Cara's Journal

The countdown is on! My surgery is in four days (November 8, aortic and mitral valve replacements) Wow, just writing that down makes it more real. Thank you to everyone who shares their stories post op. I look forward to having positive words to share with others as they go through valve replacement/repair and recovery. Hoping this will not be too difficult for my family and we'll all be looking back at this time a year from now with much gratitude.

Two week countdown to surgery! I'm not as nervous as I think I will be as the surgery approaches. Too many things to get done and in place before I can get caught up in the stress of it. I added a Calm app to my phone, hopefully this will get through some of those tough spots. Thinking of all who are getting ready for surgery. May we all have the best outcomes and speedy recoveries.

I have a complicated medical history and have been hoping to connect with others that might have gone through what I have gone through. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease @ seventeen. I had chemo and back then high dose radiation (1989) which most likely has caused my heart problems. I also had an autologous bone marrow transplant (1990). I am here and have had a great life. In 2006, I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and leaky valves. (mitral & aortic). In 2011, I had my mitral valve repaired. Like most people, I've been going on with life, actually became healthier and fit. Now I've been told I need to have both of these valves replaced, I have a great cardiologist but had so many questions, especially why now. I got those questions answered this week. I have scheduled my surgery for November 8, 2017. I'm more settled with the reason for doing this now vs. later but it doesn't make me any less scared of such a major surgery. Any advice or support of how to prepare yourself and be ready for what lies ahead would be greatly appreciated.