Patient Stories Blog – Page 9

I just visited Heart Valve Journals, our interactive community where patients meet and learn from each other. While clicking through many of these amazing journals, guestbooks and photo sections, I noticed that during the next 24 hours Tammy, Jeff & Kent will be going in for heart valve surgery.

When diagnosed with a life threatening illness, such as severe heart valve disease, patients often confront uncomfortable emotions. Personally, I remember feelings of fear, anxiety and confusion. How me manage those emotions is often a test of our character, our courage, our self and our love for life.

In my opinion, this is quite inspiring and extraordinary...

It is an unexpected privilege and honor to support the patients and the caregivers of this community.

I really enjoy hearing from patients after their heart valve procedures. Their stories are often filled with inspiration and unique patient perspective. For example, here is a recent email from David Hooper following his aortic valve replacement surgery.

For those of you following the story of 5-year old Sarah Weir... I have great news to share!!!

When we started HeartValveJournals.com, our social network, I didn't know what to expect. But now, 15 months later, I am constantly touched, moved and inspired by the patients and the caregivers who openly share their hearts in this special community.

Thanks to Becky, I just learned that Barbara Walters is hosting a special program about heart surgery titled, "A Matter of Life & Death". The show will air on ABC at 10pm (EST), Friday, February 4.

With the exception of Barbara Walters' heart valve surgery in May, this year was relatively quiet for public figures needing heart valve repair or heart valve replacement operations. However, our list of "well-known patients" did expand during the final week of 2010.

No need to preface this... Prepare for patient inspiration.

Considering our recent discussion about heart valve re-operations, often referred to as "Re-Dos", I wanted to wish Bob Uecker a very successful surgery today. If you didn't know, Bob Uecker -- who was anointed "Mr. Baseball" by Johnny Carson -- will undergo his second heart valve surgery during the past six months.

Monique just sent me two, very interesting pictures of her mitral valve - before and after surgery. I thought you might like to see these pictures as they illustrate the challenges of heart valve disease and the opportunities of heart valve treatment. The procedure was performed by Dr. David Adams at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

A few months ago, I received a very difficult phone call from George Avakian who resides in Northern California.

I just received an extraordinary email about Kirk Rose from his daughter, Angela. If anybody needs inspiration before or after heart valve surgery, I encourage you to read this:

One of the ongoing themes in this blog focuses on patient advocacy -- before, during and after surgery. Specific to this point, I just received an interesting letter from Anne about second opinions, patient research, chest incisions and surgeon selection. In her note, Anne writes to me:

Great news! We have another patient success story!

Cindy just sent me this great email. Given her unique story, I thought you might really enjoy it.

Some really interesting patient stories continue to fill up my inbox. Here's a great one from Don about his new mission saving dogs after mitral valve replacement.

I always enjoy reading patient success stories. However, this update really made me think, "Fannnnn-tasssss-tic!". Specifically, I like the way Chaz utilizes a "Before and After" approach to describe his heart valve replacement experience:

These are the hardest posts to write. As the sadness is overwhelming my fingertips, I'll be brief.