DeLois's Guestbook

Ana Brusso  Always remember DeLois, hope you are well heart warrior and fellow believer. God bless you 🙏❤️

DeLois Tweedy  Richard, I'll try to do better about posting, the site has been acting strange, but it could be my "old" phone lol.

It's ok if Shadow gets a little conceited - he IS beautiful.

DeLois Tweedy  Hi Jude, thank you for your well wishes. I usually visit this site 2-3 times a week, but haven't posted in a while. I still enjoy reading and following others'posts.

With the radiation affecting my heart, my septum is so thickened and mitral valve so stenotic with severe mitral annular calcification, plus with the PH, I did not qualify for the mitral valve replacement clinical trial I had hoped to participate in. I am OHS prohibitive and very high risk for other heart procedures. 


So, my HFpEF is being managed by medication and frequent follow/up visits, echos, etc. I was very saddened to receive this news, but I do ok for the most part, occasional fluid retention which affects my breathing more and works my heart too hard; bothered with Aflutter occasionally.


I am thankful for each day and know I am blessed each morning when I awake. I continue to pray for people on this site and am happy when their surgery improves their lives. We are all heart warriors!

DeLois Tweedy  Hi Cheryl! Hope you are still doing well. I'm still waiting on the research team to contact me regarding the clinical trial for mitral valve replacement. I was told recently that often it takes a while for the process. Basically, I take life day to day. With the mitral and tricuspid valves not working properly, the heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension, some days can be very trying. I guess heart valve problems really are a different ballgame for a person with radiation treatment history. A local pulmonologist told me last Thursday that he doubts I will qualify for the clinical trial secondary to having had radiation. So, we will see......heart technology is moving ahead so quickly, maybe something new will come up that will be better and safer for me. In the meantime, I'm thankful for every day I'm given - it truly is a gift. 😊🙏

Cheryl Bast  Yes, I'm learning more about my heart failure, too. It is a gift to still be here and each additional day is a blessing indeed! I have an echo tomorrow and rehab is full so I wait!

DeLois Tweedy  Let me know how the echo went - any new developments, etc. I benefited so much from rehab, and continue to go 2x week for maintenance rehab. The nurses are there and take vitals before and after exercise. The difference is you set your own pace and decide which machines to use, how long to use, intensity vs the structured program of cardio rehab. I hope you can get started soon.

Richard Munson  After reading up on bone banks, i was blown away by this technology that i never knew existed. It sounds like they all come from human donors whether yourself or another person. Could they do this with heart valves, i guess so, they do it with cows and pigs. Worth reading about for sure. 

DeLois Tweedy  Richard, you are right abt the technology. But I'm sure glad it moves ahead and I was reading somewhere recently that that technology for heart related issues is at the forefront.

Regarding the bone graft, it came from human bone; the "dog"part is my family joke. The surgeon asked if I wanted to use my bone or bone from another source. I immediately asked him what he would do for himself and he instantly said "the cadaver" bone. He continued to explain how they processed it and how safe it was. Thankfully I have never had any problems with my wrist since and use it as before I crushed the end of the radius bone. I'm praying my cow valve serves me well for a long time to come, though I have many other heart issues we're working on. May technology continue!

DeLois Tweedy  Oh yes! I can tell in this photo. Beautiful, beautiful dog!

I have had pets through the years, but have none at this time. So hard when they leave us. My pets (dogs and cats) usually lived a long time - 15, 16 and 18 years. I guess I was a good pet mom.

I live at Smith Mtn Lake, so I'm not that far from Blacksburg. 🙂 and good old VT.

Richard Munson  I bet you were a great pet mom. My cassie left me way too soon at 10 from bone cancer. I was heartbroken but shadow has aided in my recovery. 

DeLois Tweedy  I'm so glad Shadow has helped you along in your journey, tho I know we never forget those that have gone before. Pets can be such great companions.

My daughter from age 5 grew up with a Siamese cat that had beautiful blue eyes. This cat left us at age 16 from kidney failure.

DeLois Tweedy  Thank you for your well wishes and welcome. I guess my case is unique in that my valve/heart/lungs issues stems from large doses of radiation treatments. Long term effects.

DeLois Tweedy  Actually, I did feel better after my TAVR, but still had many heart problems. Mitral valve replacement is being discussed now, as the pressure in my lungs is not as high as first shown. My doctor says I'm a very complicated and complex patient lol!

Ana Brusso  DeLois, you have a great attitude and your symptoms will be resolved in time. Maybe you will be a good candidate for TAVR. Keep writing and updating us. We are here to listen and try to give you comfort and support. God bless 🙏❤️

DeLois Tweedy  I did get my TAVR in June 2020. The mitral valve is the next concern. I am high risk and have mitral annular calcification which will require a replacement vs repair. Thinking maybe Tendyne (clinical trial).