[Great Hall of Rockwall] Alasdair resurgans - long post

[Alasdair Morgan Gunn]

Hail all;

I have been an unwilling stranger for quite some time.

It looks like the base cause of my recurring illnesses has been found;
I now am the bearer of a pacemaker.

Long story short, in addition to some personality and memory
difficulties, I have been blacking out.  The doctors could find no
cause; I was "asymptomatic."

On April 15th, I was up around 10 Am, checking emails before going
into work.  I "conked out" with my wife watching and again within 10
minutes.

By 4 PM I was in the Cardiac ICU on a heart monitor.  My heart stopped
9 times over the course of the next 10 hours; the longest being 28
seconds; all "pauses" were followed by restarts without medical
intervention.

By Noon on the 16th I had the pacemaker implanted and was in recovery.

I was cleared for duty on 4/29 and was back to work on 5/5 without
restrictions, though my boss scheduled me for 30 hours instead of 40.

I'm a bit more readily tired in the aftermath, but the doctors think
I'll be able to resume a full life with few restrictions.

Plus, it looks like I'll be getting a new position at work, which will
leave evenings and weekends free!

So, anyone who even vaguely wondered "what happened to that Alasdair
character," that's the story.

And, if you're interested, here's a poem I wrote in thanks to Eira,
the Norse goddess of healing to whom I look for help.

1st stave is repeated as the Burden, think Longfellow's "Song of
Hiawatha" for the cadence..

Skald's Heart Helper

Eira Kind One, Eira Healer
Walks the Bright Worlds, of Gods and Men
Seeking sorrow, seeking illness
Bringing joy and mending the weal

Through all of time, mankind has sought
Ways to make whole that which is ill
Mind or body, broken or bent
We strive against ev'ry ordeal
- Burden -

The aging skald's heart stopped beating
Untimely pause, then pumped again
The world turned black and body sank
He fully woke and thought anew
- Burden -

He tried to think, wondered calmly,
Where did he go, what had happened?
Without warning, save smallish wooze
He was struck down, like poleaxed steer
- Burden -

His good wife true, had seen him slump
Was quite alarmed and well concerned
She got him to, those who could heal
To see that he, would still be hers
- Burden -

Alone he lay, upon a bed
Within the walls of Healing House
The wise ones there had told him that
His heart was strong, but needed help
- Burden -

They told him how, the beat had ceased
But breath stayed strong, and so did life
But cause was there to open chest
And place inside, a crutch for heart
- Burden -

And so they did, cut into him
And placed the thing, which sat and watched
To count the pace, and keep its time
So life would be, a long, good time
- Burden -

Through all of time, mankind has sought
Ways to make whole that which is ill
Mind or body, broken or bent
We strive against ev'ry ordeal
- Burden -
- Burden -

If you are on the SCA Heathens Yahoo-list, this is a repost from
Piparskeggr known as Ullarsskald.

-- 
In friendship and fond regards
Lord Alasdair Morgan Gunn - AoA

Tapped out at my desk within the confines of Catamount Grange

Vert, a catamount sejant guardant or,
on a chief indented of three points argent,
two mullets of eight points, sable.