Emily's Journal

Hello to all my Heart Family 🤗 I know I haven't been on here in a very long time!!! I really hope you everyone is doing well in your Heart Journeys. I know most on here are from America 🇺🇸 which has been undergoing rapid change whether it be political or health wise with this terrible COVID-19 Virus. And Worldwide have seen the effects - I prayer this isn't affecting any receive the proper medical Heart healthcare you may need or slowing/holting your recovery progress. May all your hearts be healing back together to beat again 💕 I'm continuing to think and prayer for you all 🙏💓💞 And will be sure to post more frequent updates on here too. Em xoxo

As I was replying to a post regarding this wonderful Community, I could help to think of this lovely Cheerful Song by Ben Lee called "We're All In This Together" (below); which reminds me and us all on here that we're not alone on our Heart Journies, there's someone else who is perhaps on the other side of the World going through these same steps of our Journey too, and thanks to this wonderful Community Adam Pick has created we will always have the support of others who understand how we feel and what we're going through. So please remember you're never alone and we're all in this together 😁💞💓 Ps. I also found an American based video to this song too. https://youtu.be/mTeZcHWHeW4

I know I haven't been updated much on here, as my Heart Health had been going really well without any bumps along the way since my 2nd OHS in 2016, that is until now in 2019. Over this past week I have been in very sick in Hospital 🏥 I started to experience severe chest pains and heaviness on my chest when I woke on the weekend. At first I thought it could be wind trapped/reflux, but after trying so many self treatment options including pain relief, the pain still wouldn't go away. I began to feel out of breathe especially walking short distance, therefore I was rushed up to my local Hospital 🏥 (and I urge all who have chest pain to do - please don't wait, it could ve cery serious problem that needs resolving within moments) to the Emergency Department. I underwent so many test to make sure there was no blood clot or heart attacks - thank goodness that was clear. I had another Echo done, ECGs, hooked up 24/7 haltomonitor (the neck ECG we all given for OHS). The brilliant Cardiologist went through all and made contact with my Specialist Team. He explained to me my Surgeon did a really great job at my Aunoplasty Ring in my Mitral Valve so that it should last me years to come, which is a relief 😌 However a previously repaired hole done twice has started to open up, my left Atriun is enlarged, my Mitral Valve is still leaking abit (which I already knew from previous Echos), but now my Tricuspid Valve is leaking! I was wondering if any of you out there have 2 leaky Valves at the same time and how'd they go about Surgery particularly with 2 Mechanical Valves (is that even possible?). At this stage it's mild regurgitation so I will be monitored and go for an Echo with my Specialist in a few months time. What is causing this pain, especially when laying on one side currently is I have Costochondritis - Inflammation of the Chest Cartilage around the Sternum. Has anyone had this before? It could take months to recover and caused by infection or just over doing it (which I have been and now need to listen to the Doctors orders to rest!!). I'm on Anti-Inflammatories, pain relief medication and sickness prevention tablets. This current condition of mine makes it hard to breathe normally and move and lay (so I still use my heart chest pillow) - makes ot feel like I've just had Open Heart Surgery on my Chest again. Perhaps some may know ways in which help? Wishing everyone thr best for their upcoming Surgeries and Heart Journies 🙏❤️ You're Heart Sister Em.

This Febuary in Australia is known as Heartkid Month, it's a time where we raise awareness and much needed funds for young children going through Heart Surgery and those precious children who live everyday with Heart Disease. Please feel free to donate directely to the Heartkids Organisation through their website below, because together we can help our future generations with their Heart Journey too. <3 https://www.heartkids.org.au/whats-on/show-your-heart-feb-2019/show-your-heart

I hope all my Heart Family have had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with your Families 🎄 May you experience the very best of good health in 2019 🎉 Your Heart Sis Em 💖

Today is the shortest day of the year, 21st of June. This time 7 years ago (in 2011) I underwent my first Open-Heart Surgery. I can't believe where the time has gone! Apart from catching the Winter sickness going around everywhere currently, I'm quite well and eternally grateful to my Surgical Care Team. I wish all those beginning to undergo their heart journey and those who have already started their heart journey well and send my many prayers. I know it's hard taking the first step, especially emotionally but with all these wonderfully supportive community members I've met along the way, I wouldn't change taking that first step onto this continuous journey for anything in this world. Life is such a precious gift and so are these beautiful friendships made along the way. I wish I'd known about this supportive community when I was going through my first OHS 💞

What a journey these past two years have been since undergoing my 2nd re-repair and Open Heart Surgery. I've been so lucky to share my journey with you so far :) I've competed and completed three marathon running races as well as cycled over 100km for my Charity cycling challenge. I'm still going really well, maintaining an active life every single day. I'm living proof that there is a healthy life waiting for you after major Heart Surgery, so please have faith even when times are so incredibly hard and you just feel like giving up. I am here for you and wishing you all the very best on your Heart Journey too. As the wonderful Adam Pick would say, Keep On Ticking <3 Ps. I have posted a few photos below of when I finished my running races towards the end of last year :-D

Hey, You should check out my fundraising page for the Great Cycle Challenge! Click the link below to view the page: https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/EmilyRowley/b Great Cycle Challenge takes place in October and participants will pedal as many kilometres as they can throughout the month. All funds raised from the event will be used to fight kids' cancer to help children across Australia who are bravely fighting this terrible disease. Thank you for your kind hearted donations to a worthy Charity.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-06/kyle-chalmers-undergoes-successful-heart-surgery/8593806 Wishing Kyle Chalmers a speedy recovery, back on his feet representing our country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games! :D

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter. 🐰🍫 I hope you all enjoy loads of yummy chocolates and good company, while reflecting on the true meaning of Easter and giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. I hope you all have a safe break, taking care. I am thinking of our Heart Brothers and Sister who are going through surgery over this Easter period.

