Suzette's Journal

I saw this posted today. So much like my story, I decided to use it. I found out at 21 years during gymnastic tryouts at Santa Monica College. Now I'm 65 and Doc says I have "milked this valve for all its worth". Going in for surgery is 12 days. When I was high school, playing basketball, around the age of 16 I got fatigued. So I went in to have it checked out - Turned out I had Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Mitral Valve Prolapse. I was monitored each year with an echocardiogram and regular visits to the cardiologist. I had been told “some day” I would need surgery. Well, that day came way earlier than I thought. In December I went in to have a hysterectomy and was told my heart valve issued had moved from moderate to severe. Now I really had to think about heart valve replacement at 44….I’m too young! :(

I've been reading "Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster". I appreciate the positive messages from author Peggy Heddleston. The book comes with a CD, but it was lost to someone sometime ago. She talks about building a team. It's a great concept that gathers your support group and gives them a job. My team appreciates being asked to do something for me. Mostly I'm concerned with the hospital stay. How has this TEAM concept worked for others?