I love you! Wishing for a quick and easy recovery!! :) ~Matt S.

Hey Lisa and Dad, Glad to see the good news. Welcome to the other side of the mountain. Heres to a speedy recovery. Good luck to you and prayers are out there for you.
For the long haul
Lida H

Thank you "Dad" for keeping us posted. So thankful to hear that Lisa is doing well and the surgery went great. Keeping her on my prayer list. She is a very special young woman.

Bonny Millard

We've been praying since we heard; prayed with our church yesterday; and of course today. Love, Parker and Barbara Ridings.

Wishing you the best Lisa!

- john michaels (and your pals at protokulture).

HELLO MY DEAR LISA...UNCLE PHIL AND I ARE SENDING OUR LOVE ,THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO YOU. AS GRANPA WOODS WOULD SAY" WE ARE "STIRRY CHIRRENS" AND COME FROM STRONG STOCK. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL YOUNG LADY,,YOU,,AND YOU ARE BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL,STRONG LOVING FAMILY,,,IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT,WELLL,UNLESS YOU PUT HOT FUDGE ON IT..LOL.. WE LOVE YOU AND WISH YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY LOVE UNCLE PHIL AND AUNT WIND.

P.S. Love, Lindsay

My thoughts and prayers are with you Lisa! You will get through this I know it! I may be working today, but my mind and spirit are with you sending all the Love and Strength I can today - I love you girl! Big Hugs! XOXO

We are all praying for you!! sending you light and love
Aine, Tony & Nuala

Were all thinking about you here at work. Hope all goes well! We miss you already!

Brian and your fellow coworkers.

Love and good wishes to you. Know you have many people that love you and are praying for your fast recovery.

Hello Lisa,we are praying for you and "it will be ok" HE has got your back,always",you are a super gal and have the support of all the family and friends. Your Aunt Val and I are with you in KY.GOD bless you during this time.

Lisa, I am so sorry you are going thru this. Just know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Ill be following your progress here Hayley:)

Lisa . . . so many prayers going out to you from New Mexico! Our Renegade Bible Study is with you all the way. Be assured that you'll be in all our prayers tomorrow!

Love,
Sandy and Frank

You are blessed to be so well loved. Now, show us how that mountain is conquered! -- DVB

My Lisa,

I think it is because the awful unfairness of the whole thing makes us feel responsible to share the load in some way. We all know that it is not fair and so we all take it….
Collectively we believe that you have been dealt a foul hand and we all will share in the pain. We are connected. We are responsible. This is happening to us all.. No one travels alone.

I don’t want to view you from a distance. I want to carry as much pain as I can. Bring some relief any way I can. I guess that is the cost of caring. The price of love is paid with shared pain. This is life. This is living. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Living without relationship is not living at all.
So I really wish you were not traveling this path. But you are not alone. Not for a minute. No shadow of darkness will shade you without shading me too. I love you very much….I can do nothing else. I wouldn’t want to do any thing else. Love Dad

Hi Lisa, You're in my thoughts and prayers. I know that your beautiful spirit, ever-present sunny disposition and optimism in the light of all challenges, will carry you through this event with flying colors! Lots of love and hugs to you, and I'm looking forward to seeing you back on stage sometime soon!

XOXO Carol Blalock

Lisa, our thoughts and prayers will be with you during your surgery tomorrow. We know you will make a quick recovery!

Justin & Cynthia Eckstein

My thoughts and prayers are comming your way. Keep us updated!!
Lisa

Lisa, We'll be sending our thoughts and prayers. Your outlook is so positive and impressive, and I hope the outcome is the same. All the best!

Bob Singleton

Lisa,
My prayers are with you.
Your blog is so upbeat and inspirational. I'm looking forward to reading all about the surgery and your "road to recovery".
Janet Strzelec
P.s. I enjoyed reading about cleaning your apartment because your mom was coming. J.R. always made sure to have a couple of my favorite foods when I came to visit. His roommates were total slobs so he gave up on cleaning for me. :-)

Good luck to you, and we all know exactly how scary it can be during the waiting...."which really is the hardest part". A quote that I have heard countless times, but somehow that doesn't do much to alieve the fear. BUT TRUST ME, waiting really and truly is the worst part.

I did this last week and I feel pretty great and have to make myself slow down.

Just sit back and let the cardiac repair machine take over, they will do what is right, monitor you, keep you out of pain, and fix you.

