Jamie's Journal

It is hard to believe that 3 months ago tomorrow I was beginning this journey. In many ways the time has raced by and in other ways it seems to have been ages since recovery in the hospital. All are good things!! SInce I last posted, I have seen my surgeon and he is happy with my results and where I am in the recovery process. Unless I have problems, I have been given the hall pass for ONE YEAR!! Yippee! Definitely not back 100% but I would say I am 80 plus % there! Still attending rehab 3 days a week....we are cranking things up with each visit. Walking faster and longer with each time. Have increased the difficulty of the recumbent bike and try to do a mile on the bike and a mile on the treadmill each visit. Increased my weights for our arm exercises last week and I see a huge difference in my stretching abilities. Leg exercises are getting harder but I see the benefit in my overall stamina! I most definitely see improvements in my physical abilities. Haven\'t reached the half way mark in my 36 visits yet but I should be almost there. Have had to miss a few days because of conflicts but most weeks I get there 3 times a week! We have allot of fun in class teasing each other and I am happy we finally have another woman in my class!! Still seem to have issues with getting to sleep....but once I am asleep I do sleep through the night. Have some pain now and then at the end of the day in the sternum area but that is to be expected and after a good night\'s rest it always feels better. Still dealing with the right shoulder pain but the surgeon said he was sure that the aches and pains would disappear as time goes on. Very minor complaints. I still get a little panic every time I have any pvc\'s but I have always had them so I am just more sensitive now and need to trust that all is fine. The great thing about rehab is being able to \"push\" harder and know that the ole \"ticker\" is doing fine since we are on monitors. We also have BP monitored and Oxygen levels 3 times while we are there. Lots of confidence building there for sure. Just thought I would update since I have reached this stage in my journey. Life is pretty much back to normal...the hardest thing for me is learning to pace myself now that I feel better. I am still tired when I do too much and by nature I have always pushed too hard! I am trying to listen to my body signals and be better at moderation!! LOL. Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. I am healing beautifully and feeling better every single day:):) Hugs and Love, Jamie

I had my two month appointment with my cardiologist today for my INR blood test to monitor blood coagulation AND my first Echocardiogram since surgery. I am sooooo happy with the news my doctor told me after reviewing the Echo results. My Valve is working PERFECTLY....no regurgitation at all!! This is the best news I could have. This doesn\'t mean that over time it might not happen ever....could be slight to moderate as time goes on....but for now the Mitral Valve is working beautifully. Ahhhh...what an incredible feeling. It was awesome to see the valve on the Echo .Prior to my January 4 surgery it was very floppy and showed so much color indicating lots of regurgitation, The prolapsed valve really looked like it was on the bottom floor!! Today it was like seeing a brand new creation. AND it IS! I am soooooo happy and relieved. Doctor McGregor also told me that my left ventricle that had been enlarged because of the regurgitation and it had reduced soooo much in size that he was amazed at its change. The atria had also reduced some in size....he had warned me that it probably wouldn\'t change much...but it was surprisingly smaller than he had expected it to be, It is still slightly enlarged and will always be that way but I am thrilled with the results. It has been a wonderful day for me! I told Dr. McGregor that I was really enjoying rehab because it was giving me confidence in my heart again. His response was....\"Why are you worried about your heart, It is GREAT!\" It doesn\'t get much better than that:):). I see my surgeon for the last time in a couple of weeks and I can\'t wait to thank him...not to be corny...but from the bottom and the top of my healthy little heart!! LOL. He is truly one of God\'s angels. Thank you Lord for putting me here in Houston and for Dr. McGregor\'s diligence these last few years in staying on top of my valve issues. If I was late for an appointment by even a week or two, he either called me or had his staff call to set an appointment. He is an amazing cardiologist. I am blessed. He also introduced me to a fabulous surgeon, Dr Robert Baldwin. He was always so professional and I knew that I was in excellent hands. Thank YOU all for your many, many prayers for healing and protection. God has truly blessed me and my family and friends. I am soooo grateful to Him and to each of you. Have a blessed week...I just had to post again and share the awesome news of my NEW and perfectly working Mitral Valve!! Hugs. Jamie

