John's Heart Valve Journal

Hi John -

Like you i have not been on in awhile, but I was very glad to see an update from you when I checked in. You really have made the most of this second chance. That is so fantastic. Keep it up and keep dancing through life (figuratively and literally). You are a great inspiration.

All the best,
-Mitch Friedman

Dance on! -- DVB

John, Wonderful post! So glad you are doing well and still an inspiration to others. Continued health and happiness!! Congrats. Jan Kielbasa

Wow a year! Great milestone John. Congratulations. Thanks for continuing to be an inspiration. All good with me.

-Mitch Friedman

John, Congrats on the excellent report from your doctor. I'm so glad echo and visit went well and you are healthy. Congrats also for your 1st place dance win. That is really awesome. It sounds like other than some long hard days at work, you are doing very well. I wish you continued good health & happiness. Stay well and enjoy the rest of your summer. Janis Kielbasa

Wait, you're telling me you're single? I wish I had known that sooner! -Jason P.

I am surprised you have not emailed me, after all you could not keep your eyes off me, Heidi

Way to go John. Proof that life just gets better after heart valve surgery -- DVB

Hi John, I just read your update. I will check out your you tube. You have to be beaming with pride at your accomplishments and progress. Getting out there and doing what you love even when you are tired tests us all. You are an inspiration because you go for it. Just awesome, my friend. Stay well. Janis Kielbasa

Hi John, just read your update ( have not been on HVJ much lately). I loved it! Not because you threw a hissy, but because it provided valuable perspective. We all need to realize how from we have come and how
lucky we are to be as healed as we are. Like you, I often forget and get frustrated that I am not better than I am. But let's be real, we are amazing. We have come so far and are SO lucky to be where we are. Getting frustrated is a sign of our progress!!! So, let's try to realize how blessed we are. And also be easy on ourselves for wanting more and getting frustrated. I know, easier said than done, but beating ourselves up after getting frustrated only makes it worse. So, we do the best we can and that should be good enough. Keep on dancing my friend, literally and figureatively.

-Mitch Friedman

Well all my classmates got ahead of me ! Dog gone.

You look great & im proud of you. But i am insanely jealous of all the great dresses in the contest. Always wanted some of those You look great. Thx for sharing

When we get to our UNION - as jeff calls it - i know all the girls will want to dance w- you Save onebfor me !!

Keep it up. Hugs. Nancy friedman.
St louis. 2-9-12 avr

Thanks John for letting us know about UTube! Looking good and so happy you felt like dancing..Miss seeing and dancing with you. Jan

John, just read your update. Don't be so hard on yourself. Being competitive is good but being a sour puss not so much. Say your sorry to whoever needs to hear it and move on. Emily sounds like an amazing dance partner and I'm sure she understands. Having a winning attitude is important as is a even temperament. So get out there and kick butt but do it with a smile. Janis K.

John, just reading the list of dances you had to perform made me tired! I know you are disappointed in your "behavior", but....it takes a real man to admit they acted poorly with no excuses. I commend you for that!
I predict your next competition will be much different. I also suspect that there were some "surreal" moments involved, perhaps subconsciously that contributed to your "bad boy" behavior.
Keep up the hard work and put this episode where it belongs...in the "I won't do that again" file!
Keep on dancin.....
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Back to competing, such great news for you John. At the end, be sure to rip open your short and show them what you got, a new zipper chest! Good luck.

-Mitch Friedman

Love tos great reports. Dance to your hearts content. ( pun intended )

Nancy friedman st louis. 2/9/12. Avr

Great update John! Good luck this weekend! Let us know how it goes!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

John, Happy 9 month anniversary. I think I love reading your posts because you have mixed exercise with what you love to do, dance. You are keeping your body and spirit strong. Your heart is repaired and full. Awesome!! Janis K.

