Laurie's Journal

Hi everyone!! Wow it feels like time has flown by, yet in reality I am only a little over 2 months post op. Crazy. Simply crazy. What is so crazy was how much improvement my body has shown, physically and mentally just within the past month. I am back to work, the gym, and am able to drive. (Even though it has been nice having someone drive me everywhere, haha.) What I wanted to concentrate mainly on in this post was (A) let all my adoring readers know that I am in fact better than ever and (B) express my true gratitude for all those who have helped along the way. So, adoring readers! I hope to this message finds you all in a healthy and happy environment. For those who are months post op, I cheer you..to us (YAY KEVIN)! For those only a few days/weeks out, I promise their will be sunshine at the end of tunnel. And lastly, for those still patiently waiting...have faith in your doctors, yourself, and your support system. Speaking of support systems, this is where I will get truly sappy. What a ride is had been, right? My fiance and my mother have been such a HUGE part of my wonderful support system. I do not know how they dealt with it all. I look back and remember how I was so consumed by my own stress, my own anxiety, my own future. That I never really gave any thought to those who would soon be consumed by all as well, on TOP of their own stress and anxiety. There were times where I know I was unbearable. My patience ran thin. But you both never stopped smiling. Never let me give up. And to this very moment, I want to thank you both for getting me to where I am today. Happy, healthy, and gracious for the world I live in. I owe ya guys! To the rest of my support system, your moments of tenderness and love will always be remembered and appreciated. To each and every one of you, specifically my brother and father...I love you dearly. Annnnd, that is all folks! I will check back in in a few months. Much love to all, Laurie

as I have experienced some ups and downs since my last post. I have had some muscle issues, as my aches have at times made me bed ridden. In addition, I have had severe gastrointestinal issues as well. And was recently put back on Lasix to help with fluid build up. In addition, I have been pretty emotional. I think it's a combination of the surgery, healing process, meds, and lack of normality in my life schedule at the moment. As for my incision area and healing sternum, I am doing wonderful. (knocks on wood) Since, is has been awhile since I had posted I just wanted to give everyone a quick update. I did visit my cardiologist about 1 week ago and got nothing but positive feedback. I will meet again with him and my surgeon on the 31st. More than likely they will finally release me to drive, but I think I may just take advantage of waiting a little longer to heal. Given my ups and downs, I still do not let a day pass where I don't thank God for the beautiful gift he has given me...my health with a promising future. I give so much respect to those who have gone through similar journeys, as this has been such a learning experience. I haven't heard from Kevin in a few weeks, as we went into surgery around the same time. If you are reading this, I hope your recovery is coming along and you are starting to feel like yourself again! And as always, Rachel is on my mind and in my prayers. Much love to this community, Laurie

I just wanted to update the community with some positive news as I am doing pretty well considering surgery was just about 2 weeks ago. It is crazy how good I feel. I definitely thought I would still be hating life at this point. I have had some issues with headaches. Anxiety issues. Caffeine withdraw. So I am now sipping on my first cup of coffee since surgery and boy is it helping. I am beginning to get a bit of cabin fever, which was expected considering I am normally running around like a crazy woman. Any tips on how anyone has been able to alleviate some of this boredom? Haha. I have had home health care nurses visiting me which has helped to alleviate some stress. I think today may have been my last visit, as he reported my progress is on point. I am still working on sleeping through the night. I still wake up ever few hours, but am trying to slowly eliminate all pain meds. I don't really need them anymore, but my nurse told me that stopping them all at once will create withdraw symptoms. Which I tried and did experience. Not fun! Talk to everyone real soon, Laurie Baquol

It has been a few days since my last journal entry. So, I figured I would give everyone a quick shout out. My progress has been good. I am breathing better, lungs are completely clear, and my pain has subsided greatly. I have achieved greater numbers on the spirometer(sp). I am not yet to Kevin's great achievements of 2500 plus, but I am still proud. My home health care nurse came for his first visit this afternoon. I was nervous, to say the least. But, after him giving me a air high five on his way out, I feel much more optimistic for my futuristic goals. I even answered some work emails today. It has been such a productive day, I am becoming more and more thankful for the opportunity I had been given to better the status of my health. For those who are anxiously waiting their surgery date, please know that it will all be in your rear view mirror soon enough. Anyone who follows through with such a surgery are powerful human beings. And you will feel like strength once in recovery. Your body, mind, and perseverance will AMAZE you. Goals for the weekend, walking walking and more walking!! Talk to all soon! PS - Rachel you are still in my thoughts each and every day. I pray for you and your family. God has special plans for you, I know it.

I came home with a plastic breathing device to help build up my lung capacity. Anyone else have the same and what was your progression like? Also, how many times a day did you walk? I find myself hesitant and sorta scared when building back up my tolerance. As if I'll hurt myself somehow. Lastly, I have a huge issue with pain meds. So I have had to use more Tylenol than pure pain medicine. Anyone else have the same issue? Thanks in advance for the feedback!

