Surgery two days away!!

[twoboysdad]

Hello everyone,

Well my surgery is Monday Oct. 18 and today is Saturday Oct 16. Only two more days!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has given me thier support here. This site has been a God Send for Michelle and Me.

There is not much thinking in my head other than the surgery and what I will be doing afterwards. Thanks to all of you I have been focusing on what I will be doing with my new life after surgery than dwelling on the pre surgery and the surgery itself.

I am going to try to make it to sunday chat for one last chat with everyone.

Thanks again for all your support and prayers.

Jeff

 

[geebee]

We will keep you in our prayers

We will keep you in our prayers

Jeff,

Please take our caring and thoughts to the OR with you. If numbers are any measure of how prayers work, you have it made.

Smile at the OR staff and remember to just be happy when you wake up after surgery. Waking up means you made over the mountain and the valley is a very nice place.

Make sure someone is around to run ice chips over your lips. That will be the best gift anyone can give you besides getting you through surgery.

Good luck and God bless,
Gina

 

[Phyllis]

Best wishes for a speedy and uneventful experience - we look forward to hearing all "good things" on the other side of the mountain!

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Jeff

You will be in my prayers on Monday morning......I have no doubt you will be fine. Please have someone post when they can to let us know how you're doing. The best part is that it will be over soon and you can start your "new, healthy life" for your family.

Evelyn

 

[Christina L]

Jeff,

I don't post much any more, but saw your post stating your surgery is in a couple of days. I want to wish you well and know that all on this board who have "gone before" will be thinking of you and praying for you. You are going to be just fine!!

I am getting ready to head to the VR.com reunion in Golden today - we live about two hours from Golden and will spend the night in Golden tonight, meeting for the first time other members of VR.com. I am so excited to meet these wonderful people who helped me SO much in the past year - it will be a year on November 6, that I had mitral valve repair in Cleveland. I can't believe it!!

You have come to the right place - stay with VR.com in the coming months and it will help you tremendously to get through those first trying months after heart surgery.

God speed!!!

Christina L.

 

[Kelly Luisi]

Jeff -YOU ARE ALMOST THERE! All the worry before surgery will soon give way to "this was not so bad"! Looking back, all the fears I had about the breathing tube, are barely a memory! I can hardly remember the ICU. All the things I worried about, turned out to be not that big of a deal.
Recovery is tiring! Allow yourself plenty of time to sleep! Prepare Michelle for ICU and all the tubes she will see on you after surgery! Just remember Michelle the tubes are "all good" and there to speed the recovery along. Mainly just drainage tubes. They will get you up within a day after surgery in ICU, you CAN do it! Ask Michelle to have ICU give you Popcycles as they are so refreshing!
We are praying for a speedy OR trip and recovery for you Jeff. I just know you are going to do great! Feel free to email me with specific questions. Each day I am feeling a little stonger and better! GODSPEED!!!!!!

Kelly

 

[twoboysdad]

Many Thanks

Many Thanks

Today has been pretty tring.

I have been on edge for most of the day. I sat down for a moment and thought "Ill check out VR.com" And wouldnt you know, now I am a little more cheerful.

Thanks so much.

"I am at the base of the mountain now. Its time to pack up and head out. The mountains not going to climb itself!"

Jeff

 

[Ross]

Jeff am I going to have to temporarily ban you from the site to get you to take the wife and get out and get your mind off of this for a spell? Go spend some quality time with each other and get off the computer. We will be here before, during, and after your in recovery. We walk in with you, go through it with you, and wait as patiently as possible for the good news afterwards just as if we were family right there with you.

Go on now, shue! Enjoy yourself and talk to us later!

 

[momshell7]

Thanks Ross

Thanks Ross

Ross, you are the best!! I wish you were here to pull the plug on the computer! Jeff has spent most of the day trying to get his wireless internet set up. What a major pain!! We are suppose to go out to dinner in half an hour and he is at Walmart getting stuff for his computer! I will be so glad when this is over and he is driving me crazy because he is tired of being stuck at home!!

Will keep everyone posted just as soon as I get to a computer on Monday!

We love you all. You are a great family to have found!!

Michelle

 

[tobagotwo]

Actually, Jeff, the mountain pretty much does climb itself, at least at the beginning. You're carried most of the way up by family, friends, nurses, technicians and your surgical team. You don't really get much say until the surgery's done. And when you come to after it's done, the peak is in sight.

