Christy's Posts

SO AMAZING to think that 3 years ago, Dr. James Kauten (heart surgeon at Piedmont Atlanta) replaced my mitral and aortic heart valves!!! Time has flown by, good gracious! I was so very blessed with all the great people that took care of me (and my family) during that time frame!!!! I had THE BEST people looking over me!!!!! I am forever grateful!!!!!!! I can tell you, if you are about to undergo valve surgery...YOU GOT THIS!!!!! Continue to read these journals...keep your spirits up and surround yourself with positive people! I would STRONGLY encourage you to visit the ICU RED before your surgical date! On a whim...I pulled my husband into the ICU right after my post-op visit with my surgeon...I wanted my husband to see the ICU...for him...BUT it also helped me as well. It turned out that the nurse we met within ICU RED was going to be MY nurse that next day!!!! God is AWESOME!!!!! Tammy (world's greatest ICU RED nurse) was fabulous...explaining protocal for the next 24 hours after surgery, easing our nerves. That was truly the best thing we did for ourselves right before surgery. It does take a while to get life back to normal....but you eventually get there! YES, I'm on coumadin for the rest of my life....but it helps keep me alive and WELL!!!! I check my blood INR levels with my own home monitoring machine. It's just a part of life....like brushing my teeth. NO BIG DEAL!!!!!!! Ok, off to the store for some Father's Day shopping! Happy HEART DAY everyone! Do something special for my 3 year old valves today! :) HA! God is Good and I'm so blessed to be here!!!!!!!!!!!! Christy Naughton