• Holiday Seasons,  Holidays

    Merry Christmas

    December 25, 2018

    As I mentioned in my last post I had open heart surgery on Dec 5th. All went well during surgery, that was a piece of cake, but the recovery is not for the faint of heart. The valve is  21mm piece of cow and I have no idea what part of the cow. My hospital stay of 4-5 days became 9 days due to a couple of hiccups. I had a mild stroke on my left side but all is good now with no side effects. I also had retention after removing the catheter which added a couple of days. On Wednesday, a week after surgery my heart went into AFIB which extended my stay one more day.

    Good to be home but do not have much energy. Doctors tell me to expect that for about 2 months.  I’m finding out how little patience I have.

    I cannot say enough for the nursing staff of the cardio ICU and the cardio RU. Awesome people who dedicate themselves to keepin people alive. I can also say that about the surgery staff. I was impressed when they all walked into my room the morning I left and signed the heart shaped coughing pillow for my sternum.

    Thanks for prayers and thoughts and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

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  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Humor,  lifestyles

    Valve Job

    December 5, 2018

    No, this is not my valve
    No, this is not my valve

    Today they will pop the hood and do the valve job. At pre-op last week I learned that this morning I will have a tube down my nose, a tube down my throat, and a catheter inserted. Sounds like fun, huh!

    Today I am grateful for life, what I’ve accomplished and all I still dream of accomplishing, my family and friends, and each new lease on life. Hopefully this surgery with offer me another lease. If so, then I believe my task will be to use the coming years to the fullest, whatever that may be.

    The new aortic valve will look different than the one pictured above and definitely be much smaller. The valves are usually made of pig or cow, somehow. The doctors have chosen to use one made from a cow which has an expected lifetime of 15-20 years, about 5 more than a pig.

     I have really not had much worry but every once in awhile a feeling of fear arises then subsides. The surgery does not bother me as much as the recovery. Probably not going to be posting much for a while but will get back on line as soon as I’m able. Thanks for being a part of my life! 

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