Mt. Prospect trustee back after heart surgery

Mount Prospect Trustee Michael Zadel returned to his seat in the council chambers Tuesday following successful heart surgery.

At the end of the meeting, he said, "I would like to express my appreciation to my colleagues here on the board, and to the village staff for taking time out of a very, very busy time to wish me well during my time of ill health."

Zadel also thanked residents for sending best wishes.

Zadel suffered a mild heart attack Aug. 26, the Sunday after the big storm. "Not that there was a relationship between those two things," he said.

After waking up in the middle of the night with chest pains, he was taken to Northwest Community Hospital and was immediately prepared for angioplasty after an artery was found to be 100 percent blocked.

He said he is recovering nicely, adding there was no permanent damage to the heart muscle.

On doctor's orders, Zadel missed two village board meetings, including one where trustees approved an increase in the home-rule sales tax.

Mount Prospect Mayor Irvana Wilks welcomed Zadel back, saying she knows his wife is keeping him away from high-calorie foods and cigars.