About Me (In My Own Words)
On December 1, 2011 I will undergo a second open heart surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago to fix an aortic aneurysm.
My close friends and family know my story very well but there are many people who ask how a 36 year old female in generally good health finds herself having two open heart surgeries so here is my story...
When I was 3 months old the doctors discovered that I had a heart murmur and that it would need to be followed closely for the rest of my life. I have memories of going to Children's Memorial Hospital many times as a child to have tests completed. I knew at a very young age that something was physically wrong with me.
When I was a senior in college I recall having tests done in Minnesota where my parents were living at the time. It was the first time I heard that I would most likely need to have surgery to fix aortic stenosis. My valves were calcifying and blood wasn't pumping through, causing the heart to work harder than it should. I decided to forget what this doctor has said and went back to school to have a good time! Years passed, I graduated and started working. A good friend of mine from college asked me if I would be interested in participating in the Breast Cancer walk from Milwaukee to Chicago with her. I was absolutely interested, but my parents were concerned and begged me to go to the cardiologist before doing anything that physical. I made an appointment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in early 2002. The cardiologist looked at test results and told me I needed surgery and I needed it as soon as possible. Naturally I fell apart at the thought of something so severe at the age of 27. My family and I were leaving on a cruise in 2 weeks....I couldn't have surgery!! Two weeks after that meeting with the doctor I checked into Northwestern for the Ross Procedure. My Pulmonary valve was used in place of the Aortic valve and I received a donor valve for the Pulmonary valve. I went through the tough recovery and a year after the surgery test results revealed that the Aortic valve was again failing and would need replacing again.
For 8 years I've been waiting and wondering when I would need to endure this surgery again. This past June I got married. Two weeks before my wedding I found out, at a routine check-up that it was time for surgery once again.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Chicago, Illinois