Daily Blog During Romney's Heart Attack

Thursday Evening, May 1: Hello Square Dancers, Romney is back calling dances! He called his first one at the Fun Wuns last Friday night. He even did singing calls all evening long. He said he felt fine except that he was a little tired at the end of the evening. We are so happy to have him back!! This weekend he will be calling for the Ramblin' Rogues on Friday night and the Farmers and Charmers on Saturday night. Next week he will be teaching his Monday night classes, his Tuesday morning classes and his Wednesday night classes. His will also be calling his weekend engagements. I know Romney was anxious to get back doing what he loves to do--calling for all of us! A happy square dance
Nanci Rowe
Wednesday Evening, April 9: Hello Square Dancers, Romney is doing so well! He looks really good. He says he feels good. He started his cardiac rehab a couple of weeks ago. He will be going for 18 sessions at a nearby hospital. Some of his muscles were sore after the first day but he is better now. A couple of weeks ago he called a patter tip at our Monday night class. He did fine but was winded at the conclusion. He is still working on increasing his lung capacity so that he can work up to the singing calls which require much more wind and projection. In May he plans to start back at his Monday and Wednesday night workshops. Shortly after that he hopes to be back at his Thursday night class. He plans to resume calling dances in May also. The benefit dance in the Valley organized by John Reitmajer and Cindy Mower was a rousing success. There were a couple hundred dancers in attendance. There was also a benefit dance in Hemet organized by Ken Bower which was also very successful. Romney is so appreciative of everything that the square dance community has done on his behalf.
Nanci Rowe
Thursday Evening, March 21: Hello Square Dancers, Romney continues to improve each day. His voice is getting stronger and his lung capacity is getting better. He can finally lie on his side to sleep which is something he was looking forward to doing. He is putting on weight after losing quite a bit in the hospital. He is walking up to 30 minutes at a time now. This Sunday, March 23rd, there is going to be a benefit dance for Romney in Northridge at the Wilkinson Center from 1:00-5:00 p.m. (All of you should have received my email with all of the details.) He will be stopping by to see all of you and thank you for all you have done for him during his recovery process. He is very anxious to see all of your smiling faces!
Nanci Rowe
Monday Evening, March 10: Hello Square Dancers, We had a very special treat tonight at our square dance class. Romney paid us a surprise visit! He just dropped in for about half an hour. We burst into applause right in the middle of a tip. There were smiles everywhere! We held back giving him hugs but we sure wanted to! He told us about his recovery. He is walking about 25 minutes a day. He will start cardiac rehab in April. His voice is quiet. He said he does not have much projection in it yet. He is limping slightly as his leg is still healing. His bruises are almost gone. Romney did get on the mic to thank Charlie Fagan for taking over his class and doing such a great job. It was wonderful to see him!
Nanci Rowe
Sunday, March 2: Hello Square Dancers, Romney is doing well in his recovery. He is able to eat what ever he wants for the time being. His doctor isn't restricting his diet right now. After he has completely healed, then he will be put on a more regulated menu.

He is feeling okay although he still had soreness in his leg. He can negotiate the stairs just fine. He did walk to the clubhouse which is about a 6 minute walk. He needed to rest when he got there but he made it there just fine. He came down with a cold but is starting to feel better now. He said it isn't any fun to cough. He grabs and holds onto his pillow before coughing. Sleeping on his back is the only way he can get to sleep. He would much rather sleep on his side but that is too painful. That will take time also.

It has been almost 4 weeks without a cigarette and he has no desire to smoke!
Tuesday, February 25: Hello Square Dancers, Romney must be getting better. He said he is getting bored already. He has more energy and just feels more awake. He cannot start rehabilitation until 6 weeks after surgery. So that is several more weeks before he can start the next phase of his recovery. He will have 3 sessions a week for 6 weeks. As Romney continues to make progress, our updates will only come out once or twice a week. He knows that everyone is rooting for him to make a full and complete recovery. When he comes back to calling he will be better than ever!
Nanci Rowe
Sunday Afternoon, February 23: Hello Square Dancers, On Saturday, one of Romney's close friends took him out for a haircut. He said his hair hadn't been that long in a very long time. One of the most exhausting activities that he does is showering. Having shorter hair will help to cut down the time it takes to shower. We all forget how much energy it takes to do just the little things. Romney said he is getting restless. He says It will be some time before I can resume all of the activities that I love including calling to the best bunch of folks on planet earth.

