Debra's Guestbook

Debra Russo  I had a full sternotomy. Because of issues with removing the old TAVR they could not do minimally invasive. I bugged the doctor about making the scar as low as possible, and he did manage to keep it a little bit lower. 

Heidi Donohue  wow I am surprised you are home so fast..from what I've heard you are in the hospital alot longer. What a warrior you are...gives the rest of us hope. Thanks so much for sharing your story. You are amazing.

Ana Brusso  Lifting you up in prayer for a successful surgery tomorrow Debra. We’ll be here waiting for you in recovery. God bless you 

Debra Russo  I was so covered in prayer for my surgery. I have a loving supportive family, friends and this online community. I woke up the morning of surgery and my brain immediately said "I can't do this, let's run for the hills". Then I woke up a bit more and told my brain to cut it out, I didn't have a choice if I wanted to live. I just stepped out in faith that I'd be fine, and here I am. Because we lived overseas several times for my husband's job I have friends from here to Australia. I posted on FB for prayer. I wanted all my friends praying or sending good thoughts and they did. It was obvious in how good and calm I felt. Even my two lovely grandsons called me the night before surgery to say they were praying for me and they were calling from vacation with their mom and step-dad. I was truly blessed. 

Debra Russo  Oh, I wish I qualified for TAVR-in-TAVR. That had always been the plan, but there is just not enough room. I will have the TAVR "explanted" (removed), then if it has caused any issues those will be fixed before doing a surgical valve replacement. Because this issue is so new, very few have been done at this hospital. Because of this the two primary cardiac surgeons have been scrubbing in on each other's surgeries for more experience. I will have my own surgeon AND the head of cardiothoracic surgery in my OR, for which I am very thankful. The 30 day mortality rate for this procedure is 20 to 25%,  but I'll be in really good hands. 

Rose Madura  I'm sorry the TAVR did not last for you.  And I wish a great outcome for your surgery.  Please keep us posted.  God bless you.

Klara Čičić  Oh Mindi, I also watched comedy before and after my surgery!! I almost forgot that and now you reminded me. I ran into such a funny scetch few days after my surgery, I was crying laughing. It was so painful to laugh at that point, but it was just so funny that I watched it over and over again.... I think benefits of a good laugh overweighted the pain :))

Mindi Wieseman  Klara, I was thinking about  exactly that! If I watch comedy a day or 2 after surgery, it may really hurt! But I'm going to follow your lead and try it anyway. I already have 3 audio books ready to listen to on my phone in the hospital. Not comedy but good books. And I plan to check in here as well. 🙂