Two Years Later… Still, Very Thankful For My Heart Valve Surgery
By Adam Pick on November 20, 2007
Okay. Okay.
I know if I titled this blog ‘Happy Thanksgiving From The Heart’ it would simply be too much of a cliche. So, I decided to edit that title and reshape the focus of this blog a little.
If you are a newly diagnosed patient (with severe heart valve disease), you may be going through some fear, uncertainty and doubt right now. If you are a caregiver, I can imagine that you may have a whole lot of concern for the patient that you’re looking after.
Well… I’m here to show you how this former patient looks back upon his heart surgery as a fantastically positive experience. That’s right!
“How is Adam going to do that?” you may be wondering with a raised eyebrow.
Well. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.
As many of you know, this is the second year after my Ross Procedure. Needless to say, it has been an amazing twenty-four months.
I’m recovered. I’m married. And, my book is helping thousands of patients and caregivers in over 35 countries around the world.
There is ab-sooooooooooo-lutely no doubt that I’m very, very, very thankful. In fact, I could write for hours (actually) about how thankful I am. But, I know time is precious. And, I know we all need to get ready to travel. OR, baste the turkey. OR, make the pumpkin pie.
But, I would like to share a few elements of my life that I’m thankful for – many of which relate to my heart valve surgery experience. (Imagine that?) I’m going to use pictures to help me!
Without further ado… Here are several things I am thankful for:
I am thankful for my wife, Robyn Elizabeth Pick. We were married on July 7, 2007.
I am thankful for the Pacific Ocean and her waves. After a challenging recovery, I’m now surfing after heart valve surgery.
I am thankful for my new nephew, Brandon Meyer Pick. (He’s only five days old.)
I am thankful for Airlife incentive spirometers. Ooooh, was that pneumothorax a pain in the butt!
I’m incredibly thankful for Dr. Vaughn Starnes, my surgeon. As far as I’m concerned, Dr. Starnes is one of the ‘Michael Jordans’ of heart valve surgery.
I am thankful for my cardiac rehab program. Without it, I don’t know where I would be. Thanks again to Dr. Ben Rosin and his team at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California.
I am very thankful for each and every email I receive from my readers – both heart valve surgery patients and their caregivers. I will never get over the wonderful and supportive emails from Taylor and Michelle Browning. Thank you!
I am thankful for the donor of my pulmonary valve. I’m sure it’s a woman. Ever since my surgery, I’ve been so emotional. Robyn, my wife, loves when I ‘share’ these days.
I’m thankful for Mederma, the skin cream that has made my 9-inch scar go away!!!
I’m thankful for all the 78 former patients who completed my survey. We are all helping patients and caregivers understand the realities of heart valve surgery – especially second opinions.
And finally…. I would like to thank YOU… WHOEVER YOU ARE… Whether you are a patient or caregiver, you are at this website trying to educate yourself or someone you love on the topic of heart surgery.
And for that, I wish you….
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
GOBBLE! GOBBLE!
Oh yah, and…
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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Melissa A Smith says on December 28th, 2007 at 10:37 pm |
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Hello! I was born with Aortic Stenosis, never had a problem with it until just after getting married in Oct 2006, when getting my results of my annual stress test in February 2007 i found out that something was very very wrong. I never thought I would hear “You need heart surgery, you are at high risk!” in my life. Gosh, it’s been the most rough year ever. I decided on the best Minimally Invasive Surgeon at NYU Medical Center, Dr. Stephen Colvin. The surgery was performed 6/15/07, while trying to replace my Aortic Valve, the smallest cow valve was too big so my Aorta was enlarged to make room. I was home within 5 days and stayed home for 3 weeks afterwards. It was not easy to use the spirometer and to start walking, sleeping was the worst because i couldn’t roll on my sides or lay flat. But, I’m so thankful like you are to have such a wonderful life. I Love life! I love my husband, and my family and my surgeon!! P.S. When researching the surgery prior to having it, i did find your web page but was too freaked out to look any further until now. |
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