Kenny's Posts

1 year ago today was my mitral valve repair at UPenn Hospital. It's gone by so fast but I feel like I've accomplished so much! I've lost 20 pounds since my surgery and 50 over the past 2.5 years. I run and/or workout 5-6 times a week and watch what I eat. I just had my one year echo with my cardiologist and got a clean bill of health. I am back living a normal life with no heart related medications save baby aspirin once a day. This past year and each moment since my surgery has been a gift. I endeavor to live each day treating it as such.

Six months ago today I woke up in recovery doped up on morphine with a breathing tube down my throat and a repaired mitral valve. But that is only one of the many things I have to be thankful for. Oddly enough, aside from the scar that I see in the mirror every day, I don't really think about my surgery much anymore. I jumped back into the fray of normal life in August and haven't looked back since. Honestly life post op has been great. I run 10-15 miles a week and take a cardio conditioning class twice a week and I have never felt better in my life. The decision to have surgery as soon as possible was one of the best I've ever made and very empowering for me. It helped give me the determination and desire to take better care of myself and thus enjoy life more fully.