VA, about 6 miles from my residence. After appropriate studies it was determined that I had a huge kidney stone in my left ureter. Saw urologist, who scheduled shock-wave lithotripsy for Jan. 25.

"January 21 (afternoon). Began suffering shortness of breath about 4 pm. About midnight I was admitted to Fairfax Hospital with massive pulmonary embolism (involved every lobe of both lungs ) and possible myocardial infarction. Spent 11 days in a special care unit, 3 days in a telemetered room, 2 days in regular room. Was on 100% oxygen 24 hrs a day for many days (not sure how many). At worst (about day 8) I expressed the fervent hope that some day I could walk again. On day 13 the oxygen was removed (I had been weaned to lower concentrations), and on day 17 I went home (makes 16-day stay, as I was admitted on day 1). PS: Underwent cardiac catheterization, which revealed that every coronary artery was clear -- I guess working out the last 29 years plus good eating helped me there.

"To my great disappointment, I did not improve at all in first 3 days after discharge. In addition, I have lost 21 lbs, have kidney stone still in place (and causing me pain) because I can't have lithotripsy when on a blood thinner (will be on blood thinner for life), other physical problems. Have no strength at all.

"Even so, I expect to announce Nampa (begins March 11) but will not do so without great improvement. I told a fellow runner that someone could put $10,000 at the end of my lane in the 400 with the idea that I would get it if I could break 6:00.00 for the distance. Keep the money -- I have nothing at all, Ken, no strength at all (but strong enough to type)."

Pete also shares a story I hadn't heard before. He too once ran track!

"In the latter part of the 1970s, when I was just joining the masters, Marty Stern (later the head coach at Villanova, as you recall) congratulated me on joining the masters (I was 31). "You will be meeting the nicest people you have ever encountered," or words to that effect.

"Won my first race (1:31.8 for 600 yards on the tight Widener University indoor track -- Billy Johnson was a star there, as you know). Never won another race, but eventually I started announcing, and the rest is history."

Pete signed off with this:

"Have heard from so many in masters re my illness and recovery that I can't name them all -- can't remember everyone. Thus, I will name none, but they know who they are. More important, those who will find out later will give me encouragement in future.

"At this time I can't jump over a twig and thus can't announce. Even so, I am targeting Nampa/Boise for March 11.

"See you later."

Posted by kenstone at February 16, 2005 2:46 AM