Schroeder is on the road to recovery
Brewers’ TV analyst had life-threatening scare
PHOENIX – Bill Schroeder had good reason to feel happier than ever to be back in the booth for the Milwaukee Brewers' first televised game of the spring Thursday.
That's because Schroeder was happy to still be alive.
Schroeder learned just before Christmas that he was a walking time bomb, with an aortal aneurysm that was ready to burst at any moment, as well as a defective heart valve and 60% blockage in one of his major arteries.
“I'm very fortunate. If it wasn't detected, they call these aortas the ‘widow makers,' ” Schroeder said. “If they burst, you're pretty much gone.”
On Dec. 23, Schroeder spent nearly 12 hours on the operating table at Froedtert Hospital, with cardiac surgeon Paul Pearson performing a double bypass while fixing the various heart issues that put Schroeder's life in jeopardy. Cardiologist James Kleczka, who addressed previous heart issues of Brewers Hall of Fame radio voice Bob Uecker, did so with Schroeder as well.
Schroeder, 61, told his story to TV viewers, with the help of broadcast partner Brian Anderson, to provide the background for why he will be cutting back on his schedule somewhat while still recovering from surgery. Former Brewers infielder Jeff Cirillo helped fill
in on the initial broadcast and will do so with two others.
“Down here, I’m not going to do backto-back games,” said Schroeder, now in his 26th season as TV analyst for the Brewers.
“I’m probably going to do four or five innings in the beginning. Toward the end of spring, I’ll jump back in and be ready for the season.”
As for the regular season, Schroeder said, “Basically, I’m going to take a few road trips off. Nothing is etched in stone. Dr. Kleczka said four to six months is when you really start to feel good. I’m at two months and a week now. I’m feeling really good about where I’m at, but I’ll be taking a few trips off, at least, at the beginning of the year.”
Schroeder, who caught for the Brewers
from 1983-88, didn’t want to make a big deal about his setback but hoped by telling his story that others who aren’t feeling quite right might see their doctor and avoid dire consequences.
“I never knew I actually had a problem with my heart,” he said. “It started around midseason last year. I just felt tired all the time. Not to the point where I couldn’t get out of bed or anything. I just wasn’t feeling 100%. I figured I’m getting a little bit older and the season gets kind of long.
“Then, the off-season came around and I was resting and sleeping well, and I’d wake up and was tired. I felt exhausted. Around Thanksgiving, I was dragging garbage cans back and forth, and I had some tightness in my chest. I didn’t think anything of it. But I went in for my annual prostate exam/physical, and (Brewers internist Craig) Young did a pretty good job identifying that my heart was skipping beats and was irregular.”
Schroeder’s blood pressure was sky high, so he went to Kleczka, who performed an electrocardiogram that detected a birth defect in a heart valve. Blood wasn’t flowing back and forth properly, which enlarged the heart as it worked harder. An aneurysm had formed in the aorta, so next thing Schroeder knew, he was scheduled for surgery.
While recovering, Schroeder had to sit out the “Brewers On Deck” fan fest in January as well as the team’s annual fantasy camp here, which he normally directs.
But, considering the circumstances, he was happy to be in the TV booth Thursday.
“I can’t thank the folks enough, everybody who helped out during the process, including my wife, Kate. She’s been great. She makes sure I take my medicine and am not lifting more than 10 pounds. I feel good. My heart (Schroeder knocked on wood) has been pumping good, the rhythm is good, the blood pressure is good.
“But I’m on a lot of medications and you get a little foggy. When you’re on a lot of medication and haven’t been on before, it takes a little while to get accustomed to it. I’m just delighted I’m in Arizona. Two days after Christmas, I never would have thought I’d be here.
“It’s been a tough process, but it’s been a gratifying process. One of the doctors that came in and checked on me before surgery, he looked at me and he says, ‘You know, you should feel very lucky, because a lot of people come in here and we can’t fix them. We can fix what’s wrong with you. So if you’re feeling sorry for yourself, don’t.’
“Those were good words of advice. Really good words of advice.”
Asked if it saved his life to discover his heart issues when they did, Schroeder said, “Absolutely. No doubt. Dr. Kleczka said, and I quote, ‘You’re one lucky son of a bitch.’ ”