Late Friday, a follow up appointment was made for March 5th with his surgeon.
Written by Romney, Edited by, Nanci Rowe
Saturday Late Evening, February 22: Hello Square Dancers, I didn't touch bases with Romney today so we don't have any new information. He was probably out roller blading or mountain climbing. That guy is amazing. Hopefully tomorrow we will have a new update.
Nanci Rowe
Friday Afternoon, February 21: Hello Square Dancers, Romney is glad to be home. He is so thankful that his folks are able to be with him at this time. His mother is a great nurse! She is taking very good care of him. He splurged last night and had a VERY LEAN cheeseburger. His doctors sent him home with lists of things he may have and those of which he should steer clear. We know which ones are his favorites! Sometime next week he will be starting a regimen of physical therapy. He will be starting very slowly. He is also on therapy for his lungs. It is going to take one small step at a time to get him back to 100% but he is on his way!
Nanci Rowe
Thursday Afternoon February 20: Hello Square Dancers, Romney had his first night of uninterrupted sleep! As you know, in the hospital there is always a nurse or doctor or someone interrupting your night time sleep patterns. One of Romney's "great" doctors who was giving him treatments for his lung infection (correctly called his strep post-op infection treatment) had the tendency to visit his patients after 10:00 p.m. and before 4:00 a.m.! Romney said, "I have no complaints." He is one of the best!
Written by Romney
Edited by Nanci Rowe
Wednesday, Afternoon, February 19: Romneys Home Hello Square Dancers! GREAT NEWS ! Romney was released from the hospital and is back at home on this day, Wednesday, February 19th. He was sent home with multiple prescriptions of antibiotics and also the patch. He will be keeping a very LIGHT schedule. He will not be driving for the next four weeks. He will be taking visitors as more time passes.

Nanci Rowe
Tuesday Evening, February 18: Hello Square Dancers, It won't be long now until I will be turning over my job to Romney himself. He may be going home as early as tomorrow. He is making progress by leaps and bounds. Today he took a shower all by himself and even shaved too. His voice is good and he is eating well. He has been walking up and down the halls. Romney is enjoying all of the cards that all of you have sent to him at the hospital. He has another big stack of them at home to read. He said he hasn't even thought about smoking! Shortly he will be starting cardiac rehab. He will have to tell us what is involved in that. Everyone is surprised at how fast he is recovering. We are all thankful for the wonderful care that he has received at Saddleback Hospital. The man upstairs was listening to our prayers.
A big thank you to Jan Graner who has called me every day with updates. She has talked to Joann Tannehill, Romney's mother, every day. Thank you also to Carolyn Imhof and Steffi Bonds who have also kept me informed.
Nanci Rowe
Monday, Late Evening February 17: Hello Square Dancers, Romney continues to make progress! Today they moved him out of Intensive Care! He is eating regular meals again. He didn't eat much lunch though. A nurse came up and told him one condition of going home was that he needed to be eating well. He said he was going to eat all of his dinner! I am also told that he said he is QUITTING SMOKING! We all want him to do that! His parents are very relieved that he is doing so well. All of the cards that you have been sending to the hospital are in a closet. Now they can get them out and he will be able to read all of your get well wishes. Hallelujah!
Nanci Rowe
Sunday, Late Evening February 16: There is more happy news to share! Romney got out of bed today! He took a few steps over to a chair. They had him sit up for a little while. That was very tiring for him. He is talking much more now and carried on a good conversation with his folks today. His parents were feeling so much better about his recovery that they left earlier than they usually do. They should be moving Romney out of ICU in the next day or so.
Nanci Rowe
Saturday, Late Evening February 15: Hello Square Dancers, Each day Romney is making progress! He is talking now, although his voice is on the quiet side. He is making conversation but the effects of the sedation are still present. He probably won't remember what he said or to whom he talked. nbsp; That will improve each day. He feels very tired. In the next couple of days he will be moved out of Intensive Care into a Progressive Care level. We are so happy that he is making such positive steps toward his recovery.
Nanci Rowe
Friday Evening February Valentines 14: Hello Square Dancers, Romney continues to improve! After he leaves ICU he will go to a "Progressive Level". One of the first things they will do is to have him sit up in a chair. He should be making more rapid progress once he leaves ICU. I don't know when he will be leaving ICU but I think it will be in the next day or two. We are all happy that he is doing so well. That is our Valentine present!
Nanci Rowe
Thursday, February 13: We have more good news today ! The ventilator tube is out. He is breathing on his own. He is still receiving oxygen through the small external tubes. He is starting to wake up and even opened his eyes for a moment today. His incision is healing well. Your prayers and positive thoughts are working.
WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP - Vic Kaaria will be teaching the Wednesday night workshop starting next week, February 19th.
MONDAY WORKSHOP - Charlie Fagan will continue to teach on Monday nights.
Nanci Rowe
Wednesday, February 12: Hello Square Dancers, Romney was better today! They took him off the ventilator for several hours. That means he was breathing on his own. Good news! They are reducing the amount of sedation and may have him off of if by tomorrow. He is still not cognizant of his surroundings but that will improve as the sedation is reduced.
Romney's mother, Joann calls Jan Graner every day to give her an update. Jan calls me and we get the word out to all of you as soon as we can. I am finding out how many folks clear across the country are concerned for Romney. He has lots of friends everywhere wishing him well.
Nanci Rowe
Tuesday, February 11: Hello Square Dancers, Romney is continuing to improve. Yesterday morning the ventilator was breathing for him at a rate of 85%. Last night it was 50% and today it is down to 40%. That means he is breathing 60% on his own. They hope to wean him down so that he is breathing 100% on his own by the end of the week. The infection in his lungs is still being treated with antibiotics. The infection is subsiding. His parents continue to be at his side. Our friend is making progress and for that we are thankful. The February Fling WILL be held as scheduled on February 21,22 at the La Habra Christian Church. Johnny Preston will be calling with Radka and Steve Sandeman on the rounds. Romney will receive his share of the receipts. Please support this weekend. Please check Romney's Web site for information on his dances and classes.
Monday late night report: Hello Square Dancers, We have some good news to share tonight. Earlier in the day Romney was breathing only 15% on his own and the machine was breathing the other 85% for him. A little after 6:00 p.m. he was breathing 50% on his own. That is very encouraging. They hope to wean him down even more in the next couple of days. Earlier today his heart rate and blood pressure were up and they have come back down. We are thankful for small steps of improvement.
Your prayers are working.
Nanci Rowe
Monday Evening update, February 10: Hello Square Dancers,
Romney is still in intensive care fighting a very bad infection in his lungs. He is still sedated and is on oxygen. He is on IV antibiotics. This infection is very serious.
His weekend in La Habra will continue as planed.It is on Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd. Johnny Preston will be the only caller for the week end. There is still space available. If you want to come only on Friday or only on Saturday you may do so. Just show up. The dance is at:

