--it sure beat the "alternative"--we won't go there. The surgery was the "worst" part, and even that was quick. And now he only has to see the cardiologist every 6 months and do a "phone check" every 3 months between visits. It's really quite "easy". We did have a few "hitches"--getting the rate set at the appropriate level and eliminating "pocket pacing" which woke him at night, but those were relatively minor issues and were cleared up within 2 months. And I think that our largest battle now is avoiding sports and activities--like contact sports and typical little boy pushing/shoving/wrestling--that could result in a trauma to the abdomen (that's where they put pacemakers in the "little guys"). So if you do need a pacemaker, I hope that sharing Harry's story helps take the fear out of it for you. It has really greatly improved the quality (and probability) of his life!!! 
He had an infection once of the pacemaker site because it didn't heal well, he was on blood thinners because he had a blood clot in the artery behind his eye blinding him in that eye. They moved the pacemaker to the right side of his chest after that and he had no problems with the pacemaker after that. He died of prostate cancer last year, his heart was fine. In those 31 years he got to see my aunt get married and have 3 kids. My 2 brothers were born and he also me and my oldest brother get married. He saw my 2 kids. If it wasn't for that pacemaker, we would have lost him back then.
What a little sweetie! I tell ya, kids really smack some sense into you sometimes, don't they?! )but I sure hope he dosen't miss it too much! for me and tell him thanks for being so brave, he has inspired me.
