Hi Amy,

My prayers and thoughts are with you.

I know it is easier said than done but you'll be fine.

I'm a member of the HVJ and definitely can relate to what you are going through. I had surgery May 10 for an ascending aortic aneurysm that exended into the arch, so our cases are very similar.

Best of everything.

Elaine

Hi Amy,

It sounds like you are almost there in preparation for your surgery. I had AVR and aortic anuerysm repair in May of this year, and can tell you you can get through this just fine. If you have read Adam's book, you have a great idea of what to expect. For me personally, it was easier than Adam's description.

I strongly endorse going into this with a psotitive attitude and knowledgeable about the event. Listen to your medical team, do your exercises and you'll be out and better very quickly. Don't let little setbacks get you down as they are very typical, and as Fran says focus on your inprovements week to week, more than day to day.

Best wishes,
Mark
Keller, TX

Hi Amy,

Best of luck with your pre-surgery tests and surgery on Monda. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Kellie

Amy,

The best of luck with your surgery. All of us at The Home Store look forward to your recovery and return. We already miss you!!!

Andy

Goodluck! I'll keep you in my prayers...
God Bless!
andro d.

Amy:

Very glad that you finally have the problem under control! We'll talk soon.

Uncle Dave & Aunt Joanne

Hi Amy,

I am so happy that you will not need to address your valve right now. And how wonderful that your date for surgery has been set? Glad to see you're making progress. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Kellie

Amy, thanks for your advices. Yes, I was bit impatient lately because I've waited for the schedule for almost 3 months. It should have done earlier,only my surgeon had several commitments outside the country. But yesterday afternoon, my cardiologist told me that next week I will be able to get a schedule, and I felt a lot better now. I will ask my daughter to keep posts during my stay at the hospital. Thank you and God bless!

Letty Aguila Paz

Hi Amy. I know exactly what you mean about having a sense of peace once you know your surgery date. I felt the same way. It is also great that you'll not need a valve replacement for a while. There are advancements being made on replacements that may well be in place 10 years from now. Specifically, one day they'll probably be able to use the femoral artery to get the valve where it goes. Adam had a post on his blog about that a while ago so you might be able to find it if you'd like to read up on it. Take care, Joy Vera

Thank you for signing in my guestbook. Thank you also for your inspiring advice. I just shared a moment of weakness, but I am really ready for the surgery. My strength is my family, and of course, my strong FAITH that GOD will always be with me. You are right, HVJ is one site that really helped me a lot in times when I was confused. I have talked to my doctor, said anytime next week the surgery will be done,only no fixed date, and I am hopeful before the 15th of September, it will be fixed.

ALRIGHT Amy! The insurance company is doing the right thing....with the help of your cardiologist's letter! October 18, here we come. You are in my thoughts and in my heart. love, Jean

Hi, Amy:
Glad to hear that you have a date. I can appreciate how it can be grounding during this time of unertainty. My prayers are with you and with your surgeon, who sounds like a winner. Love, Mrs. D

Hi Amy! I have such mixed feelings writing in your guestbook here on Heart Valve Journals.

You have been such a wonderful friend Amy; I think of you so often. It's been so long since we talked, and I've tried so hard to find you. Finding you immediately brought a HUGE smile to my face, but finding you because of your condition, that made the joy bitter-sweet.

Your journal is a great read, and I agree with the other folks that wrote in your guestbook: you're doing great! Try to be patient while waiting for your second opinion. Honestly, I've never been through anything as significant and scary as this, but I think I can imagine how the waiting is giving you plenty of anxiety!

You were always there for me, willing to listen and talk when I needed you most. Your comforting words somehow made even the weird situations seem reasonable. :)

I can only hope that I can be there for you, especially now, ready to listen and chat, if that's what you need.

Huge Hugs!!

Steve W (York, PA)

Hi Amy, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm not very good with expressing myself so I hope you know me well enough to know how I feel about you. If there is anything I can do for you just let me know. Wisconsin is still a part of the United States and not that far away. Uncle Dave sends his love and prayers as well.