just realized that today is March 4 and it has been exactly two months since my surgery. Wow...allot has happened in a short amount of time! I would first like to offer my sincere condolences to Kelly\'s family. I am sooo sad for their loss. I felt like I knew her from our HVJ pages and I am sooo very sorry. She is indeed perfect in God\'s world now but this has made me very sad. God bless her family as they go through this difficult season of life. I am happy that today is March 4!! I continue to heal and get stronger because I am in Cardiac Rehab 3 days a week. Getting such positive results at the end of each week is really motivating to stay on the path to wellness. My times on the exercise equipment continue to increase....I will finally be off the \"sternum watch\" tomorrow so we should be cranking things up! I have increased the treadmill speed and time as well as the bike speed and time. My averages are increasing in just TWO weeks. I notice that my walking and breathing are so much better...I can walk quite fast without becoming breathless. It\'s great! I am walking a mile on the treadmill and a half mile on the bike. Rehab has also helped me begin to trust my heart. During class you are hooked to a heart monitor and the nurses keep a constant watch on you. Blood pressures are checked three times throughout the 60 minute class. It is sooo comforting to know that my heart is beating as it should...that blood pressures are normal...and I feel really good. I am also really enjoying the classes offered afterwards on stress reduction, diet and typical issues with surgeries like ours. I have really learned allot about things I thought I KNEW all about!! The good news is that I have lost almost 15 pounds since my surgery and have such a desire to do things the healthy way. It is not like I am on a diet...I just want to treat my new fixed heart the best that I can. I really can\'t describe that feeling but it has really become a way of life and it feels good. Another great part of the Rehab program is talking with the others in the program about where they are in their journey. One patient has been soooo helpful to me by sharing his successes and encouraging me to try doing things a bit differently. As a result of his encouragement and sharing, I notice a huge difference in my breathing. Ihad quite a time after surgery with my lungs as one had partially collapsed so breathing has been an issue at times. I feel 100% better...still have a way to go....but I know it is a process and I have to be patient!! The nurses and staff have been wonderful...one of the nurses just got back from a Christian Retreat so God has put me in good hands for sure. Thank you for caring about me and my recovery. I know that you are still praying for me as I have the energy to want to get well and even in spite of occasional frustrations with the recovery process, I am overall in a great place. Praise the Lord! This week I will see my cardiologist and have my 2 month Echocardiogram. I am really looking forward to getting this appointment behind me. They will be looking at my mitral valve and checking for regurgitation. This test will tell them how successful the surgery was in terms of leakage....and how my valve is doing. It will be a relief to know that all is well and the surgery was indeed a success! I will keep you posted. Thanks again for the tremendous support from my family, friends and new friends on these Heart Valve Journal pages. Thank you Adam for giving us a way to communicate with our families and others who face similar medical problems. Have a blessed day...Love, Jamie

Had a great week this week...I could really see a difference in my energy level. I am walking a couple of times a week and also started Rehab Program. I really like it....met some nice people and the staff has been so helpful answering questions. The hardest part about going to Rehab is it is 30 minutes one way to drive there so it makes for a pretty long day. I am the only woman in my class so I am there with 7 guys but they have all been very nice and tolerant!! LOL. This has been the biggest change week so far....I rested less than I have been doing and also DID more than I have done since before my surgery. I still get tired at times....sometimes so tired and I can\'t do a thing but rest....but I think I am definitely on the mend since that hasn\'t been the case this week! I have been the energizer bunny but My body definitely lets me know when I overdo it so I try and follow the rules and not do the \"no no\'s\" that can cause the pain to increase! Brooke is home for the weekend so she is always a joy to have home....she makes me smile and we have such good mom/daughter time. Life is good....Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are...cold or warm....make the most of this new lease on life that we have been given! Blessings. Jamie Todor

