Chris,
I'm so glad your recovery is going so well! It must be nice to be on the "other side" of this adventure. Hope you have safe travels home and continue with your speedy recovery.
God Bless you,
Deb Z.

I just wanted to let everyone know how very well Chris is doing. He has really made this whole process look easy. Chris has always been my knight in shining armor and the best father anybody could ask for. His doctors are great and we are blessed that everything has turned out the way it has. I am a very blessed women to have such an amazing husband and best friend. Chris, I overwhelmed with pride for you and all that you have accomplished. Keep up the great work and I know you will do great when we get home. The boys and I love you with all our hearts.

A special THANK YOU to my mother for coming down and watching the boys for the last 9 days, we couldn't have done it with out you! A special THANKS to Karla and family for dropping us off and picking us at the airport and spending a little extra time with the boys while we were away.

A very Very special THANKS to DR.GILLINOV and his team of professionals for making all this possible and doing a great job!

So awesome to hear your recovery is going good. Gods guardian angels do amazing work. Sending prayers for a continued smooth recovery. Have a safe trip home! Love you all. Scott and family

Praise God for the healing and the success you have had to be able to get home ahead of time! Best wishes in the road to recovery and getting your strength back! Safe trip homeward :) Cathy Olson

Welcome to the club!!!

Richard Volpe

Chris, great to read your update and hear about your great progress. Look forward to seeing you guys soon. Nick

I love you so much Chris! YOU are doing an AMAZING job. I am so very proud of you and to be your wife. Keep up the good work!

Chris, I am so impressed with you. My recovery was a little different but the outcome has been very successful. Also, the medical profession does a good job of helping with pain management. My prayers continue to be with you. Maria Williams, Ft. Worth, TX

Chris --

Sounds like things are going well --- great job walking around the floor :) -- it won't be long and you will be on your way home !!!

Darlene Nowak-Baker -- Fellow CCF friend

Hi Chris,
Glad to hear you are doing so well. Get your rest. Take care.
Shelley and Dan

Hi chris. Great that you are doing well. I had my minimally invasive mitral valve repair exactly a month ago. Everything is going well. No pain at all now.
Best wishes
Julie Voyzey

Hey Chris, did you watch the Cubbies win?

One day at a time.......one step at a time.Get some rest.

Chris,
I had mitral valve surgery on 8/18/11 at Brigham & Women's in Boston. Dr. Larry Cohn did a minimally invasive operation. Everything is going well and I read your story with great interest. Good luck in your recovery. Since I am a month ahead of you, let me know if you have any questions or want to compare notes.
Tim Jensen

Great to see everything moving along really well....continue to heal! CO

Chris and Sam, great to hear everything is going well and staying on plan. Hope for quick recovery and get some much needed rest. Kevin

Keep up the good work guys!!! Miss You KD

So glad to see your post this morning Sam. Hoping for more recovery today and easing of the pain. Sending all positive thoughts/vibes your way. The Wixos

Hope you both had a peaceful night! KD

So glad all is going well....now healing time and then home...best wishes!

Hi Uncle Chris and Aunt Sam, hope you are feeling good again soon. Love Abbey

Chris, glad to hear everything went well. Hope to hear from you soon. Leaves are changing in Buffalo Co......just thought you'd like to know..

I'm so thankful your operation went smoothly- Chris and Sam, you are in my thoughts- Heather

It's great to hear all went well with Chris' surgery. The anxiety pre-surgery is over. To me, that was the hardest part.'

I get what you are saying about the ET tube. I was an RT for 18yrs and told them to please remove the tube before I was awake. Of course, they laughed at that request. To be honest, I was somewhat aware I was still intubated, but I didn't care and didn't fight it. It wasn't uncomfortable like I thought it would be. I was perfectly medicated/drugged.
Blessings to Chris & his family during his recovery.

Sheila Garrison - Apple Valley, CA

Way to GO Bro!!!!!! Love you!!!!