Will be praying for you and your family, and I know everything will go well.

- Take a good neck pillow

Trent V

Good luck Monday Lisa. You sound as if you have a very positive attitude. I am sure things will go fine for you. You have the support of your family as well as your guardian angel watching over you :)
Karen Campo

Lisa, you are in my prayers, you will be fine tomorrow. I think though, that you don't realize it, but....you really are almost at the summit of your mountain, waiting for the surgery is your climb up, tomorrow you will hit the top and begin your slide down the other side! God bless!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Dear Lisa, I just wanted to say that I think of you all the time and am sending you all of my love and prayers. Your strength is inspiring and beautiful and I know that you will be able to handle whatever happens. Love you, beautiful girl!
Love,
Lydia

Hi Lisa,

Your poem made me think of a dream my older sister Ellie had when our younger sister Jane died suddenly, a little over ten years ago.

In the dream, Ellie asked god,"Why do you make people, when it's like blowing soap bubbles that vanish in the air?"

And god said, "Because they're beautiful."

Tom

Hi Lisa, what an inspiration you are! My prayers will be with you on Monday, and through the week. You are so brave! It's in God's hands, and I can see you know that. Keep up that great attitude!
Holly P

Hi Lisa, You are so right about the mountain. When you come out of surgery you will be going down the other side. How big is the mountain you say? I think it was Vel T. said it is Mt Mitchell her in SC. Trent has a pic of being on top of Pikes Peak. Now that is very tall being from Colo. myself. But everyone says it is very nice to be on the other side, I cant wait myself. You will do fine and God will be holding your hand the whole way. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck to you. Hope you have someone to keep us all posted here on HVJ. We all tend to worry a lot. I loved the poem you wrote about your sister. It was very touching, and she will be watching over you as well. Hugs
For the long haul
Linda H

Dear Ariel, err, I mean, Lisa... :)

I'm thinking about you every day. I love the blog; you're such a wonderful and inspirational person. I'm blessed to have you as a friend.

Kisses!

-Belle, or, uh... Becky ;)

Hi Lisa,

Just about there. Your image is a great image. You have been approaching the mountain, you are about to climb it, when you get to the top, you will have your surgery. After the surgery, you will be climbing down through and over various obstacles, there will be some rough days and some good days. But before you know it, you will be walking in pleasant valleys.

The six weeks seem to drag, at least they did for me at times, but they will pass quickly.

You are blessed in that you have a loving family.

Your poem for Jessica is very touching.

John Lund

Dear Lisa:
Though disconnected by time and space please know that we are connected by our thoughts and very specific prayers that all will be well with your surgery and recovery. You are special in Gods plan and He will be watching over you. Best wishes to your parents and siblings. Love, Frank & Sandy Young.

Hi Lisa, Godspeed in your surgery and recovery. I trust the Lord will do good and make you glad!!! Peace be with you.

James Lim

Hi Lisa, I'm a praying friend of your Aunt Patty's in St. Augustine, FL, and you probably already know we are and will be praying for you throughout the surgery and recovery, and now when the anticipation seems the hardest. So glad they can repair your valve this way, and I bet you will be feeling stronger and better than you ever dreamed...a couple of months from now! God bless you, and know you are thought of and prayed over often - Peggy Ward

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for sharing your story. Can't imagine how difficult it must have been to go through losing your sister and now the concern about having a similar condition yourself.

It looks like you have found a great surgeon. Being from the Chicagoland area, I thought about Dr. McCarthy as an option. Would have been able to stay with my parents in Lemont. In the end I went to Cleveland Clinic, but sure that the outcome would be the same had I decided to go to Northwestern.

Good luck over these next few days as you prepare for "climbing the mountain". Will be eagerly looking for your updates.

-Thomas H.

Hopio and Antes loves yewww! duh!

Hi Lisa, I enjoyed reading your journal.and lood forward to more of them. I have found there is a lot of talent on this site. Now you say you like to write poems. You might be in compitition with Nancy Freidman. She was going to town and writing some really good poems. Makes for some good reading, so I will look forward to your poetry too. Sorry you lost a sister to the same thing you have. That has to be hard. A lot of my problems run in my family also, my Dad my daughter, who has a mechanical valve 3 years ago at age 29 and now her 9 year old daughter. But the good news is, it is so doable now better than when my Dad had surgery for adonomal anuersym back in the 1982. Living these days with no stress is just about impossible esp. for me as I am a worry wart. But right now I am not worried about this at least not yet, but it is natural. You hang in there, you will be fine very soon. Take care.
For the long haul
Linda H

Hi Lisa,
I had my mitral valve repaired 2 1/2 weeks ago. It's not an easy surgery but necessary if you want to live long and healthy.
Love your sense of humor!
I'll enjoy reading your 'blog'.

