M
MyBloodRunnethOrange
Good morning everyone. I cannot tell you what a joy it has been reading all of your posts of concern and encouragement for me while I have been offline. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am actually still at the CCF as of this morning simply as a precaution to make sure my INR level is therapeutic before I fly back. They just drew some more blood a few minutes ago, so if all looks well in a few hours, I'll be bidding farewell to this great facility. WOO HOO!
I see that my lovely wife Kathy did a nice job of keeping you guys informed for me, and I'm appreciative for that. Just thought I'd take a moment to personally update everyone and once again give a most heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful people here on this community.
As Kathy had mentioned, the morning of my surgery last Thursday approached with a sudden quickness and reality all at once. We arrived with my two sisters and my mom and dad at 5:15 a.m. and they were calling me back in no time. I said my final goodbyes to my sisters and my father since only two family members can come back once they get you worked up in pre-op. My mom and my wife were then called back to say their final goodbyes a short time later. I was then wheeled down the hall in my bed and parked just outside the door to my OR room. I met with two of the great anesthesiologists that would be taking care of me and joked with them some to lighten the moment. They did a great job of explaing everything to me again and making sure I was completely comfortable at every step of the way.
My last recollection before succumbing to my little slumber was seeing the very clinical looking digital clock on the wall... thinking it would not look out of place at all at NASA. heheh
For those of you who were following my mini-saga of trying to have the On-X valve installed in case a replacement was needed, I'll insert a little aside at this point. I again met with Dr. Lars Svensson on Tuesday, May 1st for my final pre-op discussion. He discussed the results of my cardiac cath and felt confident that he would be able to perform the David procedure on me. Being the persistent pain-in-the-butt that I am, I asked again if he would at least consider the On-X valve in case a replacement was needed. I reminded him that the very gracious Ms. Catheran Burnett would graciously fly up to attend my surgery if he was so inclined to ask. Dr. Svensson gave me a sly, gracious smile and told me he would consider it. Ok... I'm getting the St. Jude I thought to myself. lol I thanked him for his time and my family and I bid him farewell.
Fast forward to the surgery. Dr. Svensson twice attempted to repair what turned out to be a significant hole in one of my leaflets but was not satisfied with the 2+ regurgitation the echo was indicating was till present. Time for plan B and the surprise of my life really. Dr. Svensson contacted my family and explained the situation. He then told my wife he would be using the On-X valve to which she replied how excited I would be when I woke up to find this out. Boy, was I ever! I had asked that Kathy simply whisper in my ear in the ICU recovery either the word "David" for the David procedure or "valve" for replacement. As soon as I could hear her voice in my ear and she instead said "On-X", I opened my eyes as wide as saucers and she said she had to laugh at how excited I looked. I know it is a moment that neither of us will ever forget, and I truly believe that knowing I had recieved the On-X valve I had so desperately wanted helped me hang on and become even more positive through the first 12 hours or so of recovery in ICU.
I have lots more to tell and promise I will update with a continuation here for those that are interested. For now, I'm gonna go grab some OJ and read the paper while I await my discharge papers hopefully.
Thanks a million to everyone here, and I'll be catching up with you soon. It sure does feel great to be on the other side of that mountain you all always talk about. Have a great day!
Chris
I am actually still at the CCF as of this morning simply as a precaution to make sure my INR level is therapeutic before I fly back. They just drew some more blood a few minutes ago, so if all looks well in a few hours, I'll be bidding farewell to this great facility. WOO HOO!
I see that my lovely wife Kathy did a nice job of keeping you guys informed for me, and I'm appreciative for that. Just thought I'd take a moment to personally update everyone and once again give a most heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful people here on this community.
As Kathy had mentioned, the morning of my surgery last Thursday approached with a sudden quickness and reality all at once. We arrived with my two sisters and my mom and dad at 5:15 a.m. and they were calling me back in no time. I said my final goodbyes to my sisters and my father since only two family members can come back once they get you worked up in pre-op. My mom and my wife were then called back to say their final goodbyes a short time later. I was then wheeled down the hall in my bed and parked just outside the door to my OR room. I met with two of the great anesthesiologists that would be taking care of me and joked with them some to lighten the moment. They did a great job of explaing everything to me again and making sure I was completely comfortable at every step of the way.
My last recollection before succumbing to my little slumber was seeing the very clinical looking digital clock on the wall... thinking it would not look out of place at all at NASA. heheh
For those of you who were following my mini-saga of trying to have the On-X valve installed in case a replacement was needed, I'll insert a little aside at this point. I again met with Dr. Lars Svensson on Tuesday, May 1st for my final pre-op discussion. He discussed the results of my cardiac cath and felt confident that he would be able to perform the David procedure on me. Being the persistent pain-in-the-butt that I am, I asked again if he would at least consider the On-X valve in case a replacement was needed. I reminded him that the very gracious Ms. Catheran Burnett would graciously fly up to attend my surgery if he was so inclined to ask. Dr. Svensson gave me a sly, gracious smile and told me he would consider it. Ok... I'm getting the St. Jude I thought to myself. lol I thanked him for his time and my family and I bid him farewell.
Fast forward to the surgery. Dr. Svensson twice attempted to repair what turned out to be a significant hole in one of my leaflets but was not satisfied with the 2+ regurgitation the echo was indicating was till present. Time for plan B and the surprise of my life really. Dr. Svensson contacted my family and explained the situation. He then told my wife he would be using the On-X valve to which she replied how excited I would be when I woke up to find this out. Boy, was I ever! I had asked that Kathy simply whisper in my ear in the ICU recovery either the word "David" for the David procedure or "valve" for replacement. As soon as I could hear her voice in my ear and she instead said "On-X", I opened my eyes as wide as saucers and she said she had to laugh at how excited I looked. I know it is a moment that neither of us will ever forget, and I truly believe that knowing I had recieved the On-X valve I had so desperately wanted helped me hang on and become even more positive through the first 12 hours or so of recovery in ICU.
I have lots more to tell and promise I will update with a continuation here for those that are interested. For now, I'm gonna go grab some OJ and read the paper while I await my discharge papers hopefully.
Thanks a million to everyone here, and I'll be catching up with you soon. It sure does feel great to be on the other side of that mountain you all always talk about. Have a great day!
Chris
