About Me (In My Own Words)
My nephew, Tyler Yoder is also on this site & he is such a super guy. It is through his page that I just discovered this site. Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Replacement for Hodgkin's Lymphoma saved my life in 1995 & again1998. But over the next two + decades, it also destroyed the bones in my left shoulder & ruined the valves in my heart. My valves quickly went from moderate to severe in 2020.
I spent 40 days and nights post surgery in the hospital at the height of COVID lockdown. I was allowed one visitor, my wife Julie. She was there every day, and our daughter was such an awesome support to both her and me. I died twice on the table & was not expected to make it through the night. The medical team at Duke is awesome! I will say this in all sincerity though, 2 "J"s pulled me through, Jesus & Julie, my dear, sweet, wife.
One night, while still on ventilator & dialysis, and way too much blood draining off, the room filled with a warm, radiating, golden light. I heard a calm, reassuring voice tell me "Don't worry, you're going to be OK". I knew it was our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so unworthy, but he gave me more time here for a reason. Believe me when I say that every breath, every beat of these wounded hearts, every sip of clear, cool water, even every successful trip to the bathroom is a gift from God. It's spelled LIFE! May God richly bless you all on this site. Keep up the good fight!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Durham, NC
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My surgery date is:
October 20, 2020
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
Mitral Stenosis
Atrial Fibrillation
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Jeffrey Gaca
