fightshark

I'm getting down to the wire as I only have ten days left until my open heart surgery. I leave for Cleveland next Monday night September 18th for pre-surgery testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will get cut open on Thursday September 21st at the Cleveland Clinic. The type of surgery I'm having is called the Ross Procedure, and they will basically be replacing my shitty heart valves by transplanting cadaver valves in me (kinda sounds like the setup for some bad horror movie, especially if they give me the valves out of some recently deceased psycho serial killer). The good news is that according to the doctors I'll be able to come back and fight some time in 2007 and should be better than ever (since I was born with a valve defect, I've never really been close to 100% in the heart output area). It will take 6 weeks ater the surgery for me to be able to do anything (lift something,drive) and then I will start therapy and exercise. I will be able to resume fight training after New Year's, and once I recover that is my focus. After some training in Pittsburgh, I am heading out to AKA in California in February or March. I will keep everyone posted on the latest developments, and thanks to everyone who has been wishing me well as I get ready to go under the knife. Keep checking back for more updates. Ciao.