I'm heading out Monday for a camping & backpacking trip. Probably won't be back til Saturday, so if I'm not around you'll know why.

Have fun!

I envy you. My keft knee is bone on bone and I'm having a total knee replacement in a week. I hope to recover, lose some weight, and get back to hiking and camping. In November 2003, I spent a week hiking and camping on Cumberland Island National Seashore. I was working in Open Heart Surgery at the time, and needed to get away and decompress. I hiked back to the North end of the island and spent a week in near solitude. My plan is to rehab my knee, lose a little weight and spend a week next March camping and hiking wih a friend.

Like you, I am anticipating body pat replacement - a new right hip joint. Hopefully then, something akin to normal activity.

But I really piped up to thank you for your labors in open heart surgery. Ten years ago, I got a new aortic valve and those years have been fun, rewarding, and productive. I understand that without the procedure, i would have had no more than three years of diminishing life.

I understand they now replace that valve through a cut in the femoral vein? Amazing!!

Have fun Phaedrus