Debbie's Guestbook

Hi Debbie, Glad you are doing well and is on the road to recovery. Wish you all the best and may God speed your recovery. I am due for my surgery sometime in May. The date is not yet fixed. Looking forward to it although I am nervous.

Wow! You look amazing Debbie! Are you sure you just had open Heart surgery? Keep up the great work, but remember to listen to your body and don't push it to far to fast. Prayers for your recovery will continue! Your heart sister, Robin

I want to wish you all the best, Debbie. I had an aortic valve replacement 2 1/2 years ago (a bovine prosthetic valve) and I'm doing great. I remember the nausea and ginger ale really helps with that. The first 4 weeks are the toughest as you can't sleep lying down. I should have used a recliner but I just slept on the couch with lots of pillows. I highly recommend cardiac rehab for your mind & body, PS I'm Italian too, so buona fortuna!

Hi Debbie. Tomorrow this time your surgery will be over and your recovery will have begun. I pray that God will carry you safely through your surgery, that He will steady your surgeons hands and guide them to the right places, and that those who will be caring for you will have gentile hands. May you have a peaceful night and know that God has you in His hands. I am looking forward to hearing great things from you in the coming days. Your heart sister, Robin Szymanski

Debbie, Prayers and good wishes coming your way, that you may rest comfortably and wake up with a healthy heart. Trust that your doctor and caregivers are skilled and doing their very best!

Debbie- Well the wait is almost over and like you said yourself, you picture yourself in days with this surgery behind you and beginning your recovery! For me, it went just like that for the most part. Waking up with the weight of the joy of just "waking up" knowing it was over and that I would soon be at home on a new healing journey. All of the things that I worried about prior to the surgery, that hung like a cloud over the brain simply seemed to drift away as I was being wheeled into have my valve replaced and it was a huge relief, not at all frightening as the doors to surgery closed behind me with a noticeable little draft of air pressing my face as we entered into the surgical space. I hope you feel the sudden calmness(might have been a drug?) as one moment you are smiling up at kind and smiling faces looking down on you and the next blinking your eyes like only ten minutes had passed by. I remember waking up. Batting my eyes thinking "I am awake" and going back into a deep sleep. It was a peaceful entrance and exit out of the surgical event and I was fortunate and blessed knowing that there were many prayers being said for me by this heart community that day and as the days continued such as will be with you tomorrow the day of your surgery. I hope you have a nice evening spent with people who give you love, support and confidence and know as you lay your head down to rest up for the next days "event" that we will be with you in prayers and in spirit. We will also eagerly await to hear from you that you are on the other side and have joined the many in the start of celebrating the beginning of many healing days with a much healthier heart and yes, all of this behind you. Have confidence In your "Team" who will have nothing but you on their minds in these upcoming days! You come across a strong positive woman who I believe will push back all of the normal anxieties of the past few months into facing this with confidence and the assuredness that all that needs to be done to make your heart "healed" will be done and you are up to the challenge! Love and prayers and a mighty hug coming from me to you today over the keyboard! Be Well-BELIEVE!

Debbie, I want to share some of my thoughts that I had before my surgery. I had mitral valve surgery on July 29th 2014. I was afraid that I might not wake up. Worried about the fact that my heart would be stopped and my body put on the heart lung machine. Worried that my heart would not start again. (It did) These are just a few things that crossed my mind. I found loads of comfort from some very dear friends here on the heart valve site. Some had already gone through surgery, many were waiting and I was ahead of them. One of my friends Ginger from Oz., mentioned that worry stresses the heart and the more you worry the harder it is on the heart. She was so right. The heart lung machine is absolutely amazing. About two weeks before my surgery I finally was at peace with having the surgery. I was able to chose my surgeon and this was a plus. If I waited to have the surgery my body may be thrown into a situation where the heart specialists might not be my choice. The longer that I waited the more damage would happen to my valves. So my husband and family decided that the sooner the better. I am so thankful that I decided to have the surgery. I feel absolutely blessed that my new piggy valve has brought me new life. It has also given me more energy, my lungs function well, and no more regurgitation in my mitral valve. Last week I saw my cardiiologist, he gave me my echo report that was done two weeks ago. The report showed that all was functioning well. He was so happy with my progress. He said, this was the right time for your surgery. I said, it sure was. I teach preschool and am director of a child care center. Each day I keep very active with the children. I would encourage you to plan on cardiac rehab after surgery. This gave me the reassurance that all was good. I go to the fitness center every chance I get. This is totally normal, all the worry that you have. Please share your thoughts with your family and friends. I found that really helped me. It also made my family and friends understand my fears. Debbie you will breeze through this! I love the suggestions of Duane! I hope that this helps you. Continue to ask questions of this amazing heart family. We will be with you on this journey! Hugs from my heart to yours! Mia (Mary) form Michigan

Debbie, I just ran across your posts and wanted to tell you I felt very similar to you prior to my mitral valve repair on Dec. 16. I went from peace to panic and back again and again. The heart lung machine also totally freaked me out, as well as them stopping my heart. The truth is it has to be done to fix our hearts, and our heads mess up more than the actual procedure I think. Try not to dwell on it, I know it's hard, and think of the other side when you will be fixed and have this all behind you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Feel free to read my journey if you want...I was a really big wimp but made it through just fine.