Bonnie's Photos

Thomas Brusstar  Glad you’re doing well! I’m also at Day 17, and feeling really good at home. Walking 3 times a day about a mile each, eating great, and sleep is ok. Keep up the good work.

Diane Maher  Hi Bonnie....you look fab! I like the idea of putting a duvet on the recliner. My surgery is coming up on the 20th and would love to hear more about your journey to date 😊

Bonnie Pearson  Where are you having your surgery? Other friends with valve surgery told us that a recliner is a MUST after being discharged. We live elsewhere but chose Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH for surgery. Intercontinental Suite hotel on the clinic campus have been wonderful and helped locate rental place for recliner. A must have is ELECTRIC but told by Physical Therapist prior to discharge that don’t get the type that’s also lifts. You need to rely on the strength you are getting each day. Happy to share any info from my mitral valve replacement surgery for mitral valve stenosis. Main thought: Exercise as much as you safely can prior to surgery!! Walk, use your legs to get up and down out of sitting position, if safely possible. What type of surgery are you having?

Diane Maher  I am from Victoria, Canada which is where I am having aortic valve replacement surgery done. We have

booked the rental of an electric recliner for a month on the advice of several other postings over the past months....not sure if it is the type that lifts but will check that out.
I walk 2.5 to 3 miles every day ...really like the tip about leg exercises from a sitting position.

Louanna Miller  Bonnie, you look great! It’s encouraging to see someone doing so well. Are you doing any exercises from your chair?

Bonnie Pearson  Thank you all for your kind responses. The electric reclining chair was a godsend for the first several days. Trying to do whatever I can - hourly breathing exercises with blowing into the PEP and WALKS. A little farther each walk. Imagine that I must be quite a sight walking the hallways of the hotel in my robe, white compression socks and yellow non-slip socks!! Keeping sense of humor has been essential and ability to laugh. Never intended to be newly indoctrinated member of the zipper club but happy to be one considering the alternatives.

Bonnie Pearson  Regarding exercises from the chair, doing the exercises recommended by physical therapy for legs, feet and arms.