Hi John. Great to read you continue to do so well. Keep on dancing! It seems like a good way to go through life. Take care.
-Mitch Friedman

Great to hear things are going so well, John. Dance on! -- DVB

Happy 8 months!! Wow, you have come so far and done so well. I know it is not easy but your positive attitude, work ethic and spirit have served you well while on this road of recovery. You have so much to be proud of, so much to be thankful for and so much to yet enjoy. Your posts always an inspiration. Continued health, love and happiness!! Janis Kielbasa

John. What a great report & so proud of you

Congrats. Love to see you dance one time.

Continued success.

Nancy Friedman. Avr 2/9/12.

John, glad to read you got a good report and all is well with your liver. You have been through enough, as we all have, so glad you are back on track!

-Mitch Friedman

Good to hear!! That little guy, Mr. Liver is an important organ and glad it is working well now. You've done so well and continue to inspire us to keep moving towards our goals. For me, it is a daily mental exercise to get my body to daily exercise. Reading of everyone's accomplishments is good for my "Catholic Guilt" and helps push me out the door for my 2 miles trek. LOL. Continue good health and recovery to you, John!! Hugs, Janis Kielbasa

Hi John, you seem to really be doing great. It is obvious that dancing is big to you, so I am very glad to read you have that back in your life in such a big way. I am sure dancing again will do wonders for your spirit too.

All the best and take care,
-Mitch Friedman

Man. This iPad really sucks. When it changes words. I hope you get the gist of it below. Ha ha

Sorry. Nancy. St Louis mo. 2/9/12. Done. !!

Hi John. Always
Enjoy your posts. And so glad to hear how good you're doing. C grats. But as everyone says. Take it easy ! I was just told it will take a full year to sell ' me ' again. I feel great. 5 weeks post Thursday 3/15. But yeah get tired if I do too much. Naps still feel very good

But back to you. Am so proud of all you're accomplishing. Best to you always

Thanks for Having been there for me ! Nancy. Stnlouis mo. 2/9/12. Done.

Whew John...your schedule wore me out to read it. No wonder you need some R and R. Hope things get better at work and calm down a bit. Sounds really intense! Hang in there...hope things are really going to be more calm for you! Jamie Todor

Hi John. You sure had a busy week. Glad to read that you got some dancing in; from some of your posts and your photos, it's obvious this is one of your passions. Thanks for the song suggestion on my Guestbook - I've always been a Beatles fan, so I won't be surprised if one of their's cracks the top ten Heart Songs. Take care.
- Jim Smith

Hey you!! so glad to see you got to enjoy some dancing this weekend. I'm sure it was a welcome relief from your busy work schedule. Won't you miss that recliner? I know I should move mine back to the spare bedroom...but me and Teddy the pooch like to watch, "The Voice" in it still. LOL. Have a great week. We had rain, sleet and snow all weekend. I'm hoping to see a robin and some sunshine very soon. Cheers, Janis K.

Hi John, I always appreciate your posts. This one is a good reminder of the importance of rest. You do what you have to do, then find time to rest when you can. You are a good model for us all. Keep up the good work.

-Mitch Friedman

Thanks John for your post. Great to see your progress. Continue to do what you can and rest when needed. Keep up the good work.

-Mitch Friedman

I'm thinking that John is pretty much back now! Just be sure to save some time for yourself. -- DVB

Wow, your work schedule has been crazy busy since your return. It hard enough putting in the long hours when your 100%. then add just had open heart! Take Care of yourself and try and get some down time in whenever possible. Have fun dancing!! Janis Kielbasa

John. Glad you're doing so very weel. I'm not near you yet but gaining on you ! Your posts are always so encouraging l

Fla keys is great. Doing walks with dick - moving as we say in the right direction. Had our first party - & I did pretty well. No dancing but it was good to be with everyone Was hard to believe it was me they were asking " how I was". Thx. Be well. Nancy Friedman. St Louis mo

John,

Good to hear you have more capabilities back than most workers have that have not gone through OHS!!

Be good to yourself! Continue to heal.

Chuck Holmgreen.

