Scheduled Surgery Date - August 28th

[oscar1113]

I learned today that Dr. Lars Svennson at the Cleveland Clinic will be performing my operation on August 28th. My wife and I are very happy to now have a date on the calendar and relieved to have a highly regarded surgeon doing the procedure. I've done a lot of research and have learned a great deal from everyone on this forum. Thank you.

Between now and the surgery I plan to tell my four children ages 3-11 about the procedure. We are going to the beach for vacation in mid-August and I plan to tell them before we leave. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Phyllis]

You are going to a great place with a great doctor and I'm sure all will be fine. I put you on the calendar so now it's "official"!

 

[hall]

I think you will be in good hands at the clinic. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[CJoelHenry]

My kids and Grand kids are coming over today. We will tell the 10 and 12 year old, and not the 5 and 7 year old unless they ask why I am gone next week.

This is what my wife told me, personally I would tell them I am going out of town on business, but I do not always make good choices......I do not wish to feel like "the last supper" even though it kinda is.

Good job on choosing your location and setting the date!

Keep smiling,

CJ

 

[WayneGM]

Sounds like your in good hands. Congratulations on setting the date. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[queenie]

My kids were 7&8 when I had my first AVR. I told them my heart wasn't working right and I was having surgery to fix it, I tried to prepare them for mommy not feeling good and not being able to do things for them for awhile. They stayed with friends while I was away for the surgery. They hardly remember anything about it. I am sitting in the Cleveland clinic now awaiting my second AVR and they are 13&14. It's a different game this time around. They have had a hard time with this. They are very scared even though I have tried to assure them the best I can we are in the best place possible. I feel you have to be honest with kids but, as a mother, I also want to protect them as much as possible too.

 

[kfay]

My kids were older than yours, 14 and 11, when I had my surgery in April. I had known since Nov. that I would have surgery soon, but did not tell them until March. I didn't want them to have too much time to obsess about it. They knew that I had a "heart condition" and I just told them it was time to go get it fixed. I didn't go into all of the details and they didn't ask although I gave them many chances to talk about it. I might consider waiting until the end of your vacation to tell them so that if one of them is the worrying kind, they won't spend the whole vacation worrying about it.
I also wouldn't let them come see you in ICU if you're having your surgery in the city you live in. I don't know that I would have let mine come at all. It freaked them out enough to see me 9 days post op (I think that that was really the first time it hit them that I had had a serious operation and the bump at the top of the incision really bothered my daughter).

Good luck to you and I hope you have a nice vacation.

Kim

 

[thenewmarket]

Best wishes on your August surgery! Dr. Svennson performed my husband's bicuspid aortic valve repair and aneurysm repair last September. I am sure you already know that you are in good hands with him as your surgeon.

As far as your children go, I think honesty is always the best policy. Even though they are young they will pick up on your emotions, etc. If you tell them what you are facing, (to the degree they can understand) you won't have to constantly guard against what you are feeling and also what you discuss in their presence. In my opinion, open heart surgery is a family affair no matter the ages of our children. You truly need each other to make it through!

The days ahead will hold many challenges, but you and your family will do well!

 

[Okielady]

I found out today that my surgery will be on August 28 as well. It is a month away but I bet it will go by fast. I have two different days between now and then that I have to go and have some testing done and then trying to get everything together and all in order for the big day. I hope your surgery goes well. Mine is supposed to be a mitral valve repair that will be robotic and not require open heart. It is much less invasive and the heal time should be faster. I don't have kids involved, only a spoiled dog. I'm sure it will be very difficult to explain to them and not have them worry. Good luck and I will be thinking about you.

 

[ricks399]

Congratulations

Congratulations

on getting a date. I'm sure it's comforting to know you're going to a great hospital with a great surgeon! Hope you have a great vacation and I think you should tell your kids as much as they can understand. I know with a 3 year old that's difficult.

 

[Cooker]

Wishing you the best....Godspeed

 

[oscar1113]

Thank you to everyone. We are planning to talk to the kids about the surgery on Sunday. I think they will react by reading their parents. if we are confident (which we are), they will be less anxious.