Hey everybody,

Good news!

Leslie is home following her mitral valve repair ^[1]. (You may remember a blog that featured Leslie as she was preparing for robotic mitral valve repair ^[2].)

After five days at UCLA Medical Center, Leslie has now entered the recovery phase of heart valve surgery ^[3]. Below, you will find an interesting account of her surgery which was longer than most surgeries due to some cardiac complications ^[4] that were fixed during surgery. Great job Dr. Shemin!!!

Here is Leslie’s email update:

A quick note to say thank you for the amazing kindness and support throughout my adventure. I am home with my doggies and in my own bed, on my own patio and as anyone who has been in the hospital knows, home is better.

I had a successful mitral valve repair (not replacement) but was much more complicated ^[4] than the doctors predicted. The surgery was 12 hours. Waking up with a ventilator is not recommended. Many amazing stories are to be told from this experience.

In general, UCLA hospital staff was very kind. Yet the thought of going back into a hospital again makes me physically ill because the environment is so artificial (I guess it has to be) and our bodies want fresh air and sunshine.

Anyway I am taking it slow, have home nursing and physical therapy which is helping, and there is recuperation to do. I am very grateful to have this behind me and to have had a good outcome. Love you all. I appreciate beyond measure your support and kindnesses and generosity in so many ways. It is good to know you have friends. As I get stronger I will be in touch with you personally.

More later, much more, you know you can never shut me up

Hope all are well.

Love,
Leslie