It's not every day you find yourself preparing for a heart upgrade with the enthusiasm of someone packing for a spa retreat. But on Sunday, November 17, that is precisely what I did. As I laced up my running shoes for one final jog before the procedure, I couldn't help but feel a certain irony: a man who has run marathons for decades was now about to hand over part of his heart's workload to a state-of-the-art device smaller than a coin. My feline overlord, Sciusci, clearly sensed the drama of the moment.
Perched on George's futon like an Egyptian deity, he fixed me with a look that seemed to say, "So, this is it? Off you go then, but don't expect me to mourn." He is technically Debora's cat, but I like to think he graces me with his regal indifference out of choice. As I walked out the door, he continued lounging in glorious defiance of any human concern.
A high-tech heart for a stoic soul
The journey to Pisa CNR Hospital felt surreal, punctuated by Chris Rea's 'The Road to Hell' passing through my head. My chauffeur, Leo, accompanied by his wife Lucy, and their serenely oblivious dog Balo, kept the mood light. Little did they know my inner monologue was teetering between scientific curiosity and mild existential dread.
At the hospital, I was introduced to Ward 20, a space so modern it felt like I had accidentally booked a room in a five-star wellness centre. En-suite bathroom? Check. Bed with more functionality than a Swiss Army knife? Check. A tablet to communicate with the staff? Check. I half-expected to find a complimentary glass of chianti waiting on the bedside table.
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