First AVR Anniversary

[Don]

One year ago today, on April 12, 2002, I had my stenotic aortic valve replaced by Dr. Cosgrove at the Cleveland Clinic. They did well; I am doing very well. My surgery was minimally invasive; my replacement valve is a Edwards Lifesciences Bovine Pericardial Heart Valve, 25 mm Aortic.
I felt that I was asymptomatic prior to the surgery but I'm feeling even better now. I'll be celebating my 70'th birthday in a few days. Life is good.
My thanks to the people at the VR.com web site who helped me find the courage to have this surgery performed.
Best wishes to all,
Don

 

[Creed3]

Don,
Congratulations on your one year anniversary. I'm glad to hear that things are going very well for you. I wish you many more happy healthy years.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[ccrawford]

Congratulations Don!

Congratulations Don!

Hi Don - good to hear from you and to learn that you are doing well. Some of us are still waiting to climb the mountain, and its always great to hear from those who have already made the trip successfully. Best of wishes to you in the upcoming year. Chris

 

[Georgia]

Congratulations, Don

Congratulations, Don

I have to tell you, Don, that I am really impressed with those folks who go through this surgery who feel "fine" and are asymptomatic prior to the surgery. I know that being 53 and feeling like a sickly 96 removed all decision-making - I was sick & they said I needed to have this done right away or else.

To feel good and decide to go through this takes real strength of character and my hat's off to you and all the others out there who did the same.

 

[Scottie]

Congratulations Don

Congratulations Don

I'm delighted that things are going so well for you Don ....Congratulations ...the first yr anniversary is a big mile stone to have passed successfully . Have a wonderful day on your birthday and a wonderful yr to follow on. Take care
Scottie
Happy Birthday to you !
(Imagine me singing it badly in a Scottish accent )

 

[Jan]

Ist Anniversary

Ist Anniversary

Hi Don,

Congratulation on your 1st anniversary,

Here's too many more,

keep smiling

Jan

 

[hensylee]

Hey, Don - can it be a whole year???? Time goes fast. It is great that you are doing so well. This first anniversary is a milestone and I think all of us breathe a sigh of relief once we reach it. Kinda like "I made it - hooray - now I can really get on with my life". Right? Keep on truckin and enjoy that 70th - it's a milestone, too. I reached mine last year. Congratulations on your first birthday.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Hello, Don, and my sincere congratulations on reaching this milestone. Here's wishing you a happy birthday as well!

 

[Don]

Thank you, thank you

Thank you, thank you

Gail, Chris, Georgia, Scottie, Jan, Hensylee, Johnny Stephens,
Thank you for responding to my post. I greatly appreciate your well wishes.
Georgia, don't be too impressed with my timing. I waited for 12 months after my cardiolgist's recommendation to have the surgery. It wasn't until I saw the stats on my heart enlarging that I decided to schedule AVR. Fortunately, as of my Oct. 24 check-up, my heart has returned to within normal thickness levels due to the decreased pressure permitted by the bovine valve.
And one more comment for Georgia: February 2003 is way to early in the recovery process for you to bounce back to feeling like a young 30-year old. Here's looking forward to hearing about your First Aniversary.
Best wishes to all,
Don

 

[Nancy]

Hi Don-

Belated One Year Happy Anniversary!

 

[Ross]

Happy Belated Anniversary from me too!