Hey Chris - you made it through the fire, and now its all about healing up, and getting back to being a great dad, husband, brother &son. We're all pulling for you! dpk

Chris, So glad everything went well, Your boys will be so happy, now we need a speedy recovery for you and we are praying for that. Love You, Mom Dad Yonker and your Boys

Chris...i just received word that the surgey went good. Praying for a good recovery. The hardest part is done. You have a great support team! Love ya guys.....Scott, Carrie, Madison, Cheyenee and Dacotah

Hi Chris –

I was in your shoes on Sept 2nd at CCF for the exact surgery for repairing my mitral valve utilizing the mini thoracotomy approach – My surgeon was Dr. Sabik and everything went great !!!-- You are in fantastic hands between the Dr’s, nurses and other care givers at CCF. My only advice is to be sure that you have enough pain medicine for the first time in ICU when you move from the bed to the lazy boy --- it was the longest two steps in my life !!! Once you get through that it is all good and you are on the road to healing !!!! The team on the “step down floor” are all fantastic and will assist you with your recovery so you can get yourself back home to your friends and family ASAP. I wish you the best and enjoy your heart the way God always intended it to be ---

Sam – you are doing a great job !!!!

Darlene Nowak-Baker

Many prayers for you Chris, Sam and all the people involved in Chris's procedure and care.
Love,
Jeannie

Do Good today Chris, (Mom would say that!) Love you Karla

You are in good hands.....and the head Dr.(up stairs )will be watching over you.Will be thinking of you.Ricky

Chris,

Hope all goes well tomorrow. Sounds like you are in a great place to have this procedure. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Talk to you soon

Steve and Jennifer Weinzapfel

You are strong & brave & God is with you. The surgeons will take good care of you & by this time tomorrow you will have a healthy mitral valve. You can say: "I did it.". God bless you.
Maria Williams, Ft. Worth, TX

Hang in there Chris! We are thinking about you!

Bob Jones

Chris, I was in your shoes on Nov. 30th, 2010. I was diagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation. The valve was successfully repaired & I feel fantastic. My advice is to follow doctor's orders, enjoy your time to rest & go to cardiac rehab when you are ready. Sending supportive thoughts & prayers your way.
Maria Williams, Ft. Worth, TX

So glad that the cath went well and your heart can still take the beer, brats and cheese! One thing behind you, one day at a time. Keeping you in our prayers, love the Wixos

Sounds Great! Thanks for the update Sam. Talk with you guys later. KD

So happy everything went fine we knew it would. Take it easy today we all love you Mom and the boys

Great Job, Hunny! I knew you would do great. Everything came back clean as whistle for the heart cath and know we wait for Thursday. I love you more than you know :0)
-xoxoxo-
Samantha

Hi Chris.... my surgery is tomorrow and I just wanted to say the heart cath as the last hurdle is much easier than it sounds..... and it will give them even more info so they can do your surgery with a broader knowledge base.
Just wanted to remind you I'm thinking of you.... all!!

Hi Chris,
I am 22 days post mitral valve repair via port access. I'm feeling great apart from having to take things easy etc. Hope all goes well for you. Will keep watch on your journal to see how you get on.
Julie Voyzey

Dear Chris,

I had an aortic valve replacement in Cleveland 7/16/10. It was amazingly successful and I was up and at 'em quite quickly.

I keep meaning to update my journal but seem to always be too busy. Will do that soon. Do use your spirometer many times a day and DO take a course of cardio-rehab. It makes such a difference.

My cardiologist here has been amazed by my "weekend surgery." I was in the operating room on Friday afternoon, discharged Monday morning and flew home to Denver on Tuesday.

I will be thinking of you. Remember - you are in the best hospital in the US for your type of problem.

Anne Shannon

You're doing a great job! I am proud of you and love u very much. Tomorrow is nothing to worry about I will be there with you. Love You!

Hey, Chris
The heart cath is a breeze. I was mildly freaking out inside my head also. But,once they gave me that IV drug cocktail....I remember laying there and thinking, "So this is what doing drugs is like? Not bad. " It takes every bit of anxiety away. And this comes from a person who has never tried a cigarette, much less drugs.

Continue to have an uneventful procedure and heart surgery.

Sheila Garrison -Apple Valley, CA

I second the advise not to worry about the cath - they'll give drugs that causes "conscious sedation" - so you won't remember a thing. Big thanks to you for keeping this journal. I will be walking in your shoes starting Dec 11th-now I'll know what to expect. God Bless!!

Don't worry about the heart cath.....it really isn't bad at all. They will give you a valiium or something and all will be good. Plan on lying low the rest of the day though.
Deb Z

Hi, let me know what time your heart cath. is tomorrow once you find out. thanks KD

Chris,

You are in the best of hands! You also have the best nurse supporting you - don't worry about a thing. Sam already knows I am available all day on Thursday. Best wishes.

Marcie and Family

Chris,

My thoughts are with you!

Keep on tickin!

Adam Pick

P.S. Who is your surgeon?