About Me (In My Own Words)
My journey started two years ago. I had gone to the doctor for a routine visit and he discovered a heart murmur. I thought nothing of it honestly but he wanted me to go see a heart doctor so I did. The heart doctor played it down and said many people have heart murmurs, that I’m super healthy he doubted there was anything wrong, and ordered a Heart Echo just to make sure. Well in my mind I was fine.
and thought the first visit was enough for me, he wasn’t worried so why should I, I thought🤔.... I left his office and never gave it another thought...
I was also at the time totally consumed by a health crisis with my daughter, I had no time for this so I put it on the back burner like I’m sure many can relate to, and knew I was healthy and there certainly was nothing wrong with my heart. Fast forward two years and it’s Christmas 2018 we’re all gathered together as a family back in Florida to celebrate and be together and I get sick. I end up back in the same doctors office with the doctor that diagnosed my heart murmur 2 years prior. He tells me that my heart murmur is substantial and I also have an irregular heartbeat now.
He also questions me as to why I never got my heart echo done which I told him was because I was busy tending to my daughter who was ill and felt there was nothing wrong with me... he then proceeded to get on the phone and schedule an echo through my heart doctor that I promised him I would go to and I did. They rushed everything for me because we were there on vacation and I got in with the heart doctor for the results two days later.
I was totally unprepared to hear what I was about to hear....
“ you need open heart surgery” Believe it or not I laughed and said what kind.... “like the noninvasive kind” I said.... he said no and he motioned with his hands like he was opening up my chest and said “that kind”😳😳😳
I looked up at the Lord and thought wow Lord now you’re going to do surgery on my heart... I could not believe it, but at the same time I felt an unbelievable peace and knew that with Gods help I would walk through this difficult door just like I have many others in my life. From that point my life has been a whirlwind, full of tests, appointments and the biggest decision, who would be the surgeon I would pick to operate on my heart.... also facing death, “ come on you know everyone thinks about that” so many thoughts run through one’s mind when facing something of this magnitude... it’s endless
I have come along way on this journey thanks to Adams book and the many people on this feed.... and also probably watching every open heart surgery video I can find, don’t ask me why 🧐😲😳🤭😷
Even though we are all on this road less traveled, it helps so much to know you’re not alone.... thank you To everyone for being vulnerable and sharing your story.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Indianapolis
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Dr Marc Gerdisch
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My hospital is:
Franciscan Health
