Louise's Photos

Robert Miller  Another happy Dr. Gillinov patient. I was contemplating flying out there but decided for Dr. Castro for my second surgery (just a half our drive for me, but that wasn't my main decision). He is excellent!

Your scar is almost gone. May I ask why you decided on a porcine valve instead of a bovine valve? 

Louise Moore  Hi Robert, yes, I'm another happy Dr. Gillinov patient.  Mitral valve repairs/replacements are so specialized and worrisome so I sought out top surgeons and chose him.  I believe bovine valves are more frequently used for Aortic replacement, which I may have to do later and I'd have a bovine one then.  

For my mitral, it was a choice between porcine or mechanical.  Oh, and my scar is very faint now on the top half but is more apparent as it goes down and the bottom 1/3rd is still like a raised worm.  My cardio rehab nurse said to rub Vitamin E oil on it, press on it hard, making small circles so I did that every other day for a while after daily showering.  I do it at least once a week now and use Aveeno after daily showers.  I think it has helped!
Interesting that you mentioned it because every doctor I've seen since surgery also mentioned it saying things like "It's so clean" "impressive cut".... things like that... who knew?

Ana Brusso  So happy for you Louise, congratulations on your anniversary and wishing many many more healthy ones. God bless you 🎉🎊🙏❤️

Louise Moore  Ana, Ana!  May God bless you too, you are always there for us and may we continue to be supportive of one another all the way!  Thank you, Ana 💞

Robert Miller  I am curious why for your mitral valve it was between mechanical and porcine. I was told I could also have a bovine valve, which supposedly tends to last longer compared to a porcine valve. 

Regarding the scar, my lower 1/2 shows significantly more than my upper 1/2 (which is almost gone after a bit more than 2 months). I was also told that vitamin E helps but I just use Aveeno (have been using it for MANY years long before my first surgery). 

Lilian Peña  Wow! Happy 1 year anniversary Louise😃❤️happy for you! Wish you more happy and healthy years to enjoy😇 Me too, celebrated my 1 year valvesary March 10

Louise Moore  It's a fully functional guitar and the model of the heart comes apart to reveal the internal anatomy, red and blue  
(honoring arteries and veins) decorate the stethoscope chest pieces which serve as knobs for volume and tone.  A functioning oximeter can take the players pulse, connect with an attached metronome so the beat of the music can be synchronized to the player's own heart rate! 

Louise Moore  Thanks, Ed, Cheryl, Richard and Ana!  I thought it was great that of all science correlations to craft a guitar, he thought of our hearts. He took it seriously playing to the beat of melding science, art and music!