Thank you. Your post helped. Janis K.

John, Try and work some rest in between those long work hours. You have a hard schedule so do take some time to just be lazy in the lazy boy once in awhile, my friend. I'm so glad you get to enjoy your passion of dance which also is probably one of the best exercise classes one could have. You are doing incredible. I will try and follow in your footsteps, of course I have 2 left feet so I'll be a lot slower and make you laugh...but try never the less. So in awe of you...with that said...do work in some rest!! Janis Kielbasa

Yes, my friend John. Taking it easy, especially when you feel good, is HARD! No other way to put. I find I feel great, want to do more, and hit the wall and must sit down, then I usually fall asleep. Or, the next day, my body slows me down by being tired. So, slow and steady wins this race. Need me to mail you a toy turtle!

Also, give yourself some credit. You might not being doing it all, but what you are doing is nothing short of incredible. So join me now. Here is to John, hip, hip hooray!

-Mitch Friedman

Hi John,
You are so good at giving us all support and advice. I am happy to hear that you are listening to yourself now. It does really feel good to just relax once in a while. You did put in a very long week. I know we all feel like we went through so much that we never want to hear about another health issue again. Recently I complained to my cardio. about an annoying heart rhythm. He said it was nothing to worry about, but of course that is tough advise to follow.
Relax you earned it.
Jane

John, It appears that things are moving in the right direction for you. Yes, keep on top of blood work, you need to keep that liver healthy. I'm glad you took a day to rest, you needed a pajama day. Enjoy the weekend and work in some fun. Janis Kielbasa

Make sure you listen to your body John! Enjoy reading your updates and dancing with You! Take good care of yourself.

Jan A

Mmm. Sounds like you need to plan another Valentine's day where you don't have to work so hard! I can relate to having the ability to work really hard then have to pay the price later. Maybe we are expecting too much too soon???
I strained the sternum last week. I thought it was fully healed - but apparently not!
Rosemary Sutherland

Hi John, sorry to hear of your frustrating day. About your cholesterol and meds...none of my business but...I am a medical laboratory technologist (recently retired). There are soooo many medications that can affect your cholesterol that you would never think of. I definitely would not stop the statin without first talking to your cardiologist "firsthand"...not the nurse. And I also would stop taking the supplement until you talk with him. Nothing against the nurse, but I have been in the medical field for over 30 years and sometimes I know for fact that they will tell patients whatever comes to mind and they may not always be right. Again, this is generally speaking. But I know that statins are an important part of heart disease treatment, I have been on Lipitor for about 4 years, not because of my cholesterol, it is in the normal range, but because they believe it also slows the progression of aortic stenosis. So...in my humble opinion, this would be worth scheduling an appointment with your doc, so you can sit down with him and hear it with your own ears, directly from him. And according to excerps from Dr. Gillinov's book "Heart 411", there really have been no studies to show that CQ10 has any heart benefits. Good luck and if I have overstepped just tell me to mind my own business! Just concerned.

Getting closer...Linda Dixon

Oh John, Sorry you had such a long and frustrating day. I feel like that when I'm on the phone with the coumadin clinic. Hope you get some answers tomorrow. Keep us updated. Janis Kielbasa

Happy Valentine's day to you too day. Yes, this day aka "heart day" has very special meaning to all of us that have been fixed. Our hearts have been touched, literally and figuratively, and we will forever be better for that. Have a great day. -Mitch Friedman

Happy Valentine's Day to you, John! I am glad that you can celebrated your health and recovery.

Trish :)

Happy Valentine's Day John! I am thankful your heart is smiling now!

Last post was from Mitch Friedman.

Great post John. Thank you. It is a great reminder to me that even further along in recovery, the same lessons apply. Slow and steady wins the race. I know it sucks when you have to actually follow your own advice for others. I would offer you great pearls of wisdom, but instead I offer you this. Go review what you have written to many of us. There is no better advice out there! Stay strong and keep doing it in small doses.