For years, Sylvia Panzer had known she needed to have heart surgery.

Saturday, April 06, 2002

For years, Sylvia Panzer had known she needed to have heart surgery. She’d suffered severe headaches, was short of breath and would tire easily because of cardio myopathy, a condition in which the heart toughens. But she put it off because of a feeling she had that something would happen.

That something did happen on Aug. 26, 2001, when Sylvia had the surgery to shave off part of her heart. During the surgery, she suffered what’s called a watershed stroke, or a series of small strokes. Doctors believed it was caused by low blood pressure.

&uot;It changed everything,&uot; the Albert Lea woman recalled.

At first, she had to have a breathing tube, and couldn’t move her left side at all. She could barely move her right side, and her memory was affected for a time. Her sight is still affected.

She was in a Rochester hospital for about a month, and on Sept. 27, moved to St. Mark’s Nursing Home in Rochester. She was there until Jan. 23, when she went back to Rochester for more therapy for four or five hours.

&uot;It’s hard work,&uot; Roger said of therapy.

From Rochester, she went into the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center.

However, insurance would not pay for therapy there, said her husband, Roger. So now she’s at home, and so he can continue to work, Roger takes her to adult day care at Good Samaritan. She’s receives restorative nursing there, and has begun physical therapy at HealthReach.

&uot;I want to make sure I do all I can do for her,&uot; Roger said. &uot;It’s hard to leave someone in the nursing home.&uot;

It’s all frustrating for Sylvia, 55. &uot;I look young, and I feel young,&uot; she said. And she does feel better, thanks to the heart surgery.

But still, she cannot walk on her own. She needs help to stand up or to sit down. Her eyesight is still affected.

She said she’s always kept a spotless house, and she remembers the days when she’d grumble a little at the thought of having to do the dishes.

&uot;I would love to do the dishes again, and dust my house,&uot; Sylvia said. &uot;Then again, I just feel happy that I’m alive. You don’t appreciate what you’ve got until it’s been taken away from you for a while.&uot;

Roger, who teaches auto mechanics at Riverland Community College in Albert Lea, took some time off at the beginning when his wife was in Rochester. At first he stayed overnight, then drove each day. When Sylvia was in Austin, he was there each evening until 8 or 9 p.m. He put 15,000 miles on his car from the day of her surgery until February, he said.

The couple’s children have been there to help out too. Daughter Julie lives in Richfield and son John lives in Appleton. Sons Jason and Jeff live in Albert Lea.

&uot;They do a lot,&uot; Sylvia said. &uot;It’s good to have a family that cares about you and support you.&uot;

The couple has some unreimbursed medical expenses following Sylvia’s long stays in the hospital and nursing homes. And they don’t know at this point if they will have to make any modifications to their home.

&uot;We don’t really know what three or four months will bring,&uot; Roger said of his wife’s progress.

Aid Association for Lutherans has already put a ramp on the front of the couple’s house, and now, along with Lutheran Brotherhood, is planning a benefit from 4-7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Albert Lea American Legion Club. There will be a sloppy joe supper with beans, potato salad and bars and a silent auction.

A freewill offering will be received for the supper. AAL Branches 2300, 6334, 4608, 4824, 10022 and 11184 will be matching funds, and Lutheran Brotherhood Freeborn Branch 8482 will match up to $500 two for one for a total of $1,000 toward medical expenses.

Donations may also be sent to the Sylvia Panzer Trust at U.S. Bank.