Dan's Photos

Sue Maize  Wow Dan, way to go! 👊🏻💪🏻🥳 It’s so uplifting to hear stories like this because it’s tempting to give in to the fear that I won’t be able to do the active things I love after surgery—for me that’s hiking and swimming!  You’ve inspired me! ❤️‍🩹

  Congratulations!! Super inspiring. Way to go! I look forward to exercising again/swimming and power walking with my husband in the future. Your success Definitely helps calm the nerves…Thanks for sharing your journey

Dan S-otts  Sue and Jane, I too, early on in recovery, wondered if I had made a big mistake having surgery. Now looking back it was well worth the journey. 
Take Good Care! 💔❤️‍🩹❤️

Dan S-otts  Happy 1st to you too! Hope your doing well Kathy. This year flew past faster than I ever expected. 🎉🎈🎊

Lyle KIMBRELL  Window with a view 12/27/23. We were there too a little over a month ago. Dan, your view looks like the view from room 12(?). We spent a week there including Christmas Day. Unfortunately, it does not look like winter weather typical of Cleveland (cold/rainy/cloudy) was any better for you than it was for us. Which, I might add, makes it hard to get a view of the lake from the rooftop. Happy 1 year!

Dan S-otts  Hey Lyle, how’s your son doing? I think I was in Rm 8, it was across from the nurses main station. My blood was a wreck after surgery for several months. Also, where are you in Virginia? We are in Hamilton in the NW. 

Kathy Ozio  You all got nice views. Haha mine was pretty much some brick walls , although the ICU seemed to have a good view, but without my glasses, I couldn't really see.

Rita Savelis  You might keep that scar out of the sun for the first year (or with lots of sunscreen) so that its color will completely blend in with your skin. Otherwise it could stay pink. 

Dan S-otts  Hey Rita, thanks for the heads up, yes, my surgeon said the same thing. I use scar tape 100% of the time. I only took it off to show the results of the surgery aren’t always terrible. I know there are many who fear the cosmetic results. 

Sue Maize  Just posting to say I deleted my last comment. My intentions were harmless but I made an inappropriate quip about a “calendar” for our scar pics. As soon as I posted it, I had a bad feeling because our scars are personal and often a very sensitive issue. From the bottom of my heart I sincerely apologize for my misstep, and especially if it caused any bad feeling besides my own. I’m so proud to be part of this community which is nothing but supportive, and the last thing I want to do is cause harm or offence to any of you. Please forgive me. 😔

J Alexander Lassally  Rocking chest. I hope mine looks that good at 6 months. I am CC also, had it 10 weeks ago! Thanks for sharing ! 

Dan S-otts  Hi Sue, I decided early on that I was going to own my scar. I’ve had so many people tell me how much better they feel about exposing their scars after seeing me be out front with mine. Take good care!

Sue Maize  I agree 100% Dan. Just to give you some context… My post was derived from an earlier post on another person’s journal where 3 different people posted their scar pics and it was truly a celebration! We joked that we should do a calendar, and in that context it was funny but should have remained there. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful this time, I just dragged the joke out beyond its expiration and felt badly immediately afterward. I have nothing but respect and admiration for you and everyone else who makes this choice, and I only hope I’ll be as brave when my turn comes (a bit more discreetly perhaps 😅)
I appreciate your response….I was feeling pretty schmucky about it. ☹️

Dan S-otts  I am planning to reach out to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation about producing a calendar of their OHS patients who would volunteer to share their chest scar pictures in a calendar as a fund raiser. We will see what happens.  I know I postponed my surgery for over a year when I was told the minimally Invasive robotic surgery was not an option for me. 😢  I finally came to grips with my vanity, and the result has been mind blowing for me so far 1 year out. 🙂

Sue Maize  Absolutely, why not? And good for you Dan—it’s quite a journey of acceptance I’m sure. But what a perfect and constant reminder of the gift of life we were all given again! 🙌🏻 And considering what the chest goes through to perform the necessary surgery, the scars heal incredibly well. The human body is  incredibly resilient, these surgeons are rock stars and God’s creativity in designing us as he has is truly awe-inspiring. Very happy for you and greatly encouraged. Thank you.