Amanda's Guestbook

Hi Amanda- Thank you for your journal. It was very informative! I will be having a meeting with Dr. Gheissari tomorrow afternoon to discuss my options for Aortic Valve Replacement. I just wanted to ask you if you were happy with him and his team and how you are doing now that it's been several years since your last post. Thanks! Greg

Hello Amanda: I came across your HVJ while doing a search on Dr. Ali Gheissari this afternoon. I have chosen him as my surgeon for upcoming MV repair and Maze Procedure at St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, CA in a couple of months. I would love to email with you and learn about your experience. Dr. G. has been referred to me by every cardiologist I have seen and seems extremely competent but you are the first person I have come across who has had him as a surgeon. I checked out Cedars Sinai but when I thought more about my comfort level, I felt I would like to be in a smaller hospital close to home (4 miles). Don\'t know if you ever check this site, but if so, would love to talk with you about your experience. Hope you are totally recovered. Sharon (shaas8@aol.com).

Hi Amanda. You are welcome on the post about Lori. I saw the article in the paper & just felt it needed to be seen by HVJ. Her passing touched everyone here. You should be coming along quite well with your rehab by now. Hope it is helping with your recovery progress! Take care, Joy

Lori, I have truly missed \"talking\" to you. You were one that was and is constantly on my mind. I am so happy that you are doing well. How did you like rehab? I am actually really looking forward to the day I can start.So glad you and your ex are on such good terms. I share custody with mine and we are usually pretty good. This weekend he left me his car to drive while he was out of town because David has ours down in FL until Sept. with his reserves. We had to sell my car this summer to keep up.(I don\'t tell many people that:) But it shocked me that my ex offered his.I would LOVE for us to meet in person!Like Fran told me, there are certain people on this site we truly grow a bond with and you have been one of those since the first day we wrote. I like her idea of planning an HVJ reunion in the future. The weather there must be beautiful. Enjoy it:) Very hot and humid here. Thank you for what you wrote. It touched me and came at a time I needed it. Also thank you for your emai. I do plan to write. Mine is davidandkimberly1009@yahoo.com. Love, Kimberly

Good Morning Amanda You are a dear, northern European background and all. I am of Greek heritage and you know Mediterranean people are more emotional. Truly, underneath we\'re all the same. For months after my surgery I wept much more frequently than before, although i was never a slouch in that department. Do believe the surgery has something to do with it as I have seen it mentioned before. Let the tears flow and rejoice in them. Plus, you have to continue to root for your Lakers so I can try not to gloat when my Celtics win next year. Thanks so much for the offer to switch. Rehab should be rolling along for you. Do you feel yourself getting stronger? How about golfing, seems about the time you thought you\'d be able to start up again. Here in south FL, the golfers have to get out at the crack of dawn to finish up before it gets into the mid 90\'s with high humidity. The humidity really wipes me out. Take care, friend. Fran

Hi Amanda I\'ve just finished reading so many of your postings to our other family members and they are truly heartfelt. Duane\'s words are so beautiful as well because he isn\'t just a preacher - he\'s family and speaks from personal experience. The messages being left on this site are gut-wrenching because they are coming from a place wherein we\'ve tried to hide from and hope our families never had to face. I\'m glad to know you are recovering well. God bless. Cheryl, Ontario

Amanda, Thank you for posting on my journal today. I really appreciated it, because I was feeling so low because of Lori B. Life is so hard to understand...if it was decided who lived and who died based on their need here on earth...Lori B. would certainly have lived. Her girls need her so much. My heart breaks for them. I feel so helpless....wish we could all huddle together and share our pain. Instead, we will connect and our voices will be heard and our love shared by writing in our HVJ. Thank you Amanda, Theresa C.

Good Morning Amanda Lori is the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep and the first prayer when I awaken. I see there is no update this morning. Since Adam met with the neurologist yesterday about her condition and the nurse in me says the news is very bad. My heart breaks for them and have been somewhat depressed the past few days even though we have our 6 year old grandson here with us for the week and he does make me laugh. As far as my afib, my medication (beta blocker) helps control it so that I really don\'t feel it. You are early in your recovery and your heart is still making lots of adjustments, but do plan to mention it to your doctor especially if it continues. We will continue with our cross country prayers, miracles do happen. Fran

Hi Amanda Thanks for the note and the answer is NEVER! Have you finally got a handle on your INR and is it staying at the right level? You haven\'t posted for over a month so am also curious to know how your rehab is going? I\'ve always done well with an organized (set time) exercise, so will have to be diligent about doing it on my own, but I will. You and are, and am sure others are, praying that Lori in TX pulls through this emergency. take care. Fran

Amanda: I was pleased to catch up on your progress and see that you are doing well, can drive again, and are back on your own. I hope you are enjoying the end of summer and that your rehab isn\'t too hard or painful. And what the heck is an INR and how is yours these days? Are you ready for some football ????l!!!! I hope to see you soon. Until then, stay away from English Cinema! -- Michael T.