Love, Auntie Joanne

Hi Amy,

This is Chiara DiMuzio.....I am so sorry you have to go through this! And the delay... my heart aches for you.

I had kidney cancer 2 years ago and I only had to wait 6 weeks for surgery but that was an insane amount of time in my brain who wanted it done NOW!!!

I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I also will keep reading your journal. Thank God for technology which allows us to keep in touch with you.. and you don't have to say the same thing like 100 times!!!

God Bless - Chiara (now Chiara Gravell)

Hi Amy! I'm sorry to hear about the delay. I hope the surgeon is relaxed and focused when s/he gets back to give you a focused second opinion. Hang in there and enjoy yourself. love, aimee

Hey Amy

Welcome to HVJ. One of the biggest and most valuable lessons we can learn from others on this site is "patience" is most necessary. Many of us have experienced delays, be it in appointments, surgery dates and recovery. Once we get our heads wrapped around going forward of course we're ready to get it over with. In the meantime, take the time to read the journals and understand the procedures. Get your house in order and be prepared for some downtime for when you return home. Try and keep yourself good and busy and keep the dark thoughts away.

Cheryl, Ontario

Welcome Amy. I also am going through the whole anxiety of planning my surgery! Chin Up!!

Ellen K

Welcome, Amy.

This is not an easy process to go through... but finding this site was a blessing for me and did more to ease my stress than almost anything else. I'm 40 and had my mitral valve replaced just shy of 2 weeks ago. The surgery and recovery were/are no where near as bad as my mind had conjured up. I will continue to follow your journey.

Best Wishes.
Kellie (MD)

Hi Amy. Welcome to HVJ - your earlier post indicates that you've already discovered what a helpful place this is. How frustrating that delay must have been, but your decision to trust your cardiologist sounds like a wise one. Best wishes - Joy Vera

Phil 4:4 - Be anxious for nothing
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

This verse helps me when I am feeling anxious, I hope you can find peace in it as well. A.Drzy.

Oh darn Amy! This is truly a lesson in patience! I am thinking about you and sure wish you and Nigel were up here with me. It is a beautiful place. Maybe in the Fall.....with love, Jean

Hi Amy,

Welcome to Heart Valve Journals.

I can relate to so much of what you are going through.

Please know that my thoughts are with you as proceed through your surgical path.

If you need anything, please let me know.

Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick

Hi Amy
I'm a fellow Heart Valve Journaler. The waiting is the worst, isn't it? Hope you're using the time to read and learn more about your upcoming surgery. Hope you found this site by reading Adam's book. If you haven't read it, it's a wealth of info. I was given the date for my surgery on January 3rd and had to wait till March 18th for the surgery. God taught me patience during that time and i was able to correspond with the most wonderful people on this site. Keep us up to date, it will all be okay. Greetings from FL.
Fran

I will keep you in my prayers. Annemarie Drzymkowski

Dearest Amy,

There is something so special about you that we can never forget. Please accept our concern and prayers for a total healing of your loving heart. We look forward to upadates.

Your friends, Frank & Jan Drzymkowski

Hi Amy!
Word and prayers for you are spreading across the country. Know you are loved, prayed for and thought of often as you go through this process.
- Aimee (DiMuzio) Buckner

It will be interesting to follow the process with you on line...our thoughts and prayers are always with you.

Tom and Elsie Gorski

I am so glad you are doing an on-line journal so we can all keep track of and be with you on this journey. You are in my thoughts and in my heart dear Amy. Do give me a call when you are home from North Carolina. with love, Jean

Hi Amy
Glad you found this site. Does that mean you have read Adam's book? There's a wealth of info there and an in depth section on choosing your surgeon. My surgery was in March and involved 2 valves, there have been many with aortic aneurysm surgery and you may hear from some of them. I wish you luck on your journey to a healthy heart.
Fran

Good morning Amy,
Glad to get this link to your site and to be able to keep up to date with you. I am looking forward to pictures of you that you say are coming soon. I am right now enjoying the cool breeze of the morning before what looks like will be a very hot humid summer day. Stay cool.
Keeping you in my prayers.
Dr.Catherine