My Valve birthday

[Dennis S]

I woke up this morning to one of my favorite sights-my wife of 37 years on my right side, and vivid sunlight reflected off the canyon wall through our bedroom window and across my pillow. I am almost always the first one up, and love to lie there a moment to hear my wife?s breathing and my little St. Jude ticking.

Today it was ticking out ?Happy birthday to you-happy birthday to you-together forever-happy birthday to you?. And then he ticked out a little ?public service? announcement-one year with your wife, children and grand-daughter-provided for your blessing from God-and I, your little St. Judes-thrilled to be one of the tools he choose to deliver all those blessings. My little St. Judes-don?t leave home without it.

 

[Phyllis]

Congratulations, Dennis. I like all your sentiments.

 

[Marguerite53]

Lovely. Pure and lovely! Congratulations!!!

I, too, am an early riser and often just wake and lie there with no other purpose than to absorb the sweet breath of life. Especially now. Thanks, as ever, for your astoundingly simple yet deep, spritual thoughts.

Marguerite

 

[Christina L]

I will say it again -

I will say it again -

people on VR.com are very eloquent in their writing. This was beautiful Dennis! Congratulations on LIFE!

Christina L

 

[Karlynn]

Happy Birthday to your valve, Dennis! Wow, I can't believe it's been a year. Remember how anxious you were before your surgery...and now look at your creative self!

I wish you many, many, many more Happy Valve Birthdays.

 

[Dennis S]

Birthday present

Birthday present

My wife liked the little post that started this thread, and suggested I send a copy to the people at St. Judes. As we know, complaints seem so common, and appreciation-even when richly deserved is so rare. I thought that was a great idea and sent it off. I got back a very nice note, and was advised I would be receiving a St. Judes T-shirt as their "birthday present". That, along with the wonderful encouragements from my "valve" friends has made a wonderful start to the day.

 

[geebee]

May all your days contain bright canyon walls
and the ones you love
Gifts all in row from God above

Happy valve birthday and may you have 100 more.

 

[Brad Nowak]

My ticker's birthday too!

My ticker's birthday too!

Congratulations Dennis! Hope you get many more years out of that little rascal

Coincidentally it's exactly seven years ago today that I had my little St. Jude's friend installed. I'm pleased to say it's still working fine and I also look forward to hearing it every morning when I wake up!

Here's an interesting little anecdote that happened last week. My twin brother Scott works in the home theatre department of a Future Shop in Charlottetown PEI. He and his manager were showing a customer some high end audio equipment in a sound proof booth. Before they cranked up the volume, Scott inquired politely of the customer whether he had an artifical heart valve. His manager looked at him strangely of course, but when the customer replied "as a matter of fact, I do", the manager nearly fell over!

Of course he's heard mine tick when we used to share a room, and in the sound proof room, the ticking was even more pronounced, so he took an educated guess. The customer was impressed and bought the system!

That's one sound I'm sure I'll never get tired of hearing.

 

[catwoman]

Dennis:

Loved your post!!!!!!!

May you have many more anniversaries with your St. Jude (and thus with your wife!).

 

[Ross]

Congrats Dennis and Brad! Life is better with you both in this world with us too.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi dennis,
great post! congratulations and wishing you many more healthy valve birthdays to come!
stay well,
sylvia

 

[Dennis S]

An other birthday present:

An other birthday present:

May all your days contain bright canyon walls
and the ones you love
Gifts all in row from God above

Happy valve birthday and may you have 100 more.

Now I have my own, personal poem from our Forum's poet laureate. Thanks, Gina.

 

[OldManEmu]

Views

Views

Dennis I must say I am envious if the view from your window is like that of the photos you have posted in the past, however I hope your valve, if it is always audible isn't an issue, this was one of my concerns if I had a mechanical valve.

 

[Dennis S]

My best attempt to answer:

My best attempt to answer:

What is there to like about the sound of my valve-that is a wise and fair question. I can hear my valve if I listen for it, and I often listen for it and it sounds soft & good to me. You rightly say why would this sound good?

I can only answer by example. I don't really know what my friends breathing sounds like, and I don't care to know. We are friends, but we are not intimate. I am familiar with, and love the sound of my wife's quiet breathing in the morning before she wakes up. I love it because it is the sound of HER breath, a part of her essence, and she means everything to me. And now there is, if I listen for it, a new sound from my own heart. I associate that sound with the miracle that kept me alive. In the early morning hours it is our sound as we lay there together. Often my wife will move her head closer to hear it. She loves my ticking in the way I love her breathing. I am sure there is a lot more that could be said, but that is the best answer I can give so far. Thanks for your post-it was good to spend a few moments thinking about the message ticked out by my new valve.

 

[gadgetman]

Dennis,

Happy birthday to your little friend. Ain't life GREAT!!!!!

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[Mary]

Happy valve birthday or happy valve replacement anniversary, your choice, to both of you.

 

[Sherry]

Congratulations to both of you.