Letters to the Editors

Did they get

the message?

Editor:

I hope the politicians in Douglas County finally got the message that we do not want to spend money to build a new senior center. It was very insulting after the prior election to see people on Channel 26 within weeks or months of the election discussing a new senior center after we voted not to spend money to build it. It does not matter to those of us who go to the polls to carry out our constitutional duty, that technically it was legal to build a new senior center from some other source of funds we somehow voted for, not knowing what the money would be used for. I think I remember this comment that was vocalized when we complained about this subject before. Why should anyone in this country take the time to vote and then have politicians turn around and insult them by ignoring their wishes? I hope this does not happen this time.

James F. Joseph

Gardnerville

Sad at Question 1's defeat by voters

Editor:

I can not help but express the deep sadness I feel having learned that the voters of Douglas County have decided not to support the men and women of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office through a small and simple sales tax increase. I only hope that now, having taken this action, you don't mind waiting extended periods for deputies to write up your noise complaint report, check out that suspicious or abandoned vehicle, respond to your home's burglar alarm, or perhaps even respond to your call for help after you have been battered by some nameless thug. Why? You didn't make it possible to hire the deputy that could have come to your aid. So now you will wait, as the few deputies that are on duty respond to more pressing matters or try to respond to your call from Stateline or another far off corner of the county. All of this just to save a few bucks on your next purchase at Wal-Mart. I hope you're happy.

Adam Wennhold

Minden

In search of

a specialist

Editor:

This is a letter regarding "Men need to take care of themselves" Oct. 20 issue of The Record-Courier:

I would like to add to the above letter. Men and women should get a second, third, fourth and fifth opinion from a cardiologist or heart surgeon before they commit to open heart surgery. Let me explain:

My older sister, 69, passed away in October 2005 while in the hospital due to two heart attacks, one in the hospital. In November 2005, I visited with my primary physician and he did an EKG and was concerned about the results and asked me to do a nuclear stress test. This test came back abnormal so I was referred to a cardiologist in Carson City. He had me take an echogram, another EKG and chest x-ray and they all came back normal. He recommended a cardiac catheterization and this was done on Jan. 11 in Reno. The cardiologist said that I had multiple blockages in my left and right coronary arteries and he consulted with other cardiologists and they all ruled out stents and suggested open heart surgery. I saw a heart surgeon in Carson City and he wanted to do open heart surgery that week. I said that I wanted a second opinion and saw another cardiologist with another company in Carson City who agreed with the first cardiologist however he said that they had another cardiologist in his office who was very aggressive and felt that he could implant four stents.

On March 15, I went to Carson Tahoe Hospital and unfortunately the cardiologist could not implant the stents. He then recommended open heart surgery to clear the blockages. Now this is where the story really gets good...My mother-in-law was visiting us in Gardnerville and she brought an article that was in the Arizona Sun concerning cardiology research and development at Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale, Ariz. Since I had nothing to lose I called and got information. They were developing a device that clears multiple blockages which was exactly my problem. I volunteered to have it tested on me. They turned me down because the government had not given them approval to use it.

It was suggested that I talk to the Director of Research and Development. Oh no...another cardiologist! He asked me to have my two cardiac catheterization images and all written medical information on me sent to him. He personally called me from Arizona and said that I did not need open heart surgery and that he could clear the blockages in both of my coronary arteries. I went to Scottsdale, Ariz. on June 29 and he implanted three medically treated stents in my left coronary artery, using a rotoblader treatment. Then on July 20 he implanted four medically treated stents in the right coronary artery (did not use the rotobladder procedure on this artery.) On September 22, I went to see him for my post procedure check-up. My heart is fine, my coronary arteries are clear of all blockages and most important, I did not need open heart surgery. I was lucky. I am healthy and energetic like a 21 year old, (my actual age is 63.)

Bill Hess

Gardnerville