Then you lead the final assault. You survey the view and plant the flag. Then you lead the team back down the other side, still dangerous, but safer every step.

I'll be thinking of you and your surgery as I go to work, and as I pause between other tasks during the day. And so will many others. The operating room will be crowded with thoughts for you.

I know Michelle will post with news for us, as she knows we'll be hanging around our computers, waiting.

Pack up and go, Jeff. You'll be so happy to have this behind you.

Best wishes,

 

[Rich]

Jeff,
The very best to you on Monday.
I will look forward to hearing from Michelle regarding your success story.
Now try to relax and enjoy this time, your new life is right around the corner.

 

[Raverlaw]

Jeff,

You've got the right attitude. Enjoy your weekend and spend some quality time with Michelle and the boys. Then go in on Monday and get it done!

Michelle,

Hang in there. You will be surprised at how quickly this passes. And be prepared for afterwards - Jeff will have energy he hasn't had in all the time you've known him. Prepare to keep up!

My thoughts will be with you both on Monday.

 

[Kay]

Jeff,

You're almost there! You're about to go to sleep and wake up on the right side of that monumental mountain. I'm counting on you to give me the "real deal" account of how it was! I mean the unadulterated truth!

In my short time as part of this fabulous vr.com family, I'm so reassured each day as the newest surgery patients post. They all do well and say it wasn't nearly as bad as they had feared. Plus, most are getting out of the hospital in just a few days. It's so encouraging to those of us still facing our own surgery that all of you brave folks before us do so well so fast.

My prayer for you is PEACE. Enjoy this weekend with your precious family and feel peace as you know all of us are praying for your successful surgery and uneventful speedy recovery. You're ALMOST THERE!

I'll be eagerly watching the board every time I have a break on Monday to see Michelle's post as she graduates to the Post-Surgery side of the mountain. We'll all be rejoicing with her while you're still sleeping through it.

And don't forget you're going to give me THE DETAILS!

Kay

 

[lemonstuff]

Almost there!

Almost there!

Jeff,

Try to relax a bit and enjoy the rest of the weekend. We will be thinking of you on Monday and will be there when you need us afterward! I'll be looking forward to hearing updates from your wife on your progress!

Best wishes!
Stephanie

 

[Granbonny]

I will be thinking of your tomorrow. You will be fine After, that good=feel shot. La-la-land.. Bonnie

 

[Debrinha GT]

Good luck tomorrow!

Good luck tomorrow!

Hi Jeff and Michelle, wishing you all the best for tomorrow. Have faith in God and everything will be just fine! See you around in a few days. Take care.
Débora from Brazil

 

[twoboysdad]

Thanks everyone for the prayers and well wishes.

I took all of your advice (Ross) and spent the last two evening doing something with the family.

Saturday night Michelle and I went out to one of our favorite restaurant and had a nice dinner.

Sunday we spent the day at COSI with the kids. Then we went to my parents for dinner.

It funny how I feel today. Its almost as if a calm has come over me. I think its knowing all of you are praying for me and are there, I know God is watching over, and the simple fact that What can I do? stressing wont do any good now.

Oh well. I have about 3 hours left to eat or drink and some sleep to get. (like i will sleep very much tonight) I wont be posting anymore after this until Iam home. Michelle will keep you all up to date.

See you on the other side of the mountain! Many thanks to you all!

Jeff

 

[Mary]

God speed, Jeff.
Mary

 

[geebee]

Smiles

Smiles

I sure wish I had this website before my surgeries. I think I would have been so very happy to have so many people pulling for me. Of course I had family & friends but that is different from those who actually KNOW what you're going through.
Jeff, I so wish you well tomorrow and I look forward to an update from your family after surgery.
Will also watch for your first posting once you are well enough to do so.
Take care and God bless,
Gina

 

[Bryan B]

Jeff & Michelle,

I don't know if you'll peak your head in before tomorrow, but I wanted to wish you the best tomorrow. I'll be in the OR with the rest of the VR crowd cheering Jeff on to the other side. Now that the waiting is all but over, it's time to turn it over to the surgeon, the hospital staff, and and your higher power and let them do their thing. You'll be surprised how quickly this will all be over with, and before you know it you'll be back at home recovering. I will be looking forward to reading your updates!