My life changed dramatically 6 years ago yesterday: open heart surgery for septal myectomy, mitral valve repair & PFO closure (hole in the heart). Without that ...Read more
My life changed dramatically 6 years ago yesterday: open heart surgery for septal myectomy, mitral valve repair & PFO closure (hole in the heart). Without that surgery I wouldnβt be here today. So grateful to my amazing surgeon & his team! God is good!
Great pictures and post. Congratulations Gary. Wish you many, many more years of celebration and good ... Read more
Great pictures and post. Congratulations Gary. Wish you many, many more years of celebration and good health. God bless you
Sara Latina Congratulations Gary you are an inspiration!!
Deena Z Wow. You are definitely the "come-back kid". You took charge of your health and lost the weight in ... Read more
Deena Z Wow. You are definitely the "come-back kid". You took charge of your health and lost the weight in addition to the surgery. Right on!
Robert Osmachenko Geez Gary, youβre only half the man you used to be! Proud of you for making such great progress.
T ... Read more
Robert Osmachenko Geez Gary, youβre only half the man you used to be! Proud of you for making such great progress.
Talk soon.
Lilly Black Looking good....you look happy! :) great accomplishment!
Cynthia Pagiatakis Some things we can control, and others we can't .. looks like you took the bull by the horns and did ... Read more
Cynthia Pagiatakis Some things we can control, and others we can't .. looks like you took the bull by the horns and did what was needed! Keep up the great work, Gary~
Barbara Laurie GARY!! Wow! Very, very encouraging for me! I donβt know, but so much of your story has such a simil ... Read more
Barbara Laurie GARY!! Wow! Very, very encouraging for me! I donβt know, but so much of your story has such a similar ring to my own. I just subscribed to your web page and continue to enjoy perusing your postsπ. I am grateful for the encouragement youβve given me these last many months. God Bless you and your familyπ
Steven A Husted you should give cardio rehab phase 3 a try it is fun and keeps your heart in shape of course you have ... Read more
Steven A Husted you should give cardio rehab phase 3 a try it is fun and keeps your heart in shape of course you have to pay for it insurance does not cover it i pay $60 a month but you can get a discount if you pay for the year
Jan McClain Gary, YOU have lost weight!!! Lookin' good!
Gary Stripling Thanks Jan! I came home from surgery a week later all puffed up with Kardashian Feet. Eventually all ... Read more
Gary Stripling Thanks Jan! I came home from surgery a week later all puffed up with Kardashian Feet. Eventually all the fluids left and took 24 lbs of extra weight with it. Haven't gained any of it back either. Still need to lose more, tho!
Jan McClain Ha! Had to Google Image Kardashian Feet
Sophia Ridley Loving Jan's comment!! At this rate Gary, you'll have to carry paperwork to prove you have had OHS! M ... Read more
Sophia Ridley Loving Jan's comment!! At this rate Gary, you'll have to carry paperwork to prove you have had OHS! Mine's still red at 4 months.
Petey Bello Wow you incision looks great! Good luck on your recovery journey. I just read your story and you have ... Read more
Petey Bello Wow you incision looks great! Good luck on your recovery journey. I just read your story and you have been through a lot. Hang in there!
God Bless...
Denise Campbell Hi Gary. I was wondering, why did they and not replacement. Will the repair last forever
Gary Stripling Denise - according to the surgeon's operative report, "the mitral valve was noted to be morphological ... Read more
Gary Stripling Denise - according to the surgeon's operative report, "the mitral valve was noted to be morphologically intact." So he opted for a repair rather than a replacement, I believe because the valve was stretched out but not damaged. Once the 30 Physio II ring was sewn in place it is permanent, as scar tissue forms and it embeds itself in the valve.
Jan McClain Gary, looking cute! Although I gotta say whenever I look at that photo of you on the top right I see ... Read more
Jan McClain Gary, looking cute! Although I gotta say whenever I look at that photo of you on the top right I see a happy guy proudly holding up his two (lopsided) breasts!
Sophia Ridley Jan - that's now what I see!!!
Gary, you should bottle that smile as positive post surgery medicine! ... Read more
Sophia Ridley Jan - that's now what I see!!!
Gary, you should bottle that smile as positive post surgery medicine!
Gary Stripling You ladies are hilarious! I was pumped so full of fluids my chest did look at bit inflated! But I've ... Read more
Gary Stripling You ladies are hilarious! I was pumped so full of fluids my chest did look at bit inflated! But I've lost 26 lbs and kept it off, with more to lose!
Sophia Ridley Well done on the 26lbs. I'm returning to work today and had hoped to have lost half a stone... I'm ri ... Read more
Sophia Ridley Well done on the 26lbs. I'm returning to work today and had hoped to have lost half a stone... I'm right back where I started, can't believe all this walking, healthier eating and rehab hasn't shifted any.... Maybe it's just in different places ;)
Kelly Weisgarber Looked at the pic before I read the comments and thats what I thought! HaHa Good job on the recover ... Read more
Kelly Weisgarber Looked at the pic before I read the comments and thats what I thought! HaHa Good job on the recovery!
Jan McClain I looked at all your pictures.. Were you a flasher in your former life?
Gary Stripling HAHA! Jan - my wife would kill me if she knew I was posting my scar pics here. I guess surviving OHS ... Read more
Gary Stripling HAHA! Jan - my wife would kill me if she knew I was posting my scar pics here. I guess surviving OHS (and 2 subsequent pacemaker surgeries) makes you kinda bold!
The day after open heart surgery while in ICU (MVR, PFO repair, septal resection). Two days after this pic I had more surgery to repair the atrial lead to my ...Read more
The day after open heart surgery while in ICU (MVR, PFO repair, septal resection). Two days after this pic I had more surgery to repair the atrial lead to my pacemaker, that became disconnected during the "big" surgery. All went well!
Sophia Ridley What a fantastic beaming smile! Thankyou for posting this positive pic.
Ginger Marine Gary, keep on keeping on! Your smile is electric!