La Habra Christian Church
1400 Bella Vista Drive
La Habra Heights 90631

The church is on the corner of Bella Vista and Harbor. It is approximately 0.9 miles north of Whittier Blvd. on the east side of the Street.

To the clubs who have Romney booked in the next two months, have another caller on stand-by. The doctors are anticipating a long recovery due to the lung infection. Keep those prayers going. Romney really needs them.
Nanci Rowe

This Monday his A-2 class will have Charlie Fagan teaching. Come out and support him. The class meets in Westminster. His Wednesday class will be taught by Frank Lescrinier. The class is held at the East Whittier YMCA in Whittier.
Sunday, February 9 Evening update: Hello Square Dancers, In the last couple of days Romney had developed a lung infection. He has been on antibiotics and he is better today. His color is good. His heart rate has come down and so has his blood pressure. The doctors are lightening up on the sedation.
His parents are here and they will be able to stay here for as long as it takes to get Romney back on his feet. This is wonderful news for Romney. They are able to stay at the hospital with him. He is still in intensive care.
No visitors or phone calls are allowed. Keep sending those cards to the hospital or his home. When he is better he will have lots of reading to do. Keep the encouraging words coming.
Saturday Afternoon, February 8: Romney has an infection in his lungs; he will be on Antibiotic for next 48 hours. Still no phone calls or Visitors - ...Cards only.....His Parents are with him.

Frank Lescrinier will be doing Romney's Wednesday Workshop at the YMCA in Whittier. Charlie Fagan will be doing Romney's Monday night class at Mel's Dance Center, Westminster.
Friday, February 7: Hello Square Dancers, I just finished talking with Jan about Romney. He made it through the night just fine. His lungs aren't functioning as well as the doctors would like so they have him back on oxygen. They took veins from his left leg and one vein from his chest for the triple by-pass. His heart is functioning well. As the anesthetic wore off Romney became more restless which sounds like the Romney we know. Jan carried on a conversation with Romney for a while until they had to sedate him in order to administer the oxygen. As I write this at 4:00 p.m. both of his parents are on a plane to California. He will feel better knowing that they are here for him. Please NO VISITORS OR PHONE CALLS. Please DO send cards to the hospital or his home. Keep those prayers going too.
Thursday, February 6 at 8:00 am: Romney had a triple by-pass, There is some damage and heart is quite weak. They expect a long recovery.
Members of the Romney Stars are making every effort to continue Romney's Class and Dance commitments with the help of other callers.
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 7:06:51 pm: The latest on Romney from Nanci Rowe.
Hello Square Dancers,

I just received a phone call from Steve Wood with an update on Romney. Yes, he has had a heart attack. He had several episodes of chest pain over the weekend. He went into the hospital on Monday. This afternoon, Wednesday, he had an angioplasty. It was determined that he has "major blockage" in his "main artery". He is scheduled for heart surgery Thursday at 8:00 a.m. That is all we know at the moment. I stopped by the hospital and saw Romney for a few minutes before the angioplasty. I know he was very apprehensive. Who wouldn't be? He really needs our support. Send him cards at the hospital or his home. His mother is flying out from Missouri on Friday.

His classes are up in the air at the moment. No decision has been made whether someone will take them over or not.

Romney is in:

Saddleback Memorial Medical Center
24451 Health Center Drive
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Thanks to Jan Graner and Steffi Bonds for keeping us all updated.
Keep holding those good thoughts for Romney.
Nanci Rowe

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— Page updated: 03/02/2008 - 11:51 am PST [189 days ago]