On Friday I had my Cardiologist Consultation, ECG and Echo. I thought I would give an update how it went, I haven't been on here for awhile. •My Heart function has improved and going really well. •Continue light exercise (ie. walking) not strenous (physical sport) exercise. •Unsure if my Sternum has healed together fully yet, my Cardiologist doesn't want to expose me to mlre radiation since young female. •Go back in 6 months time. Here is living proof that your health/heart can improve after Heart Surgery, makes it all worth while. I hope you all are keeping well and all your hearts/health improve alot too. 💓

My amazing Cardiothorasic Surgeon was a finalist in this year's Australian Woman of the Year (for NSW). She is a wonderful woman and Surgeon. I have been very blessed to have my heart fixed by her with so much care. She dedicated a lot of her time to make sure my Operation and recovery went smoothly. Her Personal Assistant, Donna is also a very wonderful, caring person who went through all my concern pre-op, reassuring me - I spent a lot of time talking with Donna. Dr Emily Kate Granger is a true inspiration and a great role model for many women, including myself. https://m.facebook.com/StVincentsHospitalSydney/photos/a.235819236607186.1073741827.235806856608424/610366049152501/?type=3 http://www.women.nsw.gov.au/?a=407151 I hope today can promote the wonderful work women do in our communities, the roles they play in all our lives and raise many issues which affect women world-wide can be addressed, such as inequality.

This day last year, Thursday 28th of January 2016, I underwent my 2nd major Open-Heart Surgery. I am enternally grateful to all of my Surgical Team - without them and their excellent work (for around 10 hours) on my body, I would not be here today. I am incrediably thankful to my supportive Family, Friends, Pastoral Care Team, Heart💙Brothers, Heart💜Sisters and Adam Pick who created this wonderful site, where I have made ever lasting friendships in this supportive and caring community. 💞 Instead of being the patient, I am currently the visitor with a close relative of mine in Hospital. I can see how far I have come and learnt in this last year. Although like alot of you I have times of tiredness and shortness of breath, but there are days when I feel I can take on the world. I wish for a safe journey and smooth recovery back to good health for you all. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, in particular those facing upcoming Heart Surgery and those currently going through it. It's a long journey, but know there is always hope and kind hearted people on here to listen and give out very useful advice on their experiences. 💕 May God Bless You All ❤💟

Happy Australia Day! I hope my fellow Aussies (including those newly Australian Citizens) have enjoyed celebrating all the great things we have here in Australia and all the great past+present Australian inventions. Congradulations to the much deserved receiptant of Australian Of The Year Award for 2017 ~ Professor Alan Mackay-Sim who is a Biomedical Scientist contributing over 20 years in improving Medicine and searching for cures. He has treated people with spinal cord injuries, helping them gain mobility to walk again. There are so many more people who have contributed so much to our society and are equally as deserving to celebrate their efforts to. I am proud to be an Australian.

Wishing all my Heart Brothers & Sisters a very happy, safe, joyful and healthy new year in 2017 and beyond. For some of you, your heart journey is just beginning, others have gone through alot with your heart surgeries and come out on the other side with a mended heart. However as Heart Patients our journey never stops. For me I am incredibly grateful for all the support I have received from this wonderful community, with my own Open-Heart Surgery earlier in 2016. A big Thank You to Adam Pick for creating a wonderful place we can go to connect with others who have been or going through the same/similar time in our lives. 💕 May you all be blessed with good health.

It's sad to hear of George Michael (Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou) who passed away on Christmas Day aged 53 (25.06.1963-25.12.2016) due to Heart Failure. He produced and sang wonderful music, one of my favourites is 'Careless Whisper'. He will be missed, but not forgotten. May he rest in peace knowing he has helped others through out his life. 🎼

Wishing all my Heart Brothers, Heart Sister and your Families a very Merry Christmas 🎄 I hope it is filled with loads of joy, love, laughter, peace and wonderful happy memories to cherish in years to come. 🎅🏼☃ Stay safe over this festive season xoxo. May God Bless you all 🙏🏼

After waiting for about a month, I have recieved my CT Scan Results. My Surgeon explained how she could see new bone formation/growth which means my Sternum is healing better than last time (after my first OHS there was a gap). Good news looks like she won't need to Operation to remove Sternum wires & replace with plates. I need at least another 6 months for my Sternum to heal more, particularly up top. I will contiue to experience clicking and pain as my Sternum heals and due to peck muscles rubbing on Sternum wall. I am allowed to take Aspirin and Iburprofen for my pain, headaches & migraines now. ☺ I wishing all people with upcoming Heart Surgeries and for those of us on our roads to recovery. A shout out to Jan from WA in Australia, sending my prayers for your surgery in early September. 💞

Today, 21st of June is the shortest day of the year and is also the day I had my first Open-Heart Surgery five years ago (in 2011). I wish I knew about this wonderful heart community back then and had Adam's book to read to of helped me prepare. Does anybody have their own heart Anniversary coming up? ☺