Just checking in to update everyone on my progress! Still making forward progress....day by day. Some days are great....some days are not as great!! BUT...even on the not so great days...I am still 1000% better than I was Five Weeks ago!! Have been walking daily, weather permitting. Enjoy those walks and try to add a little bit further each day. I begin Cardiac Rehab next week. Have my evaluation on Tuesday and start the program on Wednesday. I am looking forward to moving to the next step in this process! I see my cardiologist on Wednesday for a blood thinner check and my anemia is getting better week by week. I go again and have that checked in about a month but the numbers are getting better.. Overall, I think I am progressing well. Unfortunately I am still taking one pain pill a day....my sternum still smarts at times. Anxious to move past the medicine stage so I can start driving again! I know that is just around the corner. Brooke came home this weekend so that was a bright spot for sure. She always makes me feel great! I know that I feel so good because of all of your prayers. Thank you so much for the healing prayers...they are working and I am getting better day by day. Bless you all for praying for me. I remember all of you in my prayers and appreciate reading about each of you as you progress through this process. Hugs. Jamie

Tomorrow will be my four week anniversary since surgery. Honestly, it doesn\'t seem possible. I am doing better and better every day. I try to walk a 1/2 mile around my neighborhood every day and I have to say I feel really good after the walk. My daughter, Brooke, was home over this past weekend and Bob and Brooke and I had a beautiful walk around the neighborhood. We walked really far and down by the creek. Saw all kinds of great wildlife...cranes, birds, turtles. It was a chamber of commerce beautiful blue sky day and perfect temperatures. Felt ohhhhh so good to be outside. Brooke and I had a movie-fest! Watched 4 movies and I went upstairs to watch two of them. That was a first. I walked slowly up the stairs and it felt great. I have healed so much in the last two weeks...our bodies are truly amazing. Brooke was so happy to see a strong mom....when she left for school two weeks ago I wasn\'t as far along as I am now. I am anxious to begin my cardio rehab program in two weeks. I think it will help me to see how strong I am and give me confidence in my heart and its ability. You get a little shy about \"pushing\" yourself and I think this rehab is just the ticket to freedom from any worry. Exercising while being monitored will be a great opportunity for me to \"crank it up\" safely. We are soooo blesssed to have this program at our access. Just wanted to give all of my new HVJ friends a glimpse of life at 4 weeks...out. I feel really good...still have some aches and pains but nothing that I can\'t handle. I am cutting back on medications as the days go by. It is great to see the interval between pills get longer and longer. It really is amazing. Thank you all for your continued support for me and our family. I honestly can see light ahead and I am excited to be there...healthy and recovered. I still have some miles to go but seeing those glimpses of wellness is soooo motivating! Thank you soooo much for praying for me and our family.....God has been so faithful to me and I am indeed very blessed. I will continue to pray for those in the surgical process and recovering. Thank you too for all those notes of encouragement during the journey....they were instrumental in staying focused on getting well. God\'s blessings on you all and Hugs TOO! Jamie Todor

