Guestbook of Penny Prichard

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Penny Prichardgot a new guestbook post

3320 days ago

Penny Prichard reacted to this

Linda posted a note for Penny that says:

Penny, Thanks for the encouraging words. I too have spent this past week trying to put things in order. I got one big thing done a day. Scary how organized ...Read more

Penny, Thanks for the encouraging words. I too have spent this past week trying to put things in order. I got one big thing done a day. Scary how organized one can be when necessary. Now with the surgery just 3 days away, nervous, excited, scared and really can't wait for it to be over. Are you planning anything special for Wednesday? Me I plan to get my toes done...in pink. And eat my favorite dinner with my 2 daughters and 2 of my 10 grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Take care.

Penny Prichard No nothing exciting planned. 3 hour drive for preop testing with surgery Thursday. I'll just be glad ... Read more

Penny Prichard No nothing exciting planned. 3 hour drive for preop testing with surgery Thursday. I'll just be glad when this is over and I'm back home. I'll be thinking about you Thursday

Penny Prichardgot a new guestbook post

3322 days ago

Penny Prichard reacted to this

Jenni Miller posted a note for Penny that says:

Sounds like you're as ready as you can be! Since you've said your pain tolerance is high, you'll do very well. My tolerance is very low due to another medical ...Read more

Sounds like you're as ready as you can be! Since you've said your pain tolerance is high, you'll do very well. My tolerance is very low due to another medical issue so pain control was quite difficult. Dr. Harmon worked so hard to make me comfortable! I loved everything about Sequoia, even the low sodium food was delicious. Take care & post when you feel up to it!

Penny Prichard I will,Sequoia has been known for its good food, I'm already hungry. Thank for your thoughts.

Penny Prichardgot a new guestbook post

3332 days ago

1 person reacted to this

Jenni Miller posted a note for Penny that says:

Great attitude, Penny! Isn't it great how quickly Dr. Castro moves?? I also chose the mini sternotomy---my incision is only 3.5" & looks great at a little over ...Read more

Great attitude, Penny! Isn't it great how quickly Dr. Castro moves?? I also chose the mini sternotomy---my incision is only 3.5" & looks great at a little over two months post op. Take care!

Penny Prichard That's. He would have done it next week but he was booked. I should have tripped the lady before me f ... Read more

Penny Prichard That's. He would have done it next week but he was booked. I should have tripped the lady before me foci had known. He was wonderful. Thinks my blood pressure
Will go down and probably not be on any meds. Felt what I was saying was asthma is my heart.

Penny Prichardgot a new guestbook post

3343 days ago

Jenni Miller posted a note for Penny that says:

So happy you're going to see Dr. Castro, Penny! He's beyond wonderful, as is his entre team. I know you worked at Sequoia years ago, so you'll be surprised ...Read more

So happy you're going to see Dr. Castro, Penny! He's beyond wonderful, as is his entre team. I know you worked at Sequoia years ago, so you'll be surprised by the absolutely gorgeous remodel/addition they've done. The CSU is completely new & the rooms are HUGE. I hope you'll be able to schedule your surgery soon so you'll be able to lift the new baby as soon as possible! When's your consultation?

Penny Prichard I'm going on Monday March 2. I could have gone earlier but need my Cath cd. I saw where everything re ... Read more

Penny Prichard I'm going on Monday March 2. I could have gone earlier but need my Cath cd. I saw where everything remodeled. My first years at Sequoia the cardiac unit was 3 beds with about 1 foot between them. They slowly expanded to the great place now. I'm excited to see new unit.

Penny Prichardgot a new guestbook post

3349 days ago

1 person reacted to this

Jennifer Miller posted a note for Penny that says:

Hi Penny, I had MV repair by Dr. Castro 12/26/14 and cannot say enough great things about him, Sequoia or Dr. Harmon. I know you live quite a distance away ...Read more

Hi Penny, I had MV repair by Dr. Castro 12/26/14 and cannot say enough great things about him, Sequoia or Dr. Harmon. I know you live quite a distance away (I lived in Yuba City & Chico for many years), so I'm familiar with Oroville. I now live up on the north coast in Fortuna, which is a 5.5 hr drive to Sequoia. Totally worth it! There's only one cardiac surgeon in Humboldt Co. & he does things the old way with a 10" incision & more valve replacements than I was comfortable with. Dr. Castro looked at my echo & said he was confident he'd be able to repair my mitral valve, NOT replace it, with a mini sternotomy. That's exactly what he did! I have only a 3.5" scar & came home on my 6th day, New Year's Eve. From reading your story I know your family situation is quite difficult with a lot of responsibility resting on your shoulders. If I was closer, I'd try to help somehow! I hope you'll have adequate support when you get home because recuperation definitely has it's rough spots. Seven wks out & I still have occasional pain, usually from doing too much, but not always. By the way, I'm 50 years old & only found out about my severe mitral regurg. in August. I met Dr. Castro in mid November & was instantly put at ease about him being the one to touch my heart. Not one second thought about my choice. He worked a miracle to assemble his team during Christmas week so I could have everything done in 2014 for insurance purposes. I'll forever be indebted to him & Dr. Harmon, who assisted during my surgery & was the on call doc during the first couple of days. He kept me in ICU an extra night because I had some difficulty & could not have been kinder or more compassionate to me. Well, I've rambled on long enough here Penny. I hope you can get your surgery done soon so you can have it behind you, like I do now. Take care & have a wonderful Sunday, Jenni Miller

Penny Prichard Thank you so much for sharing with me. Dr Castro has always been my one and only choice. I have no fe ... Read more

Penny Prichard Thank you so much for sharing with me. Dr Castro has always been my one and only choice. I have no fear of surgery at Sequoia since I worked there for many years and know their reputation. My biggest fear is the welfare of my grandsons. It has taken me 4 1/2 years to get them in a stable mental state since their mother passed away suddenly. They have developmental plus mental problems. Their sister has graciously said she will watch them but she is 32 weeks pregnant. The oldest sister works and lives in Nevada with a 5 year old. It's been so hard on all the kids these last few years. I'm having a cardiac cath on Tuesday so it will be a trial run to see if the boys behave for their sister. It would be so much easier to wait until June but my cardiologist says he doesn't think so. I found out in October it was severe so I guess the time has come sooner than later. I don't have much support but have been an independent in control person all my life. When you are a single mom that went to nursing school, raised 2 children and worked two jobs to achieve success then nothing is impossible. I always go by the adage "don't sweat the small stuff it's only small stuff". I'm sure everything will work out as it always has. I'll know more Tuesday. Just to let you know Oroville, Ca is a very unique place.