Great news!! I'm glad the surgery went well. Still keeping ya'll in our prayers for a speedy full recovery!

Bryon & Erika

Glad to hear that it went well.We've all been thinking and praying for you
Kirk

Wishing you a successful surgery & a healthy recovery! Many prayers for you & your family today... best wishes!

Chad Rhodes

I will be having AVR surgery soon, too Will keep you in my prayers for a successful surgery and recovery and follow your posts. God bless, Jean Trausch

Praying for Todd. Keep us posted. All the best. Leticia

Thinking of you Todd, as I sit waiting to be admitted myself. Praying for you!!!!
Michelle Bellomo

Good luck Todd,I will be praying for you as you have done for me. Have a blessed surgery and recovery.
Alex Vigil
AVR 01/22/13
Onx valve

Praying for Todd and his family.

Niki Dixon

Todd, you are in my prayers. By His Stripes you ARE healed...Debra

Hugs and prayers,
Terry Bell

Prayers and blessings for all of you!

Big hugs and long prayers for you tra and kids today. All in God we trust ..much love from NC

Todd,

You are in great hands with Dr. Kern.

My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick

You will be fine (I know...easy for me to say...right?) Waiting is the hardest part and I'm sure I am not the first to have said that to you. It really is true, though. So, relax as much as possible, and place your faith in God and the medical team he has presented to you. I will keep you in my prayers and look forward to post surgery updates.
Debbie Argetsinger
AVR 04/02/12

Continuing to hold you in our thoughts and prayers for your surgery and recovery. Tomorrow will truly be a new beginning. I can't wait to be on the other side..8 more days.

Steve B.

Hi Todd! Good wishes coming from all of us at work. Prayers and positive thoughts coming your way! Darlene

Hi Todd - wishing you all the best!! You and family are in our prayers! - Michelle

Hey Todd-- just wishing you peace this day as I'm sure you guys are anxious about tomorrow. Remember HIS promise:

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. Psalm 91:15

Love and prayers to you,Traci and girls.

Hey Todd - sending you best wishes and tons of support from your JLL team. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers!!!! RACHEL

Just a note to say hi and a ton of Best Wishes Todd! I know that you will do great. You have many warm thoughts and prayers surrounding you. :) Debbi

Hi Todd,
Just wanted you to know that I just sent a huge boat load of prayers your way.I'm confident that you'll sail right on through this procedure. Think positive and I know that you'll do great..
Al Zebal ARV 1/17/13

Hi Todd,

Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and recovery. We look forward to hearing your updates in the days to come.

Steve Bond

You and your family are my prayers.

Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm hoping that you will write about your experience with cardiac catheterization. i've read a lot about it but i would like to hear from a personal point of view what the experience is like.
if they go through the groin, do they shave the entire area? is there a wound at the site when it is all over? are you completely awake during the procedure? are they doing this sort of test to see if you really do need the surgery or to see if you have blood clots that will travel and cause a stroke or death during the surgery? i hate the idea of an unnecessary test that doctors sometimes order just because they are following a certain protocol set by insurance companies. they already told me i need the surgery, so why the tests?
i'm having mvp repair and afib maze procedure surgery done soon at cleveland clinic and would love to hear from someone who has experience this firsthand. thanks, jeanie

All the best with you Todd, just pray when you start to think too much about it. I personally like having it scheduled. Having had both the I scheduled and the get it done now types I would say the scheduled is much easier on your family. God will provide the comfort you need. In my mind too the more you know the better anyway.

Brian Walsh

Todd,
So you are going with a tissue valve? I am really leaning this way. My aorta is in the normal upper at 3.7 which most doctors say not to touch. Can I ask how old you are and did your surgeons give you an estimate of how long tissue should last?
Thanks
Alex Vigil

Todd---your question about scheduling is really a non-question. These operations are done by pros, backed up by the best pre-op and contingency plans available. This takes time. If a true emergency comes along, your team may be diverted, and delay may occur. The "true emergency" does not benefit from the pre-op and contingency planning that you enjoy.
I started out highly aggravated at my institution. Now I apologize, and recognize that the delay is a good by-product of a well run program. Try to relax, knowing that the scheduling delay is working in your favor.

John Teeftt, AVR 5/4/12 Cleve Clinic

Todd,
I agree,I have one week until I am at Duke medical center having AVR. This has totally consumed my life, I try to shake it off and spend time with my family but even that turns to talk of surgery. The fact that I still go back and forth on what valve to choose also making me crazy. Well lets get through this and get healthy.
Alex Vigil

Todd, I am almost 3 weeks out and this is already consuming every aspect of my life. I can't imagine the count down once it gets closer. My wife and I will uphold you in our prayers for peace, comfort and a successful surgery. I can't wait to see you and others on the other side after all this waiting is done.

Keep strong! It will be worth it all!

Steve

Todd I am going in this friday!!! I am beyond scared but in the end we know we have to do this. Keep your chin up (though I now it's so very hard to do) Talk to you on the other side

Michelle

Todd, Traci and family; you are all in our prayers.
We're just down the road, please don't hesitate to call if we can do anything for you.....walk the dog, clean the cat litter box, water the plants....hopefully not shovel the walk...but I will if you need it!!!
Chin up....faith in GOD...all will go well.

This is such a wonderful idea!! Let us know if you need anything. We are here for you, Tra, Kaylin and Kirah. Thoughts and prayers, love you all. Sheila

Todd, thinking of you today as you are having your procedure. It sounds like you have terrific, knowledgeable doctors who will care for you through this journey. I am praying for you and your sweet family!

Becky Roadcap

Thinking about you! Good luck today!

Thank you Todd for sharing with me your heart valve journal. This is truly amazing. I will continue to pray, believe and confess with you and your family that 'By His Stripes you ARE Healed' Debra

Todd,
You are in our prayers. If there is anything we can do, please don't hesitate to let us know. Wishing you the best today!

Todd and Traci,

Keep smiling my friends. You can count on our prayers. Please let us know if you need anything from us.

Dwayne

You will be in Courtney's and my prayers. We wish you the best and please let us know if we can do anything.

Caleb Shiffer

Todd,
I hope everything goes smooth for you in this journey. I am scheduled to have surgery on my AV on 01/22/13 at Duke medical center. I am getting real anxious. I am to have my cardiac cath on the 14th here in Denver the wife and family will fly to NC the follwing sunday check in to hospital Monday 1p,surgery following day.
Alex Vigil

Hi Todd,

Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you the best for a successful surgery. You are not alone as we are all in this together and this forum has been so helpful. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

It seems we will be having our surgeries around the same time. I noticed you have your cardiac catherization on the 10th. I have mine on the 9th and after that my surgery date will be set in stone.

Steve Bond

Hi Todd,

Thank you for sharing your story. Best wishes for a successful surgery! I will be right behind you having mine in the near future. Take care and our thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.

Steve Bond

Good luck Todd. I wish you the best. I'm still going through my second opinion Doc so I may or may not need surgery. I'm curious where you got the 20 year stat. My understanding is 10-15 plus or minus a few years with tissue valves.

Damian Kudelka