Big day yesterday seeing both the surgeon and the cardiologist! AND it was an all day affair! Had x-ray first and then headed to Dr. Baldwin, my surgeon\'s office. Had to wait a bit but then had a couple more stitches removed from my incision and the usual BP check and Heart Rate. Weird to have a rate of 74 and be in sinus rhythm. Yay! All looked good according to the doc and I don\'t have to see him again until 2 months post surgery. It was a great appointment. My lungs are clear and all looks great. Next we headed up to Dr. McGregor\'s office for the coumadin blood test. All was good there and he kept my medication the same dosage. We looked at my x-rays from the surgeon and saw that I have clear lungs and I also saw all of the wires holding me back together!! What a hoot that is. I don\'t know WHAT I was thinking but I thought there would only be a couple of those and there were 8.....all lined up in a row down the left sternum. I kidded McGregor and told him that I was OCD and that all of the metal ties were tied differently and that I thought they would all be lined up perfectly!! LOL. I DID NOT kid with the surgeon about it lest he think I was crazy. I just met him recently but I have known Dr. McGregor for years! Also saw my mitral valve ring in the x-rays since there is metal inside it. It was cool looking, They gave them to me....My souvenir I guess...LOL. I think I will bring it to show and tell when I go back to Bible Study...LOL! Scheduled another blood test to check Coumadin for 3 weeks out and also my Echo for March 5. Heart sounded good.....and pretty rhythmic so we believe I am in a normal scenerio there. Dr, McGregor explained a little more about my fix....within the mitral valve there are 3 leaflets and my problem was within the middle one. He said that they could see the regurgitation and amount of that in my Echos but we were not looking at it from a top to bottom angle. They really couldn\'t tell why exactly all of that regurgitation was happening. Turns out that middle leaflet had two holes in it like someone had just poked a pencil there so there was nothing holding any of the blood back. They were able to repair the center leaflet and then use the ring to reinforce the fix. Everyone seemed pleased with the fix and of course, the Echo in a few weeks will verify that. It was a great appointment but all of that took most of the afternoon and I was one pooped gal when we got home. Had a wonderful meal of enchiladas from a friend and slept incredibly good last night since I was exhausted. I was happy to find out more about my operation and to see the x-rays. My cousin told me in an email this week that I was like a cracked lobster....and I liked that example!! I am recovering today from all of the action...My angel Lela took me into town for my appointments and brought me home safely. We are blessed to have her helping us....I care of my 85 year old father-in-law who lives with us and has lots of medical issues. Things are amazingly stress free and I have been able to rest and recover. God has blessed us with a great recovery thus far....and I am coming back more and more every day!! Thank YOU for all of your prayers for healing.....meals to make me stronger....visits of encouragement....and loving us all in such a big way. We are blessed.....all of us who are going through this. Praise God that technology is the way it so so many of us can be fixed and move on with full lives. We are so blessed to be living in this day and age. Blessings on all of your days....and thank you for praying for me and my family. Love and Hugs. Jamie

Over the weekend, I had lots of quiet time to read all of the wonderful guestbook love notes that you all left me and the family. I was overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude as I read each and every loving, caring post. I am sooooo blessed to have so many, many friends praying for me and my health. It was an amazing journey for me to read them from back to front and in a way, I was able to experience these last couple of weeks more fully and without pain!! LOL. Believe it or not...those who know me well..I am at a loss for words. There really are none that describe the warm and loving feelings knowing that so many people were holding me up to our Father in Heaven. WOW...powerful love. AND a heart was fixed so I can pass your love onto others and love them as you all have loved me. The amazing thing about these journals is that I was able to hear from long time friends and class mates from my hometown in WV....friends from college....friends from everywhere we have lived through the years,,,,neighbors, church buddies PLUS so many new friends as a result of our shared journey to wellness with our hearts. God is truly amazing how he knit us all together as a body to nurture one. He does the same for each of us if we let him. I am humbled and indeed sooooo very thankful for this experience. It has been an amazing journey....thank you for being a huge part of it. I had a good weekend....felt really good most of the weekend. Lots of good Rest and wonderful meals from friends. I was actually starving as I smelled the yummy meatloaf cooking and the lasagna warming. I had quite a bit of company come to call and I enjoyed all of our visits....it meant allot to me to have those special times with special friends. Brooke and Cameron are back at college and doing well so far. Emily and Derek were snowed over in Chicago this weekend and Bob and I just enjoyed me feeling better. Lots of good rest and good visits! Off to the doctor tomorrow....mostly for check ups and chest x rays. I will report in when I get back home. I am soooo blessed....thank you dear, dear friends for praying for me and praying for me and praying for me some more! I feel their power. I love you all...Jamie

