Rose's Posts

Well, I will say this.... EIGHT YEARS! Today marks 8 years since my aortic valve replacement, ascending aneurysm, arch and root repair! I feel great! At my last cardiologist visit in April, he said my heart sounded so crisp that he could hear the leaflets. All is well. Thank you all for your support over the years. ❤️

7 YEARS! - Today marks seven years since my open heart surgery! I am so thankful for all of the support I received seven years ago and still on this site all these years later. As what has recently been said here, people don't get it. But this group of heart warriors get it! Open heart surgery is a big deal and we know it. I still think of my surgeon, Dr. Peter Pavlina because he was so skilled and very compassionate when I showed back up to the hospital with complications. My husband, Rick (my Richard 😊), said he felt that God told him that Dr. Pavlina was the one and I'd say he was right. And my sweetheart was the best caregiver ever. I don't know how I could have gone through this without him. I did have a lot of complications so I don't sugar coat the experience, nor do I ever tell someone they will do fine. We never know how it will go. But in having the complications, I can certainly tell others that I was able to overcome them. A positive attitude; family and friends support; and my unwavering faith in God helped me through those rough times. And those in the "class of 2017" were so valuable to me. We will forever have a special bond. I honestly can say that I was not scared of the surgery because I knew I needed to do it. Apprehensive? Maybe, but I knew that whatever the outcome, God is in control. The worse case scenario would be that I would go to heaven. But God had a plan for me. Now, my heart is doing great. I feel better than I ever have and am grateful for my health. I am also grateful for my cardiologist because it was he who figured out why I was having the complications that I had. He definitely had a part in saving my life. The staff at the hospital were all so great and they celebrated my leaving after the second operation by having all the patients in the step down who were able to wheel their hospital chairs to the door and send me off with a little parade of sorts. They all took extra care to make me comfortable. The best advice I can give is to not compare yourself to others. Your recovery is your own. We are all different. And I can't end this without thanking Adam for this site. His book was also very helpful. God bless all of you waiting and those in recovery!