How Did Barbara Bush Prepare For Heart Valve Replacement?
I was just reading the USA Today when I came across an article on Barbara Bush’s recovery from aortic valve replacement. The article detailed her actions as she prepared for open heart surgery. Here are some snippets from the story:
- Before her open-heart surgery last month, Barbara Bush wrote farewell letters that were to be sent if she didn’t survive to each of her children and another to her brother Scott Pierce that included $5 — payment for a wager on which one would die first. “I didn’t want my brother to think I’m a cheapskate,” the former first lady, 83, said in an interview at her home.
- “My worst expectations never happened,” she says. “I tell George — it sounds a little morbid — I don’t fear death at all, so I feel pretty good. I’ve done it all.” To read more about mortality rates associated with heart valve surgery, please click here.
- Barbara Bush’s open heart surgery replaced a hardening and narrowed aortic valve with one from a pig — a detail that resulted in much teasing by her family. A pig valve replacement is also known as a porcine valve and is expected to last more than 15 years.
- “Everybody’s stopped going ‘oink-oink’ … because the pig valve is working,” former president George H.W. Bush said in a separate interview.
- Barbara Bush had known since June, 2008 that she would need heart surgery. However, she didn’t tell her children until two days before the operation. “Not my greatest moment,” she admits, and “they were a little bit rude about it.”
To learn more about the medical preparations for open heart surgery, click here.
Keep on tickin!
P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the opportunities and challenges of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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April 26th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I would like to hear more about Barbara Bush’s and Robin Williams recoveries. It’s not come out yet what valve Robin used.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Just want to say that having the “choice” to prepare for this surgery is one of it’s blessings. Personally, I prepared physically, emotionally, & spiritually. My best friend of over 40 years told me that’s probably why I did so well.
Looking back, I think it was a combination of my preparation & the skills of a great surgeon!