THEY CALL HIM THE BOSS...

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MORE ON THE CONCERN LATER IN THE POST....

He may not be Springsteen, but around here Sayed Ahmadjan (MD) is known as the boss. He's the attending senior physician in charge of caring for people like me on the 6th floor of the University of Iowa Hospital. He manages more than a handful of people, as part of an internal medicine team that oversees my case and makes all the decisions regarding my treatment. His group is the primary work team who shares data with surgeons, neurologists, and other departments. As Dr. Ahmadjan notes, "medicine at an academic hospital like Iowa is a team sport, and the interface between doctors and departments was the reason I chose Iowa".

When I asked him about my case, Dr. Ahmadjan indicated that, "I am dealing with an infection that is not uncommon, but still has the power to affect the valves of my heart, where all of the blood passes through. In doing so, it catches bits of the infection and passes it to other places. That is shown through MRI images that depict spots on my brain. We know the infection is active, we know it has produced vegetation on a valve in your heart, and alowed enough bacteria through a valve leakage to create bleeding in your brain. Heart specialists now believe you did experience a stroke".

The big question facing Dr. Ahmadjan and his collegues now is how to treat the infection and will I need surgery or just antibiotics to correct it. In fact, I am scheduled to undergoe a full CAT scan Tuesday which is designed to pinpoint the location of diseased cells through a radio tracer, (nuclear medicine that is injected into the body). Hot spots, concentrated areas of diseased cells, give doctors specific targets to focus treatment on.

Then the tables were turned on me as Dr. Ahmadjan asked what my experience has been with all this and how I see things unfolding going forward?

Terry: I see it unfolding in a scientific way , and that's important to me because that's my mindset. I like the fact your team involves multiple sources when you make decisions, and so I feel like I'm not getting just one guys opinion. I've always been a believer that two or more heads are better than one as long as someone doesn't dominate or influence the results unduely. I like that approach. Aside from that, I've always been impressed by the knowledge and quality of my team, as well as their willingness to spend so such time on my case at such a personal level.

Terry: Now Dr., I'm supposed to be the one interviewing you here (laughing), although, I'm happy to answer your questions, I just didn't want to waste your time on something that wasn't about you. WHY? because, this is all about you, and what you bring to the table for me. I'm plum thrilled to have you and this amazing team.

Dr Ahmadjan: I've enjoyed taking care of you and I think the way you have dealt with it is pretty impressive actually. We deal with these things every day and we get desensitized to it. It's kind of a requirement of the job, to be objective, and to do that you have to be detached a little bit. But also from a patient's perspective it's different. You are a pretty health guy and all of a sudden you have to deal with something this signifcant that's affecting you heart and your brain. It's a lot to deal with and I get that and we'll do all we can to get you back on your feet.

That my friends, is my Doctor, born in Pakistan. Some might say, well he's an American now. But that would be a disservice and unjust. He is a kind, compassionate man, with a wife, raising a small child, saving lives in America. He's gold as far as I'm concerned and what I would call, a brother from another mother!

SEVERE WEATHER IN PARTS OF THE MIDWEST TUESDAY

For several days now modeling has been pointing at the central Midwest for the possibility of severe thunderstorms Tuesday. That threat remains in play but is going to be dictated by mesocale details related to storms that brushed the north Monday night. One to watch is an outflow boundary that sets up from EC Iowa into far southern Wisconsin. This pocket of convectively cooler air will back the flow creating a band of strong shear that looks sufficient to produce strong supercells. Currently this appears to bring the best threat of severe weather to my far northern counties in Iowa and Illinois into Wisconsin.

Around 3:00pm the HRRR shows temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s south.

Dew points around that time are near 70 in parts of EC Iowa. Very muggy for mid April.

It also generates excessive CAPE in the far north close to 4,000 j/kg. That's explosive anytime of the year.

The significant tornado parameter ranges from 11-15 just north of the Illinois border. That is robust.

That indicates the potential for strong tornadoes mid afternoon and evening from I-80 north into Wisconsin. The HRRR shows an impressive Helicity track indicating a long track supercell from near Dubuque to Janesville to a little west of Milwaukee. It will be interesting to see if that trend is still alive Tuesday morning. That's an ominous one if it holds in later runs.

For now, SPC holds with an enhanced risk of severe weather over much of the region. That is for all modes of severe weather including very large hail (2-3 inches) and tornadoes.

With storms potentially lingering into Wednesday night, locally heavy rains are possible, especially where the strongest updrafts pass. This is what models are indicating for rainfall through Thursday.

The HRRR

The 3K NAM

THE Rapid Refresh

The National Model Blend

The EURO

The GFS

After a quiet day Thursday, another round of showers and storms appears likely Friday night and early Saturday. With the passage of the front and much cooler drier air, the wet pattern takes a dry break much of next week. Temperatures remain mild through Friday before taking a noticeable dip come Saturday. Keep an eye to the sky later today and as always, roll weather...TS