Thank goodness!!! I am not patient material. I hate needles, blood, constant beeping noises. I just am very grateful to be home. Just wasn't the experience I expected even though I am thankful for all the help Hopkins had given me. With this in my recent past, I am ready to begin my next chapter in my life. My family and friends have been so wonderful to me and continue to help. My mom has been my shining star guiding me through this exhausting experience. My fiancé, my love of my life Jason has been my biggest cheerleader. Encouraging me every step of the way, with the biggest smile on his face. Tomorrow will mark ONE week! I feel like once this is all over I'll be pretty much invincible, lol. Glad to hear you are home, Kevin...enjoy much needed rest and TLC! Each week will get a bit easier.

I am four days post op. Not going type too much considering my exhaustain level. But I am continually improving. Thanks for the continued love and support.As expected this has been a rough couple of days. Patient of the week!! Woohoo!!!

Tomorrow is the big day! And yes the waiting game to this day has been exhausting. I imagined myself the day before surgery to be petrified and still very angry. But it hasn't been that case today. And I am more than ready to get this show on the road. I will try and have a friend update my post once out of surgery. A million thanks to those who have helped me get through these past couple months, Laurie

has just been delayed a day. CT scan is in order after looking over previous health records. What I do not get, is why is the doctor just now looking over this? I have had this date set for a couple months now. I know it is just a day later, but it bothers me it has to be moved. REALLY bothers me. This waiting game is the worst.

Post-op was completed yesterday. More importantly I was able to sit down with a member of my doctor's team and go over all the millions of questions I had gathered since my initial meeting with my surgeon. Have to say, she was wonderful to meet and had ample information. So calming, some kinda not so calming. But I expected it. How am I feeling today? Well, if someone were to ask me this a couple days...ehh. BUT, it's not a couple days ago so today I am doing pretty darn good. Everyone seems to think my age will decrease many possible complications and my team of doctors couldn't be any more experienced. So, I do feel very lucky to be in my current position. As for prepping my house, still tons to do. Thankfully I have wonderful family to help with this. Just too much to get done, with ending my semester and finishing up some year end budgets and accounting work. I don't have anything special planned for this weekend, I am trying not to make too much out of it. I keep reminding myself this surgery will be long pass me before I know it. As days I am sure will linger during recovery, I will keep in mind that the surgery itself is complete. One step at a time right?! This surgery will be life changing and I can't be any more appreciative of the expertise I will be leaning upon. As for Rachel, I continue to pray for her each and everyday. And Kevin W., our time is a-coming!! But we got this! Thanks to those who listened, Laurie

First things first, I am having an anxious morning, overwhelming I guess is a better word for it. I feel like I have tons to do with so little time left before the big day. I am still in class and it doesn't end until literally the day before surgery. I am trying to get ahead of the work so that I am not stressing about it, but there is just too much. Another thing is, I will be working up until the Friday before my surgery which is on a Monday. Is this too much? I really don't have a choice. Maybe it will help me keep my mind off the important things soon to occur. But, it will get done. Someone has to do it! Secondly, I have been reading a lot about prepping one's home for recovery. Many patients keep reinforcing the help of the magical recliner chair. Unfortunately, I do not have one at the moment...but thinking I should invest? It is really going to make my recovery a much easier process? Thirdly, back to work. I think I am going to have the toughest time doing nothing for weeks at a time. From the journals I have read, some patients take 4 weeks to start feeling themselves, others much much longer. (I am getting somewhere with this, I promise!) I have planned to take work home with me. I bought a desk (a really nice one at that, and got it for the best price on black Friday!) and I am moving all my computer stuff into the house. My job is all computer work as I handle accounting and HR for my job, so when does everyone think I will be okay to begin catching up on my work load? As I know my health is most important, there is absolutely no way for me to ignore my work load for weeks upon weeks. Any advice??! (Thinking of Michael today as he went into surgery and forever keeping Rachel in my prayers.)

for all the motivating, cheerful, and positive vibes I have already received from only being on this site not even 24 hours. All of you that have responded to my initial post, I could not thank you enough for all the kind words. I wanted to share with all my new friends some pretty exciting news that I did not share within my initial post. As I am entering into surgery on the 16th, I do have great things coming soon after recovery. I graduate with my Bachelors in May and in August I will be marrying my best friend, Jason. As 2013 was not my year, starting the year with a horrible car accident and ending it with open heart surgery. With all this in mind, 2014 cannot come soon enough! So, as far as I can tell, today has been a positive one. Not only are my future endeavors keeping me focused on other things besides surgery, all of you have given me a strength I could have only be given by those going through similar life disturbances. "May you see sunshine where others see shadows and opportunities where others see obstacles." I know each day will bring about different mind-sets, but today I will take the my positive attitude and keep running with it.

I will be in recovery. I will not hold back and say that I am not one bit nervous, anxious, scared, and the list goes on, but I will say I am ready. I am ready to get this passed me. I am ready to be able to get back to exercising. I am ready to be normal. When I sat down with my surgeon a month or so ago, he mentioned that recovery time mainly depended on me and my attitude. He continued to tell me stories about children...babies going through similar procedures and recovering quicker than most adults. Being only 27, I am going to try to have the same mentality as those youngings. I knew this day was coming, I never knew it would be now. I keep telling myself that I am doing this for my unborn children. Prior to this surgery I would have been listed under high risk pregnancy, after surgery I will be finally removed from that list. Health is such an important gift. And as one gets older you learn you grow to appreciate this gift more and more. Well this is all for today. I am thinking I will be writing each day until my surgery date on Dec. 16th. Thanks for those who took the time to listen, Laurie