Near death in June, Gov. Robert P. Casey underwent a rare heart and liver transplant and battled his way back to health.
Now he's heading back to work today and promising to serve out his term."I made a four-year contract with the people," he said last week.
His doctor, while pleased with Casey's progress, warned Monday that the governor needs to take it easy.
"It'll probably be too much for him to try and jump into a full schedule right off the bat," said William Follansbee, Casey's heart specialist.
Casey should work at the governor's mansion when possible and curtail meetings to a few hours a day for at least four weeks, Follansbee said. After that, his progress will determine whether he can become more active.
Casey signed over his duties to Lt. Gov. Mark Singel just before the June 14 surgery. While he heads into an eighth and final year as governor, his top aides insist he will not be a part-time executive. By law, he cannot run for a third consecutive term.
When Casey went to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in June for tests, doctors found him half dead from amyloidosis, a rare inherited disease in which the liver produces abnormal proteins that clog the intestines, heart and nerves.
Doctors found his heart so stiff it could hardly beat. His pulse was irregular. He was lightheaded. A fatal heart attack could have struck at any minute.
Doctors didn't want Casey out of their sight, so the governor moved into the hospital to wait for a new heart and liver. He waited just two days for a donor.
Now, he's walking up to a half-mile at a time. He no longer becomes woozy when he stands, a sign of progress against the amyloidosis, and his immune system, even while suppressed by anti-rejection drugs, is producing antibodies to fight infection.