Have had a great couple of days....minor pain with meds....appetite back....and visits with friends! Still have been a slug and mostly resting because most anything wipes me out but pain is being managed and I really feel pretty good. Yesterday was the best day I have had yet. YAY! Today is looking to be a good one too! Have been reading some, playing Words with Friends to keep my brain sharp from the pain meds!, and resting. Life is Good and God is Good. I head to all docs next Tuesday....surgeon and cardio....will be a big day but I still think seeing them two at a time is the least exhausting since they are in the same building. Thank you, Thank you for your prayers. I am focused on healing because of it. Bob is getting to go to work as we have found someone to come and help with me and Nick...Bob\'s 85 year old blind, deaf and diabetic dad. She is doing fantastic with us. I love her encouragement for us and the relief in having her care for Nick. I am happy Bob is working and having a more normal day to day life. Lela takes me to the doctor\'s office and keeps things moving around her so that I CAN rest and recover. God has blessed us immensely. Again, the words thank you seem inadequate, for your input of prayers in my recovery. They have provided the answer to every small or large detail. I am truly blessed and feel so much better. God bless all of you dear, dear friends for praying and loving us all. Hugs. Jamie

Went to doctor\'s (Cardiologist) on Tuesday and had Coumadin levels checked...Doc changed that protocol a bit. Incision looked great. Then Tuesday night I didn\'t like the way my Cental Line site looked....kind of red and angry looking. Back to Surgeon\'s office this morning for a look. Turned into a 3 hour ordeal to get to see the PA....my doc was in surgery so had to see one of the others. An emergency happened, so Doc starts his day an hour late and I was soooo exhausted. Pain pills wear off and not a pretty picture!! LOL. I did have an infection at the site so I am very glad that I went....they found an antibiotic that I could take so I am on that for 5 days. Kind of messed my walking routine up but this was way more important!! Very draining couple of days running back and forth...30 minute drive each way...but hopefully this will nip things in the bud,. The very best part of going to the doc\'s two days in a row was lunch at Chick Filet!! LOL. Sorry, I love it ever since my kids turned me onto them! Seems like what everyone says is true....forward a few steps then back one. I am hoping for a normal day tomorrow or whatever that is!! I do feel pretty good...ups and downs. Trying hard to do all I am supposed to do...walk, spirometer, keep incision clean,....not enough hours in the day for taking care of business. I never watch TV...it is hard to believe but taking care of yourself is hard and tedious work. LOL. Just wanted to get a quick update off before turning in. Please keep praying for healing....Thank you all for praying for me and loving me. I need to have a giant party when this is over to celebrate and thank all of my helpers, prayer warriors, nurturers and cheerleaders. Blessings on your day...I will be in touch. Love, Jamie

It has been great being Home Sweet Home. AND ohhhhh did my bed feel sooooo wonderful last night! I am blessed to have a Temper-Pedic adjustable bed so that gave me a wonderful sleep til early morning. Then it was up for pain meds and to the recliner for the rest of the night. First time I have had any good rest for days. Ahhhhh.....being home is THE best. I am blessed. Cameron and Brooke made me the best welcome home meal of shrimp and scallops last night. AND Bob cooked my favorite meal of Linguine and Clams tonight and Caprese. I can\'t even describe how happy I am to be home. Took a baby walk outside.....shhhh..... don\'t tell anyone but I was in my night gown and bed jacket....it was a gorgeous day here in Houston so I really enjoyed that. I was walking quite a bit in the hospital before I left so I am trying to keep up the good habit so I can get better faster! Lungs are feeling better.....a bit anemic so we are trying to get my counts up through eating. I look like I was run over by a Mack Truck but bruises will heal! Cameron and my nurse Tina went back to school today and Brooke goes tomorrow. I am going to miss them soooo much. They have been wonderful helpers and I truly don\'t know what I would have done without them. It takes a village to get through something like this.....and I have a MIGHTY Village and our dear Lord carrying me though. The words Thank You seem inadequate to express my gratitude for your prayers and encouragement and love. It was tough but The Lord and All of YOU are tougher!! God bless each of you for your love and prayers. I am soooo humbled and feel soooo loved. Hugs, hugs, and more hugs. Jamie

This is brooke again. Mom is home sweet home. She is exhausted from the transition but is happy to be back home! We had a great dinner tonight which was much better than the hospital food. She is in her bed and will finally have a peaceful night sleep without any interruptions. We are all happy that momma is home! This will most likely be my last post, so to everyone who thanked me for updating, Your Welcome!

