About Me (In My Own Words)
May of 2015 I was packing my house to move into our new home and was experiencing a pounding sensation, flip flop feeling in my chest accompanied with a dizziness. I brushed it off as dehydration and carried on as I do. It continued to worsen and I decided to see my primary care Dr. Weeks after. My EKG was boarder line abnormal so she referred me to a cardiologist; my journey began. Months of testing, medications and medical management along with changing physician, it was decided the needed treatment for my severe tricuspid regurgitation was a valve repair and maze procedure for the proximal afib. I live in Phoenix Arizona and have worked as a nurse for over 23 years. I was very frustrated and at times felt like I was crazy due to my symptoms and reactions to the medications prescribed. My arrhythmias continued to get worse and the right side of my heart started to enlarge along with swelling in my ankles and increased feeling of being winded and short of breath. Surgery was schedule with a surgeon in Peoria AZ for Earley Nov. I was contacted by an old friend of mine whom insisted on sending me to the Cleveland Clinic with the opportunity to have my surgery by the best! It felt like a Cinderella dream for health care. Surgery was rescheduled in Cleveland and myself along with 4 of my family member were gifted a trip to Ohio. I had a preop party which was thrown by 40-50 of my loved ones in Arizona. They made me poster board cards and placed pictures on them so I could bring them to Cleveland with me and hang them up in my room knowing they were all there in spirit with me. My experience at Cleveland clinic was amazing, I felt like I was in great hands and God was in charge. I had the best Nurse Practitioner on my side and believe the laughter and connection we shared with one another drove my recovery process. She truly knows the art of holistic care and will be part of my life story forever. I was in the hospital for 7 days and spent Thanksgiving in the hotel room with my daughter and my husband. It was a very beautiful experience as we had not had that level of quality time in forever. We had dinner at the hotel restaurant-( learning how to follow a low sodium diet which is almost impossible at a hotel). The pain was rough and the limitation of taking care of myself taught me that we all need each other to live life. My husband was extremely loving and at times all I needed was to hold his hand to get through the moment.
I flew home on Nov 28th and was embraced by my friends and family in Arizona. One of my dearest friends stocked my home with groceries and set up a dinner service for people to sign up. My family and I had dinners delivered for a month after we got home. Christmas creeped up as I slowly continue to heal and get stronger. I have gone through series of different emotions and spiritual lessons. At times I have felt very defeated by life and relying on Gods strength I continue to get stronger and show up for my part. My sternum still hurts when getting out of bed, I continue to have arrhythmias which I hear is normal up to 3-6 months and I am not happy about the statement of finding my new normal. At times I fall into frustration land, wandering if I made the right decision to have surgery. When my fourteen year old daughter says good night mom I love you and we watch say yes to the dress or play clue with the family , I know in my healing heart I have done the right thing. I could have just accepted the multiple arrhythmia issues, right sided heart failure and difficultly breathing for the next 5 years or so and possible said my good byes or except spiritual and physical help and walk through surgery and fighting to live life to my fullest purpose...
I did choose to live life. When I did receive the call from one of my earth angel, she said that I had cared for her and made such an impact on her life, and it was her turn to help me and she really cared about me and my purpose and was going to help me like know one else could. I started to weep and felt like God was there caring me through her arms... I am forever grateful to her for being a vessel of courage and strength for me. Please know if you are getting ready to have surgery, take it one day at a time, breath healing energy in and stay focused on what your goal is!! That really helped me... I have made it to 2016 and have a huge passion today to live my unique purpose of love for Gods world and all of his children in it!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Chandler
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My surgery date is:
November 17, 2015
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I was diagnosed with:
Tricuspid Regurgitation
Atrial Fibrillation
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My surgery was:
Tricuspid Valve Repair
Maze Procedure
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Gosta Petterson
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My hospital is:
Cleveland Clinic
