Tina's Guestbook

Hi Tina, glad my posting made you feel better. I think the trick in preparing for this--at least for me--was to rise to a higher level about the situation. I liken it to taking off on a plane when the weather's overcast and kind of gloomy. Once the plane breaks through and into the blue skies, my perspective changes much for the better. And there are always blue skies once we break through the temporary "overcast." I wrote this in my story, I think, but if you haven't read it, this part might help. About a week before my operation, my thoughts changed from concern and anxiety about what was going to happen to "me"--to rather what was going to happen to my heart. I saw that my heart was my very best friend and had worked hard for me for 70 years (wow!). And after all that service, now my very best friend needed *my* help. And I was going to make sure it got that help. That made me feel so good and gave me such a feeling of empowerment, rather than still feeling in the hands of something outside myself. I know you're not anywhere near 70, lol, but I hope that might work for you. BTW, I used to live in Asheville, North Carolina. I tried to get them to change that "First in Flight" license plate--which has been around forEVER--to "Birthplace of Ava Gardner." But they didn't go for it. Yes, by all means, keep in touch. My best, Artie

Hi Tina, you're facing what I faced exactly six months ago. I needed my mitral valve repaired, if they could (and they did!) and my aortic valve replaced, with a full cut incision. I chose the cow valve option--hey, I'm Jewish! My op was on Aug. 18, 2015 and so many of the things I felt anxious about pre-op never happened. They've got this type of operation incredibly nailed. Like Barbara Walters (she has a clip on youtube about her operation), I felt very little pain. And like her, I felt incredibly fatigued. But after six weeks, I'd bounced back and feeling great. Everyone recovers differently, but I urge you not to *anticipate* how hard it will be. It may well not be that hard for you. Take every day easily, knowing that this operation is an absolute miracle which will make you well again. And you may be surprised that, even with the recovery challenges, it was easier than you expected. Though this may sound hard for you to believe, I treasure Aug. 18 rather than trying to forget it. I consider it my second birthday and plan to celebrate it for the rest of my life. And even more hard, perhaps, for you to believe: I'm so glad I had this experience, for all the wonderful people I met and the marvel it gave me over my wonderful body and spirit. May you come to feel the same. My best, Artie. (BTW, I'm 70.)