Tom Bender  Not sure what John Fox got. I got a bovine valve (my surgeon likes them better than the pig valve). The surgeon made a new aorta to make it the closest to what it should be in size and shape.
Tom

Tom Bender  Thanks Bill.
To anyone reading guest comments, Bill is one of my good friends and coworker and lives relatively close to me. We met early in my career. He has a college friend that had a valve replacement eons ago.
Tom

Tom Bender  Jim,
Thanks. Feeling good right now. Hope I mentally stay that way until they give me the good stuff for surgery.
Tom

Tom Bender  Ashley and Evan,
Thanks. I know that God and his staff and we have our share on his staff in heaven, will get me through the surgery and recovery. Looking forward to seeing your Italy trip slide show. I've got the b.a. recliner and tv ready. Now for a little surgery and mending. Note: I miss HIS staff, especially DeAnna (My second best friend on this earth). I especially miss her calling me Thomasville and her hugs. She made me a hugger. But how could you not hug her. My second Dee from church helped create our army of huggers. Their tie to me is just another one of Gods works.
Talk to you soon. See you soon.
Uncle Tom

Tom Bender  Jim,
We did not make it to see the lights. But hat's OK. Instead we watched the first Star Trek movie? We had our family traditional BBQ at my mother in-laws on Christmas Eve. And the Vicki made a turkey with all the fixin's today. Listening to the last night of holiday music on the radio as I type.
1 more day.
What did you do the night before to keep from freaking out? Or to help sleep?
Thanks for the support. As fast as time since I picked a surgery date has gone, the worst will be behind me before I know it, I hope. Time just goes by too fast!
Tom

Tom Bender  Thanks for the support. You have a nice journal. There are so many here to read. Two days from now I will be in the hands of the surgeon and his team with the good Lord watching over me (and the surgery team I hope). Tonight I think we might take the drive thru Christmas in the Park. It is a campground all decked out for the holidays. That and the Plaza lights are KC's holiday highlights (maybe you have heard of them or you can check it out on the Internet).
Hoping to physically see our middle child and our grand daughter before surgery, but they just had the flu this past weekend, so I'm very apprehensive about that. In a strange twist they spent Christmas at home, just the 3 of them, since they had been sick and his relatives had some type of cold. I've come to mental terms with not seeing them before surgery, but that little thought of "this could be the last time to see them" is dangling in the background. I really want to be around to see our little angel grow up, this surgery is a roadbump AND the ticket to that journey. Turns out that several of Vicki's relatives had variety of colds, so I spent most of last evening in the far corner.
Tom

Tom Bender  Marcia,
Hope you and your family are having a Merry Christmas. I had a nice evening with Vicki's side of the family. It's just 2 days to my huge Christmas present. Have a Happy New Year. I won't be partying much next Tuesday nite. But like you I am looking forward to a happy and healthy new year.
Tom

Tom Bender  Carolyn,
Thanks for giving me the details and the link. Only 3 days of my favorite music season. Only 4 days at home before the big event. I've received comments and inspiration from several already-and several from our area. Truly a small world. Have a good break. Have you been at the new place to use the walking path? Just curious.
Tom

Tom Bender  Marci,
My surgery is at Research Hospital. Dr Seligson. My wife and I were really impressed by him at mu consult on Nov 20th. My cardiologist, Dr Hockstad, says Dr Seligson is the best guy to have especially since I need the aorta root, transition area (the trickiest part) and the aorta valve all replaced.
Scary, and nervous, but not scared - yet!
Seems like several hospitals in the KC area do this heart surgery.
How long we're you at KU? I'm guessing you are from the KC area.
Looking forwarc

Tom Bender  Looking forward to journaling. Thinking it will help pass the time, especially when I'm cooped up at home for the first few week.
FYI - I hit the submit button instead of the correction highlight.
Tom

Tom Bender  Dec 27th at 8am
Thanks for inquiring and commenting.
God bless you and your family, especially with your surgery and recovery.