This is me Jamie.....you all have really been my inspiration this week. What great prayer warriors. I am so blessed. Have 6 laps done..2 more to go. Awwwww....I feel good! Had a great day..girlfriends and lunch and gifts PLUS an honest to goodness shower. I felt like a duck when it rains in August here in Houston! Home tomorrow.....God is paving the way to get back to home sweet home! God bless friends and family. Thanks for the millions of prayers and love

She is doing good today. Bandages have been removed from her chest. She has had many visits from friends today that have lifted her spirits! Yesterday she walked 6 times around the floor, today her goal is 8 times around the floor! She is walking further everyday without getting out a breathe as much. I can see her getting better everyday! It\'s amazing to see how incredible the human body recovers from such a major surgery. The Doctors say she looks great.. They have official told her that she is getting released from the hospital tomorrow! If everything goes well tonight (which it will!) she will be home tomorrow!! Thank you All for the prayers and love you have sent her and our family! We truely appreciate all of the support we have received from Everyone! Hopefully in the next two days or so Jamie will be back on here updating herself so you can hear directly from her on how she is doing

Sorry I did not update yesterday. My mom gave me the day off so I literally took it lol yesterday Lisa Traylor (a dear friend of the family) stayed with my mom all day. she washed my moms hair which hadn\'t been washed in quiet a long time. Mom feels so much better with clean hair. They unhooked her IV so now she is free to walk around without anything holding her back. Doctors say she is doing great! Pain level is under control. Possible home by tomorrow!! Im going to go see her and will update later on today\'s progress!

Inspite of a-fib, mom had a good PT session, she walked 450ft and did a lot of leg excercies. She is singing \"life is good and God is great\" Thank you for all the prayers and love!

Last night: she got moved upstairs to step down. While moving her heart went to A-fib (her heart spiked up to 170 beats). The doctor was called and she was given medicine to fix it. My dad was there and cameron spent the night last night. Today: she is Exhausted! So she is taking it easy today. Sishiguro getting her medication sorted out today. once she gets her medicine sorted out she will be feeling better.

Mom walked around the ICU block 3 times today (most she\'s done). It is quiet a parade (oxygen tank, IV\'s, monitors, etc. me behinde with a wheelchair) when she walks lol after her walk and leg excersices she looked at me and sang \'i feel good\' by james Brown, if shes singing then we know she feels good! she\'s is getting better every single day! She will be moving upstairs soon, we think because of the big storm it has slowed the hospital transferring her there.

I (Brooke) spent the night last night. She got about 4 or so hours of sleep last night. She looks good this morning! Been doing good on her beeathing treatments. All doctors have said she is ready to move out of the ICU and in to a regular room. Will give an update when she is moved!

This is me....Jamie. Brooke brought in her iPad for me...didn\'t get out of the ICU today. Had a few problems but all seems good now. Should be in step down tommorow. Had a much better day from a pain point of view, so that\'s been great! I can\'t thank you well enough for the many many prayers and messages of love! They truely have carried our family and me through this difficult week. You have no idea how inspirational and encouraging your prayers have been. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Love, Jamie

Yesterday they finally got her on the right pain medicine and las night she was on a pain level of 3. She got a good night sleep last night. Chest tube was taking out this morning. Mom says she hasnt felt this good in days! She is resting now. No vistors today.

