Cheryle's Guestbook

Cheryle Bird  Thanks Emily for responding & hello fellow Aussie on ANZAC day :) My surgeon has said he will try and repair but otherwise it will be tissue valve replacement. I opted for that. Whilst I don't like the idea of further surgery, I also don't want to be taking blood thinners and I do believe that in years to come there's a could chance we will have more options. Thanks for praying, I've got a team of peeps undergirding me in prayer, that means so much to me. I'll keep posts going up as I can thought I am still navigating my way around this site. I tried uploading a pic to go with a post, but I can't see where the pic went ... so let's see how I go. Thanks again and keep being strong. You have really encouraged me!! Thx C

Emily Rowley  Happy ANZAC Day to my fellow Aussie Heart Sister. I woke up today, looked at news feed and thought where are all the ANZAC Day post, have I got the wrong day only to realise oh I'm an Aussie :P Ate many ANZAC biscuits hmm? 😉🍪 That's good he will try a repair. I too picked out a tissue valve as my backup only to be told it's not doable with my one in a million hearts. 💝 Therefore my Surgeon prepared me for mechanical valve with pacemaker, lucky for me I came out with neither. There will be advances in the future hopefully hear-I would've liked to be the first patient esp first ball in cage mechanical valves. I'm on Coumadin, it's not so bad plus on PBS here so cheaper. Who is your Surgeon? At my Hospital (it was religious but most have chapels) there is a prayer book you can write prayers or messages in and people will pray for you. With the picture I too can't upload one with post so I do it separate in 'my photos' -> 'upload photo'. Also can't add my Hospital from in Australia. Another tip is too save your writing before sending it by copy and paste as sometimes it exist out. Is yours a private or public hospital or both? 🏥 Hopefully you don't need to travel far to yours. I am thinking of you. Looking forward to hearing from you. Em xx 😊

Cheryle Bird  Good Morning Emily, Where have the weeks gone I could ask, but we both know the answer to that one. Tomorrow marks 3 weeks since surgery (ended up postponing mine for a week, as I had developed a cough). In brief all went well, I was healing according to the best case scenario however on the day 6, I became light hearted, dizzy and was thinking I don't feel as well as I had been. A further ECG found that I had a 'block' and so I was set monitored for a few days to see if things would balance out. My RPM was around 40 and would spike to 138, hence the dizziness. The outcome was I had a pacemaker implanted and the next day I was released. As much as I resisted having the pacemaker I have to say it has made all the difference. Been home for 2 weeks now & I'm doing well. I have a girlfriend staying with me, which is so comforting. Couldn't do this without the support of family & friends. I've had peeps from my church dropping meals into me which I'm thankful for. I'm so impressed with the level of care at Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside. The nurses were wonderful, in the sense that they were friendly, caring, positive and informative. This hospital is a teaching hospital that is dedicated to heart & lung wellness. I'll post more later but just wanted to say thanks for all your encouragement. How are you doing? What's been happening for you of late? Love to hear from you when you are up for it. XXX

Cheryle Bird  Thanks for writing Joan It's nice to have this community in that as much as family understands having people like you who are preparing (+others that have already been through this) and going through similar thoughts and emotions helps. I'm hoping for repair but if it is replacement I have opted for animal tissue. Praying for you too that all goes well for you. Believing you have a great team around you. Stay strong! x