Oh my gosh Scott! We didn't see is as "no news is good news"! We have been waiting with such anticipation for you to update us. So so so very glad you are adjusting and progressing as you should. We are constantly thinking of you. Wishing you speedy recovery. Always looking forward to hearing your updates.

Much love,
Anthony and Stephanie

Really glad to get your update! I have the same surgery coming up and I have been watching your progress. Enjoy the beach!

Scott, Glad to hear you are doing so well. I hope when I have my surgery I can have someone write in detail about the surgery and post surgery like your brother did for you!
Carol J.

Praise be to God! I am so happy to see your update today! Awesome!

Hi Scott, Happy to hear you are doing great. It will be slow for a little while. Just listen to your body and don't overdo. The days will just fly by so fast, I should say a lot faster then the horrible waiting we all did. You take care welcome to the other side of the mountain and have a speedy recovery.
Mooing all over
Linda H and Elsie AVR 9/19/12

Hey Scott...Great to hear you are doing so much better. I miss hearing that voice through the wall and I don't have anyone to feed in accounting. Wishing you a continued and quick recovery
See U soon... Patty

So glad to hear from you! Your wellbeing and the details you and your brother have imparted have been so valuable to us. Hearing from you now we breath a sign of relief.

We will be making this same journey the second week of January and we cannot thank you enough for taking the time to share everything that has happen.

Continue to heal gaining strength each day. You are thought of continually.

Anthony and Steph

Dennis and I still have you in our prayers. Nice to read a post from you, and yes, James did a great job. Looking forward to seeing you over Christmas.
God Bless
Amber and Dennis

Welcome back Scott! Any ideas when you'll be back in S FL?

Matthew van Voorthuijsen

6 laps! Keep moving! -- DVB

We are so glad that Scott is doing good. Thank you James for posting although you have other things to do. We keep checking the email to see if there are updates and positive progress reports. Always sending the very best to you and your family. Good job Scott! Keep it going!

Anthony and Steph

So happy for you Scott and so proud of your family! What troopers to walk through this last week with such valor and love. I praise God brother that you will be running the Icefields Parkway again "maybe with me someday" ! Keep the updates coming! Thank you Jesus for being the GREATEST physician!

So happy to hear you are doing well Scott and getting stronger each and every day. Your blog has brought tears to our eyes and we are so thankful to have James in our life and happy that your family is all together at this time.

All the best, Chelsea & Danny Robb

Scott, Way to go. You are making more progress than you perhaps realize with your robust engagement on your marvelous and, may I say, thoughtful website. Great idea especially because of your "international" connections far and wide. Stay the course and we'll do the same.
Your huge advocate persons, Reene and Steve Shannon, Delray Beach FL

Motoring!

Keep up that walking. It's the key to rapid healing. It should be hard, but not too hard.

Thanks for the updates. -- DVB

Many thanks for the great updates. Glad to hear they got the nausea under control. I've been praying fake him daily and will continue to do so. Keep that tortoise pace up. Good progress!

Brian

Hi all,
Like the updates, it's encouraging to see the progress being made!
Also good to know what lies ahead for those of us getting ready for surgery.
Keep up the good work! Stay strong!

Thankfully it is never too late to share positives this time from Reene (RHEE-knee) and Steve Shannon. Thanks to one ("He's everywhere, he's everywhere Miguel Ferreira, we're "on board" with this sensational website. We have a missive or two on the way to Room C-V-201, which we hope is still correct. Until your website tells us differently we'll share some semi-humorous cards from an unusually good rack of cards at Bed, Bath & Beyond (emphasis upon "beyond."). May God bless you and us real good.

Happy Thanksgiving Scott and family! I am glad that Scott was able to move and eat and how convenient, his family was already with him.

Matthew van Voorthuijsen

Hey Scott, Job well done and welcome to the other side of the mountain. It is so nice over here. So here is to a speedy recovery. Hope everything goes good for you. Just take it one day at a time and listen to your doctors and body and you will do just fine. I hope you still have both eye brows.lol. Everyday will be better than the last one. Happy Thanksgiving
Mooing all over
LInda H and Elsie AVR 9/19/12

Hang in there Scott. The first couple days can be rough, but it gets better! The meds will help you with the nausea. Stay strong. You will be home before you know it!
Praying for a speedy recovery!
Connie T

congrats for the successful surgery and best wishes for the speedy recovery.

My husband also has mitral valve regurgitation 4+ and plan to have the surgery done next summer. We live in Chicago so plan to go for Dr Patrick McCarthy in Northwestern. But he doesn't do
minimally invasive surgery. My question is - Why did you choose minimally invasive? compare to traditional open heart surgery, which one has more risk? Our Dr. said minimally invasive has more risk, is it true?

June

Can you tell us in what way did they do the surgery? (Through the sterum? Through the right chest wall?) Thank you for all of your updates! Very best wishes and prayers.

Anthony and Stephanie

Go Scott, go! Nice lung action!

Matthew van Voorthuijsen

Great news Scott! So happy to hear of your speedy recovery. Sit back, or stand up for that matter and watch what God can do!

