Today (Wednesday) is my sixth re-birthday. I have thought about this anniversary more than I thought I would, because just last week I received a letter from my surgeon from back in '05, who kindly reviewed CDs sent to him of CT angiograms done recently in my new location here, and concluded aortic size and valve functioning appear to be fine. There had been some concern that I was facing another aneurysm, but apparently not. Whew!
So I am enjoying my sixth valversary very much. Some of you saw my Facebook postings Monday about having gone to the hospital on Saint Valentine's Day '05 for pre-surgery instructions. Even though the surgery occurred a few days later, I'll always associate my re-birthday with Valentine's Day. Those of you with a February date, I think it's a great time for a new beginning, this time with heart.
This forum played a major role in my preparations. A wonderful angel named Mary started my pre-surgery thread. I treasured it then and I treasure it still. I can't find it in the archives now (my handle was BionicBob back then) but I did find a post-op report from my wonderful daughter Kristina: http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...nic-Bob-s-Wonder-Daughter&highlight=BionicBob
Your advice calming my fears about the breathing tube helped so much, as did your perspectives on a valve choice and so many other topics. Many of the people who helped me then are still here or with the other valve replacment site. A few, like dear Granbonny from Georgia, are not -- but she is definitely with us still and forever in spirit.
I remember the night before the surgery dining with my wife in a sports bar about a mile from the hospital. I remember walking into the hospital the next morning at 6. All I can say is that the whole experience was surreal. I did feel a certain peace with it all by then. And I remember just before they knocked me out to take me back to the operating room, my 6'-5'' son standing over me wearing a bright red St. Louis Cardinals jacket. He's always kidded me about my favorite teams, and taken the other side -- but he must have figured that if the old man was going to check out, he'd send him out happy with a vision of his son as a Redbird convert.
So much has happened since then. I have experienced the joy of grandkids being born and blossoming and progressing in school and in sports. I have been able to hike the mountains and the beaches with my trusty companion, Superdawg, who played a big role in my recovery. I am richly blessed in too many ways to enumerate here.
Without further rambling, I just wanted to thank you all for being here and for all you do.
So I am enjoying my sixth valversary very much. Some of you saw my Facebook postings Monday about having gone to the hospital on Saint Valentine's Day '05 for pre-surgery instructions. Even though the surgery occurred a few days later, I'll always associate my re-birthday with Valentine's Day. Those of you with a February date, I think it's a great time for a new beginning, this time with heart.
This forum played a major role in my preparations. A wonderful angel named Mary started my pre-surgery thread. I treasured it then and I treasure it still. I can't find it in the archives now (my handle was BionicBob back then) but I did find a post-op report from my wonderful daughter Kristina: http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...nic-Bob-s-Wonder-Daughter&highlight=BionicBob
Your advice calming my fears about the breathing tube helped so much, as did your perspectives on a valve choice and so many other topics. Many of the people who helped me then are still here or with the other valve replacment site. A few, like dear Granbonny from Georgia, are not -- but she is definitely with us still and forever in spirit.
I remember the night before the surgery dining with my wife in a sports bar about a mile from the hospital. I remember walking into the hospital the next morning at 6. All I can say is that the whole experience was surreal. I did feel a certain peace with it all by then. And I remember just before they knocked me out to take me back to the operating room, my 6'-5'' son standing over me wearing a bright red St. Louis Cardinals jacket. He's always kidded me about my favorite teams, and taken the other side -- but he must have figured that if the old man was going to check out, he'd send him out happy with a vision of his son as a Redbird convert.
So much has happened since then. I have experienced the joy of grandkids being born and blossoming and progressing in school and in sports. I have been able to hike the mountains and the beaches with my trusty companion, Superdawg, who played a big role in my recovery. I am richly blessed in too many ways to enumerate here.
Without further rambling, I just wanted to thank you all for being here and for all you do.
