Paul and Jane Burgdorf. "At some point, you feel as though you're warranty has expired," Paul Burgdorf said.

Albany County Legislator Paul Burgdorf and his wife Jane.

COLONIE — The story Paul Burgdorf told me isn't one for the squeamish. But he hopes going public with his experiences might offer a few lessons and maybe save lives.

His tale begins last August, when Burgdorf was experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of a rather, well, personal nature. That led to a January colonoscopy that found two polyps, one small and one large. His doctor was concerned.

"This is when stuff started happening fast," said Burgdorf, 67, a Republican member of the Albany County Legislature from Latham.

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Burgdorf was told to consider having a section of his colon removed, prompting a scan that, as it turned out, revealed good news and news that was alarming.

First, the scan revealed no tumors. Yes!

It also revealed an aortic aneurysm. Oh God!

Burgdorf assumed the colon surgery would come first but his doctors said no, no, no. The bulge in an abdominal section of his aorta was an immediate threat requiring quick........

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