About Me (In My Own Words)
My mom is a pretty tough cookie. Born in the Great Depression, she learned to be resourceful and independent.
All these many years, she has been the rock of our family. About seven years ago she suffered a heart attack. After two stents and a pacemaker, she was good to go.
Over the past several years, heredity has taken over and this year she had an additional stent placed in her heart. That same stent ruptured in October and had to be replaced.
Ultimately, she found she has mitral regurgitation and will need to have that valve replaced with a porcine valve. She also needs to have her tricuspid valve repaired as well as a coronary by pass where the third stent is currently located. That stent has become ineffective once more so the doctor will bypass the artery to make the stent a moot point.
Her original open heart surgery was scheduled for Nov. 29. The day before, she was told she was not a candidate for the surgery due to calcium that had encased the coronary artery. If the surgery was performed, it would rip her heart apart getting to the mitral valve.
A second opinion was gathered. He said it is a risky surgery. 15% mortality on the table. 5% risk of stroke within the first 48 hours. But 80% survival rate.
At her current rate of decline, she weighed her options and decided to have the surgery performed. New surgery date was Dec. 20.
Pre op was performed but once again, the day prior to surgery it was cancelled. Apparently dental work needed to be completed before the surgeon would proceed.
Yesterday, my sister frantically put into place a dentist appointment and then an oral surgeon appointment to take care of the dental misstep.
New surgery date.....Jan. 8, 2013. Pre op is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2013.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Ball Ground, Georgia
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My surgery date is:
January 8, 2013
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I was diagnosed with:
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Mitral Regurgitation
Atrial Fibrillation
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Repair
Mitral Valve Replacement
Tricuspid Valve Repair
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Maze Procedure
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Robert Guyton
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My hospital is:
Emory University Midtown