Nancy B

Hi Lisa,

It's nice to meet you through this blog. I also have MPV with regurgitation and an irregular heart beat. I'm still in the holding position and admire you for moving forward with the surgery. I'm really sorry about your sister. Life just does not make sense. It's strange, I have an identical twin who does not have this problem. I'll be praying for you and your family. Take care of yourself. I love your upbeat attitude by the way!

Chris Ohannessian

Praying for you and family. Be good and be healed. Steve B

Hi Lisa, it's Trish in Bermuda! I'm so sorry to hear about this health issue and also my condolences on hearing of Jessica's sudden departure. You are most definitely on my mind and I'll keep you in my prayers . May God bless you and your family. Much lve, Trish Pimentel

Hi Lisa, I am Inez Alexander, you remember me from Cape Coral days? I am sorry to hear about your troubles, we haven't seen each other in a long time, but know that my heart goes out to you, and that you are very much loved.

Inez

Lisa, I pray your surgery goes without a hitch.

Best.
Ryan Briggs

Hi Lisa,

Thank you sharing your story! I am currently in the waiting room with moderate to severe MVR, but I am in my forties, and was diagnosed after I gave birth. It makes a big difference to connect with other people in the same boat.Wishing you a successful repair that holds for life.. Best wishes,N

Hi Lisa, I had severe MVP and had surgery by the McCarthry team at Northwestern/Chicago about 5/6 months ago. Dr. Chris Malaisrie did mine. I had a sternotomy (my choice). I had a repair. I was home alone at 2 weeks, driving at 4 weeks and walking 1 to 2 miles daily at 6 weeks. I am fully recovered and was told I will live a full long life. You too, will do great and be fine. I know this to be true. You have very skilled doctors & top hospital. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Try and not worry, soon you will be repaired and on the road to a full recovery. Janis Kielbasa

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to the HVJ family. I had a mitral valve repair and a maze procedure to treat atrial fibillation on September 14, 2011.

Your surgery is very close now. It is amazing what the doctors can do now to repair/fix our hearts. I am sure you will do well and look forward to reading your posts on your blog.

Best wishes,

John Lund

Hi Lisa, my name is Tiny...I was daignosed about three years ago with mvp with mild regurgitation.....my symptoms really have never stopped...I have been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea which my new dr was hoping was the result of most of my symptoms...since Iam young according to him..I am 37..iam currently not on any meds..ive tried beta blockers..they make me worse...in the last few months i have has fluid build up, and my heart flops every few min about four times amin...very tired all the time... I was wondering what your symptoms were? i have been on the fluid pills ..they dont take all of it away..iam scheduled for a eco tomorrow..hope your feeling better....Tiny

Lisa

I just stumbled upon your post on Facebook and have just read your journal. It's been a long time since we worked together or talked, but please know that my prayers are and will be with you on surgery day and throughout your recovery. Good luck!

Daniel Townsend

Lisa,

Of the entire Woods clan you're one of the last holdouts I have yet to meet. I have enjoyed your parents friendship and meeting most of your sibs over recent years - and we look forward to meeting you when the time is right. Meanwhile, please know that we're adding our love / prayers / thoughts to your already powerful posse of supporters; family or not. It is evident that your humor and reverance are powerful assets that you alone posess (and likely more than enough) - but it can't hurt to have an army pushing toward your full and speedy recovery. Sending Layerts! (Love / Prayers / Thoughts)

Clive and Lissa Pohl

Lisa ~ I have been thinking of you daily and judging by the amount of warm wishes already posted here, I imagine there will be enough good vibes to get you through these next few weeks with no problems. Sending you so much light & love & happiness...I'll be thinking of you and can't wait to hear the good news...
Louisa

This all sounds very positive, Lisa, which is a relief. You'll be in my thoughts and I look forward to hearing how well the surgery went. It sounds like you are in good medical hands and surrounded by family and friends, which is really priceless. All the best.
Your friend,
Paul (Carelli, in case there's a bunch of us about)