About Me (In My Own Words)
I was 27 yrs. old went to the E.R. with symptoms of not being able to breathe and heart racing. My legs felt as if they had 50 lbs. of weight attached to them. Yes, I had symptoms prior which I blew off as just being a busy wife, mother and working full time and just needed some rest. Obviously when I feel asleep I hadn’t been asleep long as lying down made problem even worse.
Once at hospital it went from it’s probably just a thyroid issue to a wait here as we review your test and about 15 minutes later a Dr. John Cox came in who was a cardiologist to our surprise. He said you have multiple issues going on and you need to have open heart surgery. I think my mouth fell to the ground. I said why, what, when? His response said your mitral valve is very mutated and blood is not pumping as it should. They scheduled me for cath. lab next day Friday 9/12/97. It in fact revealed what they seen on the echo they had done. That weekend they let me go home and spend time with children ages at the time 3, 5, 6, 8 as birthdays hadn’t rolled around at time. In fact I spent 9/18/97 in hospital which was the 6 yr olds b-day turning 7. I tried my best with husband to get affairs in order and Tuesday 9/16/97 I had to report at hospital at 6 a.m. I was given choice of valves St Jude’s carbon fiber mechanical valve or a pigs valve. I chose the St Judes valve especially due to my age of 27. I cannot recall my surgeons name for the life of me but am so very thankful for him. I asked my cardiologist and surgeon what is the shortest stay for someone in hospital after open heart surgery? They both said mine was not the usual open heart surgery but to answer my question was 5 days. I set my goals for that!! God was with me and I didn’t feel my time was up. So, I woke up in ICU at about 8-9 pm that night. Then they put me back out. Long story short 6 days later they let me come home. I had so much support I’m so grateful for with my children and myself that only God knows what it meant. Once I was able to be well and strong enough therapy started. Which was hard but it was such a good thing. Then as time kept going by I felt better and better like I hadn’t known for a long while. I could write a book as to all the details. I’ve left out but it was overall a blessing and that’s been 25 years ago with the same St Judes Valve I started with. I do hope I’ve told this in a way that everyone understands and possibly help. I’ll gladly help answer questions anyone might have. I wish you all the best and God Bless.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Joplin , Missouri
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My surgery date is:
August 16, 1997
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral Stenosis
Atrial Fibrillation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Replacement
Pacemaker Implant
