About Me (In My Own Words)
I was born a blue baby in 1960, following my Mother's 46 hour labour. I arrived with four holes in my heart.
I grew up attending the local hospital every 3 months, to every 6 months, to yearly visits for check ups over the years. I went through school, not always aloud to be involved with physical exercise. At the age of 12, I played netball once a month. At the age of 15 I went out to run cross country with my year group, it all ended with me falling unconscious and being carried back to school by a teacher and friends, and never being aloud to take part again.
Sports day, the teachers allowed me to run 100m and no further. I was a short distance swimmer, very strong, however within 2oo m I was always breathless and exhausted, and wondering what life was really about.
In my late twenties I married and had 2 children, My first and I both died on the table, and were bought back to life. My second pregnancy was monitored and I went full term with all being well. Throughout my life, doctors, cardiologists, consultants all agreed that one day I would have to have an Aortic valve replacement, those days the only option, considered for my future was a pig's valve, with having another operation 20 years later for a replacement.
In 2008 I had a major back operation.
In 2012 my arthritis, which I had learned to live with quietly from the age of 10, flared up in my jaw and I had to have a TMJ replacement.
These medical problems worsened with age, which I am sure were due to having a heart problem.
In October 2016 at the age of 56, I attended a hospital appointment in Berkshire, England, (whilst using a walking stick to get along with, my breathing was very bad, and I had been using a wheelchair on occasions to get around.) At this hospital appointment, I was told that I wouldn't need a valve replacement after all, I asked why ? I was feeling at my worst, my quality of life was rock bottom, the consultant said that I was the patient, he was the consultant and he didn't have to answer any questions that I had put to him !!
Generally, I was unable to get up our staircase at home in one go, and took forever to get to bed at night, My husband made a bed up for me downstairs to make life easier. Following this hospital appointment, my husband insisted that we should seek a second opinion, we went to a hospital in Oxfordshire, England and there I saw another consultant whom insisted that I should see a Heart surgeon that day. The surgeon held my hands, whilst sitting very closely, directly opposite me and said we will need to take measurements for your new valve today, we will call you back in approx 6-7 weeks time when we have received your new valve and we will give you 24 hours notice for you to come in and have your Titanium Carbon Aortic Valve replacement. (New technology !!! Wow, I thought).
For now you can either stay in hospital and we will take care of you here or you can go home and come back when we call you. I chose to have time with my family, we had a lot of important discussions with decisions to make. I found that discussing things with my family, made me feel that I was helping them to understand what may happen, only being given a 30% chance of survival, was pretty slim.
We were all really frightened, but determined with great strength to get through this together and put it behind us..
The worst part was saying goodbye to my beloved family, even though knowing that we had discussed everything we could think of that was important to each of us, it mattered that I came through for all of us.
The most horrible thing was the prep for the op, It was uncomfortable and there were small periods of pain, it did take a long time, but the whole process was for my safety, for my well being and every detail was precise and flawless, It all mattered.
The most Amazing time was waking up in the ward with my family being there with me, and the silent specialist nurses around my bed area taking full care of me.
To be given a New Life, I am here, I have had my rehab to get fit, probably the first time in my life to feel that I can now achieve a full life, I am really very thankful for my surgeon who gave me faith in his ability. My family for their full support, who wanted me to get through and have a normal life and to grow with them naturally.
I am hoping that my life story can help other people to have a faith, and make the most of what you are given, and be thankful for a new day. Be strong, you too, deserve to have a New, Full Life, You too will be told You are the Most Amazing Person they have ever known.
One step at a time, be prepared for a great future, it's about to start.
This is where you build your good memories for the rest of your life, make them count x
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Oxford, United Kingdom
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My surgery date is:
January 25, 2017
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Mitral Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Prof. Steven Westerby
