Jeff's Guestbook

Jeff.....our Heart Warrior Prayers are with you and your family tomorrow during your surgery! You have a Great Amazing Surgeon and you’ll do just fine! Keep us posted on the recovery side of your journey!

HI Jeff ( well really your wife) - I know what you are going through. I am a 58 year-old fitness instructor and my story sounds a lot like yours. Felt great, teaching fitness, running 5K's - was diagnosed at an annual physical. I am one year post-op. Had a mitral valve repair in Jan 2018. Very successful. My worst enemy was my expectation. I thought that I would be up and back to normal quickly because of my fitness level and my age. Got depressed when I wasn't meeting my own fitness goals. Give yourself time to heal...do what your docs tell you...and remember you are having a lot of "work done under the hood". I am back to all my normal activities and feel the same as I did before surgery. I expected to be running again in 2 months...not so. I did not go to cardiac rehab at first because I thought I didn't need it. Went four months after surgery and loved it. You will recover faster than someone older than you - but maybe not as fast as you want to. Good luck - remember these docs do this all the time. I never post on this site - but I do read it. It's a great community - wish my husband was a good as your wife is. You will be good as new.

p.s. My mitral valve leak is severe now with enlarged left atrium. I am trusting God for the timing when I need OHS. Cardiologist checks me every 6 months after TTE/trans thoracic echocardiogram. Psalm 18:1 "I love you, O LORD, my Strength."

I had a minimal mitral valve leak for decades. Two years ago it's severe. I'm being checked every 6 months to determine when to have surgery. Jesus, Son of God, commands me not to worry about tomorrow in Gospel of Matthew chapter 6. I know it's not God's will that I have a nervous breakdown over this. So I lean into the Biblical scripture and God's love for me. I must focus on my present 24 hours. I will be praying for you and your wife during this time. Psalm 3:3 "You, O Lord (Jesus) are a shield about me, my glory and the One who lifts my head."