About Me (In My Own Words)
Hi all. My name is Chris Curry, and I am actually Jay’s wife. My husband is the one that is going through so much. We have an appointment with Dr. Abbas Aderhali tomorrow, Tuesday, September 25, at 1pm.
Jay had an aortic dissection 12 years ago on his 41st birthday. The dissection he suffered was from his neck to his groin. When I got to the hospital so many years ago now, a Chaplain met me at the door. I knew then what had happened was serious. I had never heard of an aortic dissection until that day. I met Dr. Perkowski at Saddleback Memorial Hospital, while a team of about 10 medical professionals were hovering and attending to Jay. I can still hear Jay screaming from pain. I remember asking the doctor what is was that was happening to my husband...was it a heart attack? He then took both of my hands and informed me that Jay was having a Triple A dissection- this seemed like foreign Mumbo Jumbo to me. I asked him how serious this was and I will never forget his words. Dr.Perkowski told me that he would rather do multiple bypass surgeries all day long that do what he was going to have to do. I was shocked and in denial - after all my husband is so very fit, and it was his birthday!!! Nothing should ever go wrong on your birthday right?! He told me he would do his very best and he did. Jay pulled through and survived the operation! He was put in a medically induced coma for 3 weeks. He has an artificial part in his aorta, if I remember correctly it is called a Dacron graft... at one of the follow up meetings with Dr. Perkowski - he asked my husband if he believed in God. My husband said yes and the doctor said great because your dissection was so serious that if you didn’t believe in Him you should now because this was purely God, and I was just the mechanic as your chance for surviving the surgery was less than 5%. Dr. Perkowski clearly didn’t believe in beating around the bush. To this day I shudder at this memory. It wasn’t his time and to God, our Savior- I will be forever humbled.
Our children at the time Christian and Caitie were 8 and 6. It was a tough season for our little family of four. This season lasted a year with him recovering slowly and unable to work. They woke him up from his coma, on the day my grandmother passed away. I think back to that time and wonder how I made it through.
Fast forward to now - he has a leaking aortic root valve that is measuring at 6.6 centimeters. From what his cardiologist have told us he will most likely need a Bentall procedure - which means another round of having his sternum cracked open and being put on a heart/lung bypass machine. This needs to be done sooner rather than later. Tomorrow we are meeting with a surgeon that comes highly recommended and has high marks for his skills and compassion. We have both been anxious and scared about this appointment. The emotions we are feeling are out of control. If I may ask for all reading this to say a prayer for us as we embark on what’s to come. I will find out in detail as to what operation he has to have and confirm as to the correct term for what his diagnosis is and promise to keep you all posted.
I am so very happy to
have found this supportive community!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Rancho Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Abbas Ardehali
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My hospital is:
Ronald Reagan Hospital UCLA
