THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
Q and A with Dick Noel
Tennis enthusiast resumes playing after heart surgery
Monday, Sep 25 2006 10:20 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Sep 25 2006 10:24 PM
Dick Noel began playing tennis just before his junior year in high school 46 years ago.
His family had little money, so he never had lessons and seldom could afford a racket or
new tennis balls.
Still, Noel earned a tennis scholarship to the University of Portland, where he played No.
1 singles and doubles. He met his wife Mary while giving tennis lessons in Portland the
summer before leaving for graduate school in Colorado, and he started each of his two
sons playing almost as soon as they could walk.
The entire Noel family became accomplished tennis players, and sons Mike and Steve
earned tennis scholarships to Division I schools. Dick and his oldest son Mike won two
national titles.
Dick's tennis career came to a halt in 1998 when he was diagnosed with a mitral valve
prolapse and leakage. After failing a stress test, an angiogram was done to confirm the
diagnosis.
Dick took up golf and put his tennis racquets on the shelf. In October 2005, Dick's
cardiologist decided it was time to fix the leaky valve and he had open heart surgery.
After making a full recovery, Dick began playing tennis again in April. A mere nine
months after surgery, Dick was a finalist for the 40-and-older Kern County Doubles title
and won several rounds in the open division of the Kern County Men's Doubles
Championships.
What were the national titles you and your family won?
There are three. In 1985 Mike and I won the National Equitable Family Father/Son
Tournament and in 1986 we won a gold ball for winning the USTA National Father/Son
Hardcourt Championship in La Jolla.
Also in 1986, Mary teamed with Mike to win the Equitable Family Mother/Son
Tournament. Steve and I won the trip to New York for the Equitable Tournament in
1987, but I tore my ACL just before the trip, and we had to retire after winning our first
round.
Before you failed your stress test, did you know something was wrong?
No, it came as a total shock. I thought they had made a mistake and assumed they would
realize their error at each subsequent test. Although I had never had really good
endurance, I just never realized it could be due to a heart problem.
Did the cardiologist tell you to stop playing tennis?
No, he said I could play at a low level, but I didn't see how I could enjoy tennis if I had to
play half-heartedly. Instead, I took up golf and made it to an 8 handicap, and started
playing a lot more music gigs on my accordion. There's pretty much a black hole for five
years when I ignored most things about tennis and turned to other interests.
Did you know you were going to have to have the surgery to fix the valve?
Yes, I knew it was in my future but I wasn't sure when.
When did you find out you were going to have open heart surgery?
At my annual cardiologist checkup last September, the doctor said it was time to fix the
problem. I investigated different surgeons, made my choice, and decided to do it right
away so I could be in good shape by the next summer.
How did you prepare for surgery?
I stopped drinking coffee so I wouldn't need any caffeine after surgery. I was in pretty
good shape, so I was looking forward to the surgery because I knew after I recovered I
would feel better.
Were you nervous?
I was calm, cool and collected. I was eager to have the surgery and put the whole thing
behind me. I was doing great until I was wheeled into the operating room and then I
almost lost it.
Luckily the anesthesiologist put me to sleep quickly because he knew I was starting to
panic.
How did you feel when you woke up?
Amazingly, I had almost no pain, except when they pulled out some of the drain tubes. I
was a bit disoriented upon waking up, and told my family to get somebody to turn off the
slot machines next door (actually the sounds of the ICU equipment). I was walking the
next day and was released to go home just three days after surgery.
How long was your recovery?
Well, my ribs were sore for about two months, I couldn't do much during that time. I also
had a scare after one month when my heartbeat got up to 200 or so, but after four days in
the hospital and getting a drug to help stabilize my heart rhythm, I recovered and have
been steadily improving.
The surgery really takes a toll on your body. I didn't feel really good until several months
later.
When did you start playing tennis again?
I started hitting balls four months after surgery and began competing again seven months
after.
What are your plans for your tennis?
I want to keep playing with juniors and some of the open players, as well as with a
variety of players closer to my age. I've been hitting with a lot of the juniors, and love to
see them improve. I'm considering playing some sectional or national senior tournaments
along with local open and 4.5 tournaments.
Do you have any advice for someone going through open heart surgery?
Like any other surgery, try to get the best surgeon you can. Talk to others who have had
similar surgeries -- they can tell you what to expect and give you some tips on how to
handle problems that come up. Then just enjoy whatever activities your body allows.
-- Barb Johnston