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muklucannie · 04-22-2004, 07:54 AM

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Thu, April 22, 2004

Surgery taking a heavy toll: Lightfoot

By JANE STEVENSON, TORONTO SUN

GORDON LIGHTFOOT'S much-anticipated new album, Harmony, hits record stores on May 11. But, health-wise, it's not quite harmonious yet for the beloved Orillia native whose recovery from his life-threatening stomach aneurysm in September 2002 continues.

Lightfoot underwent his third major surgery, what he refers to as "the big one," back in February. It required him to stay in the hospital for about 20 days.

"They do muscle fibre grafts from your legs to reconstruct your abdomen with," Lightfoot told The Sun yesterday afternoon.

"I'm doing good. We're dealing with a couple of problems right now regarding the legs, but I've good doctors, I've got a real good doctor over in Hamilton. I've had lots of blood clots. This is all having to do with all the incisions that they have to make to get the muscle out of your leg. These are like a pocket and this pocket fills with fluid -- and we can take out two litres with no problem."

In fact, the 65-year-old musician was in the hospital as recently as yesterday morning.

"As a matter of fact, I had to go over there at 1 o'clock in the morning, if you can believe that, and we didn't get back until 6 a.m. I had a reaction to a catheter that they tried."

Lightfoot said he's had a few minor surgeries since his February operation, but doesn't anticipate going under the knife again in a major way.

"Well, you know, I almost died and the doctors had to do a lot of things to me as a result, and the normal recovery period is two years. So I'm up to 19 months now."

04-22-2004, 07:54 AM	#1
muklucannie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: canada Posts: 101	-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thu, April 22, 2004 Surgery taking a heavy toll: Lightfoot By JANE STEVENSON, TORONTO SUN GORDON LIGHTFOOT'S much-anticipated new album, Harmony, hits record stores on May 11. But, health-wise, it's not quite harmonious yet for the beloved Orillia native whose recovery from his life-threatening stomach aneurysm in September 2002 continues. Lightfoot underwent his third major surgery, what he refers to as "the big one," back in February. It required him to stay in the hospital for about 20 days. "They do muscle fibre grafts from your legs to reconstruct your abdomen with," Lightfoot told The Sun yesterday afternoon. "I'm doing good. We're dealing with a couple of problems right now regarding the legs, but I've good doctors, I've got a real good doctor over in Hamilton. I've had lots of blood clots. This is all having to do with all the incisions that they have to make to get the muscle out of your leg. These are like a pocket and this pocket fills with fluid -- and we can take out two litres with no problem." In fact, the 65-year-old musician was in the hospital as recently as yesterday morning. "As a matter of fact, I had to go over there at 1 o'clock in the morning, if you can believe that, and we didn't get back until 6 a.m. I had a reaction to a catheter that they tried." Lightfoot said he's had a few minor surgeries since his February operation, but doesn't anticipate going under the knife again in a major way. "Well, you know, I almost died and the doctors had to do a lot of things to me as a result, and the normal recovery period is two years. So I'm up to 19 months now."