20th Anniversary

Patton Web

Last night at 10:00pm Ron's heart went into atrial fibrillation (his heart was pitter pattering, and not because of Valerie). This condition happens several times a year and is due to his floppy heart valve. Typically the episodes last just a couple hours. His cardiologist said that if an episode goes more than 24 hours he needs to get to the the ER to have it corrected (blood clots, stroke, etc). After a restless night, it was still going. We decided that snorkeled was probably not a good idea so we just hung out at the hotel, read our books and watched the ocean. 12 hours and counting.

At our early lunch it was still going. Late afternoon it was still going. Dinner reservations were at 4:30. It was still going. 18 hours. A new record! If it was still in a-fib at 10:00pm we were probably heading to the ER. But, no way were we cancelling our 20th anniversary dinner.

We get to Mama's Fish House (the premier restaurant on Maui) and were happily surprised by a bottle of Champagne and flowers from our NC friends Shelle and Darien. Valerie looks at Ron and says, "But you probably shouldn't drink." Ron says, "It's my 20th anniversary, I'm drinking."

The waiter pours our glasses. We toast the occasion. Two sips later, as the alcohol hits his bloodstream, Ron's a-fib stops! Normal heart beat. He's cured! Best we can figure, the Champagne dilated his blood vessels and short-circuited the electrical storm in his heart. No trip to the ER! Thank you Shelle and Darien!

Dinner was FANTASTIC. If you're on Maui and want a special, never better dinner, and can afford to splurge, you have to go to Mama's Fish House on the north shore.

We got back to the hotel just in time to watch the lu'au being held on the hotel grounds outside our room's balcony. It was the perfect evening.

Now we have a story to tell about our special 20th Anniversary!

Ron and Valerie in Maui 20th Anniversary