After a couple starts and stops on the pacemaker she is completely on her own as of this morning. She is very calm and peaceful today! Her doctor is pleased with her progress. But because of her oxygen levels and lung capacity isn\'t back to normal she is staying one more night in the ICU Mom is really exhausted today. More she rests the more she will feel better.

After the events of today mom is exhausted. And so is the family, we\'ve been at the hospital all day. She is looking so good now, a lot better than last night. Since I had seen her last they have removed a lot of wires and such so she looks a lot better. She ate today and hopefully will get some sleep tonight finally. Her blood sugar is normal and so his her blood pressure. Mom seems to like tonights nurse better than last nights. Also Cameron\'s girlfriend Tina, who is training to be a nurse, will be staying the night (as well as cameron) to make sure things go smoothly. Today Tina was a life savior. She has been my moms personal nurse all day! God bless Tina. Tomorrow Mom will be moved to a regular room. She is very excited about that! Also tonight I read her some of the Guestbook post to her. she really enjoyed hearing all the positive encouragement :) Tonight pray for a peaceful sleep for mom and our family! Thank you all for the prayers. I will post when she is up to seeing visitors.

It was a rough morning/early afternoon. Her oxygen levels were really low but they were able to get them back to normal around 2pm. She didnt get to walk today. She looks a lot better than yesterday. She is more awake and not as groggy. She is still in the icu. She was suppose to be out of ICU already but because of oxygen levels she is staying another night. hopefully she will be moved to a regular room tomorrow. The good news is she is off the pacemaker! Which means her \"new\" heart is beating on its own!! She was on the pacemaker to help put her \"new\" heart on a steady rhythm. Pray for peace for my mom. She has had a rough two days and she really needs peace. I will update later tonight again when I see her

The icu is very strict and we can only see her at certain times and for only 30mins. She told me that at 3:30 am she got out of bed and took her first steps to her chair. Later on she walked around the hall. The best way to recovery is to get her walking. She has been sitting in her chair all day. She is so exhausted from the pain and not sleeping to well. She is very out of it from the drugs. I always beleive in the power of positive thinking. Please pray for positivity. She is very beaten down from the pain but she fighting!! Thank you for all the prayers

What a incredible day it has been. My mom heart is fixed but in a way this is a \"new\" heart, a rebrith. At 8 Dad called us back to go see her. she was so happy to see us. She looked surprisingly good for a women out of major heart surgery. She told us that when she first woke up she was in a lot of pain in her back and chest. The ventilator tube made her very uncomfortable and anxious. When they finally removed it she was relieved. She was very out of it, looked very exhausted but very thankful that it was over. Today\'s bible verse on my phone said \"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength\" and my mom truely does. She has so much faith. Our family is so proud of her for taking care of herself and getting her heart fix. I\'m so proud of my mom for facing this surgery head on. She is so brave and strong willed. Early tomorrow morning they tell us she will be walking, she will be taking her first steps with her \"new\" heart. That first step will be painful but it is the first step to recovery. They say she will be in the ICU for tonight and possible the next night to as well.

Met with the surgeon, he was very confident that they had a successful valve repaire. And that it will be 6+ months to know if the MAZE procedure was successful to control the A-fib. Jamie is in the ICU recovery. We will be seeing her in the next hour. She will be still under sedation for the next 4 to 8 hours.

They have completed the mortal valve phase of the surgery. She is off the heart/lung machine with a Good heartbeat! They are begining chest closure now. The doctor will be coming to tell us more of how the surgery went soon! Thank you God

She went into surgery at 11am. They estmined 4 to 6 hours long. The head nurse called just s little bit ago. He said that the MAZE procedure was first and went good! Then the 2nd good news is she is getting her value fixed currently! Meaning she doesnt need the mechanical value! Woohoo! Will update when she gets out of surgery. Thank you All for the prayers!!

She just got wheeled off into surgery! It will be another hour or so before the actually surgery begins. We all wished her good luck and told we would see her later on today. A few nervous tears came to her eyes but as we left her she gave us a big grin.