Kate's Posts

Just signing in to make note of THIRTEEN years with my “new and improved” heart. I can hardly believe it as I type it. Our 8 year old son is now a rising Junior in college.. time flies. As the poet Patrick Kavanaugh has written, the Irish never forget that they have to die. Those of us here are blessed with the very same insight . Dare I say we have an inner strength which few know. Everyone’s journey is different. Mine gave me a new pair of glasses to view my life with, in addition to two repaired valves. For all of the above I am very, very grateful.

Just signing on to make note of SEVEN great years with my "new and improved" heart! On May 14, 2012, Dr. David Adams repaired my mitral and tricuspid valves at NYC's Mt. Sinai Hospital. I am happy to report I have enjoyed many wonderful years of excellent heart health, and I would like to give another sincere "thank you" to Dr. Adams. In addition, I would like to give a big "shout out" to those wonderful HVJ friends I made along the way (and in the corridors of Mt. Sinai), especially Selma, Regina, and Nancy B. I hope and pray you all continue to experience excellent health as well. My very best healing wishes to those of you currently preparing for, or recovering from, heart valve surgery. If I had one final thought to share it would be to recommend continued participation in your local Cardiac Rehab's "maintenance" program, if at all possible. I enrolled in my Cardiac Rehab's maintenance program after I "graduated." I venture to say it has been a critical ingredient to my continued heart health these past several years. I have found it to be a wonderful place to both give and receive support/friendship with those who truly understand what we went through... we're quite a special group! Again, best wishes to everyone in the HVS community, and here's to another terrific year of heart health!

Just signing in to make note of (celebrate!) four great years with my repaired and much improved heart! Eternal thanks to Dr. Adams, and a big shout out to my hospital roommate Regina and fellow patients Selma and Nancy B..... I hope and pray you all are well and are celebrating too!!