Laurie's Profile

I was told I had a heart murmur back in 1999. I was referred to a cardiologist and had annual checkups to monitor the mitral valve. Over the years, the regurgitation progressed from mild to moderate to severe. I underwent robotic minimally invasive valve repair at Mayo Clinic on September 25, 2023. During the surgery, a TEE was performed to check the repair. The surgeons (they use two for this procedure) didn’t like the way the valve pulled in on itself and made a second repair while they still had me under. At some point, my right lung was damaged and bleeding. The right lung must be deflated during this procedure so the surgeons can get to the heart valve. That additional challenge made my recovery more difficult. My heart went into a fib the night after surgery so I spent a few extra days in the hospital. I was discharged six days after surgery on my birthday. Best birthday ever!