On March 31, we donated $5,000 to the Gift of Life charity to help children born with heart defects. The donation was raised thanks to (i) purchases of my book and (ii) sponsorships from surgeons, clinics and medical device manufacturers.

Today, I learned that our donation will help Victor Manuel Saravia, a 12-month old boy from El Salvador that is very ill. Here is a recent picture of Victor:

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As strange as this sounds… In today’s edition of The Chicago Tribune I find myself on the cover of an educational magazine titled “Cardiovascular Care”.

So you know, when I started this project, I never imagined it would turn into anything. I simply wanted to help one patient. Now, four years later, I am happy to report that we (emphasis on we) have helped thousands of patients and caregivers through heart valve surgery.

While I’m in this magazine, the true recognition belongs to you – the patients and caregivers of this special community. Thanks for all of your continued support. Together, we (again, emphasis on we) are making a difference. That difference is evident in the rapid expansion of this blog, the Heart Valve Surgeon Database, Heart Valve Journals and our recent charitable donation. Your caring support continues to touch, move and inspire the world.

I would also like to thank Cullan Shane Stefanik, the publisher at Media Planet, who coordinated this comprehensive effort to educate the Chicago-land people about cardiac care. Finally, thanks to The Chicago Tribune for running this awareness campaign about heart disease.

Luckily, I was granted the right to share this magazine with all visitors to my website. That said, if you would like to download and read this magazine, simply click the button below.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Keep on tickin!

I just received an interesting question from Nicole about sleeping on your stomach after open heart surgery.

Nicole writes, “Adam – I had my mitral valve repaired 2 weeks ago. The surgeon used a sternotomy, so my chest is still sore. I’m a tummy sleeper, so I’m not sleeping well. How long until I can sleep on my stomach? Thanks! Nicole”

Like Nicole, I am a tummy sleeper as well.

For me, it’s the most comfortable position to sleep. Plus, Robyn (my wife) has learned that when I sleep on my stomach, I don’t snore… as loud. That said, after my surgery, it was a tough adjustment sleeping on my back – for me and Robyn.

As for Nicole’s question, I do not have a definitive answer for her. It needs to be stressed that healing is a personal process. Some patients heal faster than others. I know, from experience, that benchmarking healing milestones (spending time alone, driving, returning to work, etc.) can really upset and frustrate patients during their recovery.

Please Remember: The Road To Recovery Is Not Always This Direct

If you are curious… My return to “tummy sleep” was a two-step process. First, at 4 weeks, I began sleeping on my side for a few hours each night. Then, at about 6-7 weeks, I was sleeping on my stomach full-time.

Again, please remember that we heal at different rates. I’m sure many of the former patients who visit this blog had completely different experiences specific to sleeping after cardiac surgery. I am hoping they might leave a comment to share their thoughts and stories with Nicole by clicking here.

I hope this helps Nicole (and perhaps you) learn more about sleeping after heart surgery.

Keep on tickin!

Great news!

You can now register for Dr. Eric Roselli’s upcoming chat titled, “Aortic Valve & Aorta Surgery”, scheduled for Wednesday, July 7 at 2pm (EST).

This special, one-hour session, hosted by The Cleveland Clinic, will provide you with direct access to one of their leading heart surgeons.

If you would like to join this free online chat, you must register at The Cleveland Clinic website. Here are the actions needed to register. Please follow these step-by-step instructions. It’s a little bit tricky so you may want to print out these instructions.

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I just received a question from Dave about the use of stockings, the intensive care unit and heart valve surgery.

Dave writes, “Adam – The time is here. I’m going in for mitral valve repair (not replacement I hope) due to severe mitral regurgitation and an enlarged heart. Yesterday, I was at a barbecue when a friend told me that I should expect to be in annoying surgical stockings when I wake up in the intensive care unit (ICU). Is that true? Thanks, Dave”

While I can not speak for all patients, I can assure Dave that when I woke up in the intensive care unit, after my heart valve surgery, I was wearing stockings on both legs. Like the ventilator tube, this was not expected.

However, I didn’t find the stockings to be annoying or irritating. After the surgery, I was thrilled to be alive. That said, I was pretty accepting of all the medical gizmos that were either on me or surrounding me.

I would later learn that these stockings are medically referred to as compression stockings.  According to St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, compression stockings are used by their patients throughout the hospital stay:

“Compression stockings help control the swelling in your legs, improve circulation and decrease the risk of clot formation. If you have coronary artery bypass surgery with a graft taken from your leg, the stockings are worn day and night for four weeks. – St. Vincent’s Hospital”

I hope this helps Dave (and perhaps you) manage your ICU expectations if you are preparing for surgery.

Keep on tickin!