Kenneth's Photos

Tina Williams  Congratulations Kenneth! You have motivated me! I've always been active and walk alot but never actively measured steps or distance. Can you or anyone recommend a good and "user friendly" place for me to start - maybe a fitbit or Iphone app? I want to have it ready to go by the time I am discharged.....

Kenneth Hart  Why wait to you are discharged? Use the app when you walk the halls of the hospital! I use the Nike Run Club app - it is free. The attached is a good up to date list of apps that are really good: https://www.verywell.com/best-walking-app-p2-3434995 - number 7 - Virtual Walk is really cool since it pretends you are walking in a virtual location (parks, mountains, etc) with historic refereces along the way. Also FitBit offers an app that does not require a Fitbit. It is also good to sign up with a club or to invite others into your app so that they can keep you motivated.

Tina Williams  Oh my gosh....I just tried out #7 and did a virtual walk around Venice with my 88 yr old dad who was actually born and raised in Italy:) It was pretty entertaining and well worth the $2.99. I was the only one of us out of breath today but after surgery... I intend to do some exploring. Thank you so much!

Tina Williams  Kenneth - Yesterday I bought a fit bit. Today is my first day measuring steps and distance. Can you tell me how I find out what an average amount of steps might be to be considered "active" or if it is similar to golf and I am merely trying to improve my own stats? Obviously, since I am pre-op I am not trying to break any records but would like to have a goal in mind for post-op...

Steve Farthing  I can't even tell where the surgical sites are other than the two small ones on your right side. You might need to have letter from your doctor if you ever need to convince anyone you had heart surgery!

Kenneth Hart  Hi Steve - the picture taken four days after surgery is the only proof I can offer that illustrates my OHS. There are seven ports on my right chest that are stitched up - five for the robotic probes and two ports underneath the breast for the tube drainage. It took me about a month to find a surgeon but I did a lot of research on the website for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons which was invaluable. Some of the YouTube videos they posted were very informative. STS site: http://www.sts.org/

Steve Farthing  After viewing the 4 day post-op pic below, I am now convinced you actually did have heart surgery ! Great recovery.

Kenneth Hart  A week before surgery, Dr. Guy requested a CAT scan which he uses as a template - a three dimensional model prior to inserting the robotic probes so that each incision is minimal. He said the robotic arm ports would be about the size of a pencil with the exception of one primary port - which is a good analogy.

Kathy Blank  Your scars look great- hardly noticeable. I had robotic MV Repair in Feb 2017 at age 60. I did 12 weeks of cardiac rehab to ensure I would regain my breathing necessary for running. It was a rough go in rehab bc the auxiliarybrestbing muscles were working so hard I got significant
Pain- neck and shoulder area. Pushed through it and just hiked a 14,000 mountain in CO a few days ago! Good luck in your marathon training!

Barbara Wood  Fast healer! I had that numbness for 7-8 weeks then it just disappeared...best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Kenneth Hart  Hi Tina - the photo looks like a tube but it is a clump of tape. The hospital nurses took the two drainage tubes out about three hours before I was released from the hospital. They will take one tube out at a time and x-ray your chest after each tube is removed. In the picture there are 5-6 gauze pads and a large pad covering the drainage tube sites which will leak for awhile during your recovery. Ask the hospital if you can come home with a protective mat (it's about a 3'x3' quilted mat that they place under you in the ICU) and plenty of 4x4 gauze pads and tape since they will come in handy to control the leakage. I also found that a 6" wide Ace bandage wrapped around your chest came in handy to keep pressure on the tube sites to reduce the leakage.

Kenneth Hart  Hi Jennifer - the trail is a 'Rails to Trails' program in Maryland that is converting miles of abandoned railroad tracks to biking and hiking trails. This stretch is marked every half mile and continues for about 25 miles. This is a wonderful time of the year with the seasonal changes.

Heath Knight  Saw you signed up for a marathon as motivation. Good luck with your training and with the race when it comes about. Keep us posted.

Kenneth Hart  Hi Heath - I hope your surgery went well. Let your body heal - you know it better than anybody else. I am walking three to four miles a day and hope to be running soon.

Heath Knight  Hi Ken. My surgery went well, and I am home now. I also am walking about 4 miles a day now. I also hope to be running again soon myself. Good luck to you in all your training.