Maeve's Guestbook

Maeve Dwyer  I keep having moments of nervousness, but have been doing an alright job reminding myself there's little reason to freak out. I keep worrying I'll start panicking Wednesday night, thought.

Until a couple months ago, I thought I would get a big valve. Apparently, my surgeon wants to use a larger bovine valve so there's more room for the next transcatheter insertion when this one wears out.

Jody Adams  I've been nervous off and on, but yesterday I went to a funeral of a friend. That put the fear of death into me so I started panicking. My friend calmed me down, So i'm good now.

My cardiologist told me a few months back I was getting a bovine valve, But when I spoke with the surgeon he said it would be a pig valve. Same line of treatment thou as you. They're putting in this valve so next time around they can use the trans-catheter insertion when mine wears out.

It's kinda cool we have pretty much the same story of TOF and we're both having surgery on the same day. I hope we can keep in touch to track our progress along the way.

Maeve Dwyer  Jody, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend! That fear of death is so real, but the fact that I have no control over it now actually gives me some peace of mind. Luckily for us, pulmonary valve replacement has a very, very low morality rate. And, like my surgeon, your surgeon also specializes in ACHD and performs heart transplants, in comparison our ToF hearts are a breeze!

For me, I feel like our surgery date is very fortuitous. A very close friend is having a different surgery, Nancy is having her surgery at the same hospital I had my first repair at, and we share a story and date! I find this all very comforting and look forward to supporting and encouraging each other during our recoveries!

Nancy Lewis  Maeve, Jody I'm right there with you. I was looking over some things this morning and took a look at my hands, and they were shaking. That's not like me at all. I would like for the three of us to do as Jody suggests and to keep in touch to follow each others progress. Loved ones help, but it is you two that I feel are holding a hand out while we all jump off the cliff.
Hope you had a good weekend. Spent Saturday with my college roommates that I only get to see once a year. Spent today with my hubby Tim. Nice drive in the sun, leaves are turning. It is a great time to be alive.

Maeve Dwyer  I got a little caught trying to spend time with friends, prep for surgery, relax, and avoid catching a cold. Planning to spend my day tomorrow with myself and music, planning and cooking, maybe take a nice walk. Fall has suddenly set in here and I'm loving it. I hope you're finding reason to smile in Michigan. I'm so exciting to wish you a big congratulations very soon!

Maeve Dwyer  The beautiful thing about heart surgery is how much meaning these connections hold! I was born and raised in Michigan, most of my family still lives in the state, and received my first life-saving heart surgery with Dr. Bove and UofM Mott's Children's. Your hug means a lot and that first dip into the water after recovery will feel great!

Nancy Lewis  Isn't it true that it is a small world. Who would have thought we would get to greet each other here and because of the world of medical miracles.