Berryhill undergoing quadruple bypass surgery

SANDPOINT — Mark Berryhill, superintendent of Lake Pend Oreille School District, will undergo quadruple heart bypass surgery today at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene.

Berryhill, 58, is expected to be in the hospital four to five days and will recuperate at home for about three weeks before returning to work.

Assistant Superintendent Doug Olin will fill in during Berryhill's absence.

"This came as a big surprise," said Vickie Pfeifer, chairwoman of the Lake Pend Oreille School Board. "Mark is so active, both at the school district and in the mountains on weekends, that you just don't expect this kind of thing. Fortunately, we have a good backup in Doug Olin who can fill in until Mark is ready to come back to work."

Pfeifer and the rest of the school board met with Berryhill on Wednesday to discuss arrangements for his absence.

"Mark and his doctors expect a full and quick recovery, and so do the trustees," she added.

Doctors discovered that one artery was seriously blocked and others also were affected after Berryhill went in for testing earlier this week after complaining of fatigue and shortness of breath. After the discovery, surgery was immediately scheduled.

Berryhill said his father suffered from heart disease and the was not entirely unexpected.

"Still, it's quite a shock to get the news," Berryhill said. "The prognosis is excellent, but the timing is not. I don't like the idea of being sidelined for several weeks when so many good things are going on in the district."

Berryhill said he hopes to do some work from home before returning to the office and to "hit the slopes for some spring skiing."

According to the Web site www.HeartCenterOnline.com, coronary artery bypass is the most commonly performed surgery in the United States and around the world.