Justin's Journal

I got my Ross Procedure done on 3/31 and I've just been coming around back online. Still in the hospital, but hopefully today I'll get my chest tubes out. My surgeon, Dr Fehrenbacher, indulged me and took a few photos of my heart while it was open on the table (I insisted he must--I wanted to see what my heart looks like!), and he also took a pic that includes my bicuspid aortic valve/the aortic root and it looks gnarly. He went in looking to see if he could get a way with a David procedure and just graft the aorta and bring my valve leaflets back together, but he said once he was in there it was so gross and calcified and folded on itself, there was no way for repair. It's amazing to me that my one valve could be so messed up and yet my pulmonary valve was working perfectly, and went in as the perfect replacement. So far no complications, and they said I'll probably be out on Easter! I hope my fellow heart patients are doing well, too. I feel so lucky to have found all this; it happened so randomly. Everyone asks what my symptoms were, but I didn't really have any because my heart was compensating so well. Too well. It's still dilated and has a strong pulse, so I'm going to be on low blood pressure meds for at least 6 months to let my neo-aortic valve adjust to the higher pressure side of things. But I'm so happy it's done, and everyday is a new gift, even more than before. I'm excited to keep living life and focusing on each moment of beauty we have the opportunity to share. Also I'm really happy I went with the Ross Procedure rather than mechanical or tissue valve. Really glad I was able to get this done. Warm thoughts for those who are going in soon!