Thanks for the updates James. We've been thinking about you all. Hearing all this just makes the world feel smaller.

Can't wait to see you all soon (4 weeks on Friday!!).

Give Scott a huge hug from me and all the other Crabbs!

lots of love Channy-bo-telle x x x

Great news! Step by step, each hour, each day is better. Thanks for keeping us posted. -- DVB

To the SoCal guestbook visitor below: your physicians ought to be talking about a repair, which is almost always (more than 90%) possible, not a replacement (which is an easier surgery, but has poorer outcomes). I had my mitral valve repair done at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. USC also has a great cardiac surgery program.

Well wishes Scott!! Thank you for sharing.
Our prayers are with you.
Patty

A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.

I don't know you Scott, but I'm saying prayers for you and your family.

Thank you for the updates James, I'm really happy for you, we all are. The worse part is finally over. We all send our hellos and wish you a quick recovery.

Maria

I live in Southern California and have mitral valve regurgitation 4+ and my HMO wants to do the standard method of care and probably replace the valve. I have been researching Cleveland Clinic and namely, Dr. Gillanov for the minimally invasive repair that he does. How did you consultation with him go? I am very curious to know what you thought of him.
Thanks and good luck to you...the worst is over for you, I'm sure!

Remembering you in Prayer...Thanking Him for your progress...Glad your loved ones are with you...Now rest a little-then begin to strengthen yourself day by day...
believe me it does get better...7 weeks today post my MV repair procedure ...walking 1mile 3 times/wk...drove to get groceries today...it's beautiful today in central Florida...
James good work on the up-dates.
Later
BOH
Terry Brooks

Good luck Scott and a speedy recovery. I am due to have aortic valve replacement,mitral valve repair, bypass and A-fib Maze procedure on Saturday 24th . I had a quintuple bypass 5 years ago

Glad to hear everything is going as planned. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
God Bless,
Debbie Argetsinger

James thanks for the updates. I am glad that everything went well. Keeping Scott in my thought and prayers - Trish

congrats for getting surgery behind you!
all the best for a speedy recovery :)

Glad to hear he is doing well. I love the details of the journal. It really helps to read all of this for my future surgery. Carol J.

So glad that all is going well for you. I cried after reading the posting by your brother describing your admittance to the hospital. We are due to make this surgical journey in January and though we feel confident of our choices and progress it is still such a very big deal.

Glad to hear all went well with the surgery. Happy that your mom and James are with you. Thanks to James for the updates, looking forward to reading the next one hopefully from you (Scott).

Dennis and Amber

Dear Scott, fellow and friend,

I am keeping you in my prayers and thoughts; may God guide the hands of your doctors and keep you on His hands to protect you during this special moments.
I am glad your mother and brother are with you and be sure all your friend’s hearts are also there in prayers.
You have such a “brave heart” and I am very honored and pleased you have me as one of your friends. I pray to have you back soon.

A giant and warm hug with love and blessings my dear friend!!!!

Maria

Hi Scott! You are in surgery right now, but we are thinking of you here in the Treasury dept and sending you our best through the cyberworld.

Glad to see you were more than prepared and that your family is there keeping your spirits up. Wishing you a quick recovery.. Charge letters are due soon!

Hi Scott!
We haven't yet had a chance to meet but wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sending positive thoughts that the surgery goes according to plan and wishing you a healthy speedy recovery.

I very look forward to meeting you at xmas!
And I'm also very thankful to hear that you didn't let James near you with that razor.

Janeen

I suggest a compromise: Leave him ONE eyebrow.

lol

Matthew van Voorthuijsen

Praying as the surgeons perform their God given talents. We pray that your recovery would be the quickest this hospital has ever seen! Blessings!

Thinking of you, buddy. Glad you are feeling good. Best place to be going in. -- DVB

Scott
Just to let you know --- our prayers are with and your TEAM. Keep looking up He will see you through. See you later. it gets better.
Terry
(7 weeks tomorrow Post my MV repair- and I'm driving again!)

Scott, our prayers are with you as you prepare for tomorrow. Blessings to you and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Mike Higgins

Hi Scott, Want to wish you the very best tomorrow on your surgery. Sounds like you are very ready. There is a calmness that does come over you. I remember seeing the or and seeing the 3 big lights on the ceiling and thinking that this is serious, As I had only one light for another surgery. Thats all I remember. I dont even remember going there. But you will do just fine. God will be with you and will be holding your hand. You will wake up and it will be all over and you will be going oh wow Im on the other side of the mountain with the rest of us. I will be keeping you in my prayers. See you on the other side.
Mooing all over
Linda H and Elsie AVR 9/19/12

Hey Scott,

My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Adam Pick

Hi Scott..I just read your story and saw your surgery is tomorrow. I had ohs on may 25 and they were able to repair my mitral valve. I am happy to say that tomorrow I am celebrating my 46th birthday. Its been a crazy year. You can do this. Ill pray for you tonight and look forward to your recovery posts. Karen campo