Snipe World Masters 1998, Cordoba, Argentina

A Different Kind of Report

By
Woody Norwood
May 13, 1998

This year, the only two skippers from the U.S. were Jerry Thompson and I. Jerry and I have at least two things in common. First, we have been sailing Snipes since the early 1950's. Jerry and I first sailed against each other at the Nationals in Mentor Harbor, Ohio in 1953. Jerry and I sailed against each other in the Junior and Senior Nationals in my hometown, Atlanta, in 1955 and in his hometown, Long Beach, California, in 1956. It is sobering to think that this was forty something years ago. We are lifelong friends through sailing Snipes. Second, we both have problems with our hearts.

Jerry had a Coronary Angioplasty done in December 1997. An Angioplasty is a medical procedure for opening up blocked arteries in the heart by using a balloon on the end of a catheter that is inserted, usually, via the artery that goes to one's leg. Under current technology, a tube or spring-like "stent" is inserted at the location of the blockage to keep the artery open. Curious, but with no personal symptoms, I asked Jerry about his heart attack experience when he arrived at the Masters in Argentina. As part of his telling me about it, he showed me his vial of tiny "nitroglycerine" tablets that he has to carry with him at all times in the event of a recurrence. These tablets cause the arteries to expand, and they can be life saving in an arterial blockage. Little did I know that, five days later, Jerry's "nitro" inventory would, perhaps, save my life.

After the first two days of racing, having completed three of the scheduled seven races in almost ideal weather, we had a "layday". Most of us loaded into a bus for a trip to the nearby mountains for lunch at an old stagecoach inn and a hike to some beautiful waterfalls. I had awoken that morning with tightness and burning in my chest, a pain different from anything I had ever felt before. I went on the excursion to the mountains with everyone else but said nothing of the pain. I foolishly went on the hike. The pain got worse. When we got back to the inn, I sat quietly until we left on the bus to return to Cordoba. At the hotel, I excused myself from the group and went to bed, thinking that a good night's rest would cure whatever this burning sensation was in my chest.

The next morning I awoke feeling better. But soon the pain returned. We sailed two races that afternoon, and the burning became so intense by the end of the sailing that I asked my crew to finish putting the boat away. I went up to the clubhouse and found Jerry. I told him about my pain, the first I had mentioned it to anyone, and asked him for one of his "nitros". He told me how to let it dissolve under my tongue. We waited a few minutes for it to take effect. It seemed to help a little. He said to sit quietly and stay with him that evening. At 7:30 we hitched a ride back to the hotel. I lay down on the bed in my room and began to absorb the seriousness of what might be happening inside my chest. At 9 o'clock I telephoned my former spouse, Angelika, and asked her to alert the physician in Atlanta that we both use, and to set up an appointment for me to see him when I planned to return, the following Monday.

The Argentine people eat later in the evening than is normal for us "Gringos". Dinner in the hotel was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. When I went down to dinner, I told Jerry I thought I should see a doctor. We asked "Pancho" Agusti, the SCIRA National Secretary for Argentina and organizer of the Masters this year, to get me a physician. Pancho and I had become good friends, having met at the Masters in Japan in 1994 and participated together in the Masters in Norway in 1996. Pancho had lent me his Snipe for the Masters in Argentina this year, and his regular crew, Carlos Wybert, was my crew for the regatta. Pancho immediately called his physician, Dr. Foco, who came to the hotel to see me in my room. Dr. Foco did an EKG and the usual diagnostic routine, and I was taken to a nearby clinic and put into Intensive Care for the night.

The following morning more diagnostics were ordered. The EKG had changed significantly for the worse overnight. Jerelyn Biehl, SCIRA's Executive Director who was crewing for Jerry Thompson, came to see me in the morning and was enormously helpful to me in organizing the administrative side of my situation. Just as I was giving her my insurance information I went unconscious. When I regained consciousness, I was being given oxygen and was being transferred to a gurney. They wheeled me to an awaiting ambulance that took me to a cardiology specialty hospital. Jerelyn and Jerry followed the ambulance and helped get me admitted.

That afternoon I underwent an Angioplasty. My right coronary artery had a 95% blockage. They put in a titanium stent. The procedure was done with a local anesthetic, and relief from the pain in my chest was almost immediate when the blockage was cleared and the stent installed. Fortunately for me, this was one of the finest cardiology hospitals in South America. After the procedure, I remained in Intensive Care for three days and then in a regular hospital room for another three days. My closest Snipe friends came to see me, and I was never alone during visiting hours. After being discharged, I had to stay in Argentina four days until it was considered safe for the long flight home. My Snipe friends in Cordoba were incredibly generous with their time and their hospitality.

When Jerry and Jerelyn came by the hospital for a final visit before flying back to the U.S., Jerry mentioned that HIS chest was starting to burn again. Sure enough, when he got to Tampa, he was immediately taken to a hospital where he underwent another Angioplasty. Then, throwing all caution and physicians' advise to the wind, Jerry sailed most of the Winter Circuit. Update: When Jerry returned to California in April, he underwent double by-pass surgery and is recovering again.

So far, I have not had a recurrence of the chest pain. I now have my own little vial of "Nitros" with me at all times, but I have not had to use one yet. I will have a stress test May 21. This test will tell if there was damage to my heart caused by the nearly three days of blocked blood supply to part of my heart. Meanwhile, I am trying to take it easy, reducing my intake of fat and salt, and I take some vitamins and an aspirin every day. And, I am reflecting some about this medical event. Following are some observations and conclusions from this experience:

Denial

• If you have a distinct burning and tight pain in the center of your chest, don't wait two days before mentioning it to someone or seeing a physician.
• If someone describes these symptoms to you, insist on getting them to a physician without delay.

• My father (SCIRA Commodore 1962) had his first heart attack at a Snipe regatta at my same age (57) in the late 1960's. Dr. Peter Devoisin, from Chattanooga, was there to render help. I thought that by staying in better physical condition I would delay the problem. Don't count on it. Genetics matter.

• I get one nearly every year. I believe a check-up is a good thing. Last August I was declared to be in near perfect condition. Although my total cholesterol was slightly high at 201, the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (the good kind) was an "excellent" 3.0 (anything under 4 is considered good). My LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) was described by my physician as "excellent" at 117 (anything under 130 is considered good). I have an "at rest" pulse in the high 40's which is considered "athletic" for a person my age. Although my blood pressure is usually in the high range of "normal", my last physical exam showed it to be a cool 110/72. There was nothing in my last examination that would have warned of an impending heart problem.

• I had $1,100 in cash with me when I went to the hospital. I gave it all to Jerelyn. It was not enough to pay for the ambulance and to get me admitted to the second hospital. Jerry put the cost of my first hospital on his Visa card. Jerelyn and Jerry and Pancho all chipped in their available cash to get me admitted to the second hospital. I paid them all back when I got home.
• My insurance carrier said they would cover the cost of my medical care by reimbursing me when I got home. They would not send money to Argentina. To get released, I had to write a check for nearly $12,000 on March 19. My reimbursement from the insurance company arrived seven weeks later. It helps to have a banker who can put money into the account upon request.
• I was pleasantly surprised by my insurance in two ways: They paid Angelika's round trip air fare to come down to Argentina and help me get back home, and they upgraded my return flight to business class (but not hers).

The Snipe sailors are like family to me. The Snipe people took care of me in Argentina as though I were a member of their family. This medical experience has helped me have a renewed appreciation of the close ways that we get to know each other. I am grateful for my many friendships in the Snipe Class.

Woody Norwood
Snipe #29200
Atlanta Fleet 330