{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf2870 \cocoatextscaling0\cocoaplatform0{\fonttbl\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Helvetica;} {\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue0;} {\*\expandedcolortbl;;\cssrgb\c0\c0\c0\cname textColor;} \pard\tx560\tx1120\tx1680\tx2240\tx2800\tx3360\tx3920\tx4480\tx5040\tx5600\tx6160\tx6720\pardirnatural\partightenfactor0 \f0\fs24 \cf2 From: Patrick Barnholden \ Subject: Fwd: My recovery\ Date: November 25, 2025 at 12:53:31 AST\ To: Gary Kinsman \ \ from gary\ \ ---------- Forwarded message ---------\ From: Gary Kinsman \ Date: Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 4:01\uc0\u8239 PM\ Subject: My recovery\ To: Patrick Barnholden \ \ \ Friends and supporters:\ \ I am writing from the Halifax Infirmary where I am recovering from my second open heart surgery event. The surgery took place\'a0on November 6th. The prosthetic heart valve I received in 2022 had become infected and damaged and had to be replaced. The replacement surgery\'a0was significantly\'a0higher risk than the first surgery but I am slowly recovering. The decision around the new valve was to use pig material in order to avoid some of the difficulties I had faced. I am currently receiving IV antibiotics every four hours and this will need to continue for some time. The infectious diseases\'a0doctor wants to do an MRI to assess things. I also underwent a temporary procedure to bypass a rather large kidney stone. The stone will have to be surgically removed in the future, but there was concern that any blockage could have led to more infection. While my heartbeat remains somewhat irregular, it is becoming less of an issue.\ \ Over this weekend I have been walking over a half kilometre a day and am building strength. We are hoping that I can be released next week. There will then be some arranging necessary to put supports (like administration of IV antibiotics) in place in Toronto before I can head back. Mike went back last Tuesday. Patrick remains here staying at our place by Hantsport. He has been doing wonderful and supportive work and he sends me photos of his morning walks on Blue Beach.\ \ I am grateful to have survived this serious health challenge and I look forward to more years with Mike and Patrick and involvement in and support of\'a0 social justice movements.\'a0\'a0\ \ In love and Solidarity,\ \ Gary\ \ .....from Patrick\ \ Hi All:\ \ Just to add a little to what Gary has said - this has been a very difficult year, with the last month particularly difficult.\'a0 Nevertheless, there have been some wonderful moments. Kind messages and thoughts from old and newer friends have been most welcome. I attach a photo of Mike and Gary from the night before the surgery. Mike was aware of the gravity of the situation, and he came through for Gary with comments that left me crying across the room. Mike told Gary that the day we brought him to live with us was one of the most important days in his life and Gary responded through tears telling Mike how he had so fundamentally changed our lives. Three days before the surgery I drove with Mike to a Tom Morello concert/talk in Moncton.\'a0 At noon that day I was telling myself that I must be crazy for doing it at that time.\'a0 But in fact it was such a life affirming event. Mike was the last person to leave the auditorium (the amazing Capitol Theatre) as he stood taking photos of Tom's guitars.\'a0 On the way home he reminisced about when he was in high school and Gary introduced him to the music of Rage Against the\'a0Machine. Mike took Tom's demand that we "make as much noise as possible - yell like your life depends on it, because it does" seriously.\'a0 As did the other thousand attendees.\'a0\'a0\ \ Through all this there are still moments that I feel as happy as I have ever been - being with Gary, being with Mike, and walking on Blue Beach are significant contributors to this.\'a0\'a0\ \ Take care all, I'll see you in the streets!\ \ Patrick\ \ CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE - AVIS: COURRIEL CONFIDENTIEL.\'a0\ You can view the confidentiality terms at https://laurentian.ca/confidentiality. Notre avis de confidentialit\'e9 est disponible au site https://laurentienne.ca/avis \ }