stephanie's Guestbook

Hi Stephanie. Hope your issues with meds have been resolved. Drives me crazy too. Some of these new drugs need a little experimenting before we find the one we can tolerate. Please try to be easy on yourself about feeling anxious. There is a large article online today about 1/4 of the population having anxiety issues, so it's very common. I struggle with it and find the YouTube talks called The Honest Guys are very helpful. Talks, rain sounds and calming talk meditations. Hope they help you relax when you need a little down time. Sending hugs to my senior buddy in the shade of the Sierras. I will be 78 this month and I promised you that I would keep checking on you well into our eighties. I think we have earned a few more years. Take care.

Thank you for your lovely message Stephanie! It brought smile to my face. We are recovered from Covid I think :) It wasn't a walk in a park, in one moment I thought: God, this is how I am going to feel after heart surgery? Is this to prepare me in a way? Just to see how totally helpless and weak I will be... Perhaps. Now preparing for 26th!

How are you? Are you sleeping better? Is your anxiety lower? I hope you are healthy and strong!  

Hi Stephanie. Your heart warrior friends are wondering how you are doing. We haven't heard from you in a while. We have missed your inspiring updates. Please let us know what has been happening in your exciting world!

Hi Stephanie, It's hard to believe that it's been a year since your surgery. My gosh girl, you have had a lot to shoulder in a year. You are an example to all of us of the strength of the human spirit. Congratulations on pulling yourself up each time you were knocked down and not giving up. We are here in the 75 Year Old Plus Club still chugging along. Let's show the younger crowd how its done. I have cooked every meal three times a day for more than a year during pandemic (hubby has asthma), clean, do laundry and hike footballs to our 5 yr old grandson. Can't walk for more than 1 hour but can still sweep and mop all our hardwood floors in an afternoon. Yes, mornings are hard and joints are stiff but I am grateful beyond words to have this second chance after 12 years of decline. And I am so happy for you celebrating this milestone. Love hearing about your long bike rides and caring for your animals. Keep it up and with the grace of God we can check on each other into our eighties!

Hi Stephanie, Happy Birthday. Your news this time sounded so positive and full of life. Think of you often and praying for more good days. I have written encouraging notes several times, but they were never posted. Just wanted to let you know you are still thought of and wished the best.

Hi Stephanie! Hope you are doing well. I had aortic valve replacement and mitral repair and tricuspid repair. It took time but now I feel great! I hope you regaining your strength. Lots of rest!

Hi Stephanie, I am 74 and had AVR OHS 18 months ago. I understand everything you have been writing about and experienced most of it. It helped when I realized that my mind was working as though I was the old me, but my body did NOT appreciate what had been done to it. That being said, my body knew what was needed to heal and I had to relax my expectations. I just needed to get out of my own way and accept the miracle of a chance of a longer life even if it might be a little different. My mother had the same procedure at 71 and lived another active 16 years so I knew it could be done. You have some of that Nevada grit, energy and independence that I saw when visiting my Grandparents in Gardnerville. I remember the hot, dry, still summer days and the dusting of snow and cold in the winter. It's beautiful in that valley and if you have to recover AND ride out a pandemic, it can be a pretty place to sit and watch the Sierras. Is that crazy cowboy casino, Sharkeys still open? Not doctor recommended, but they had huge ribs. Yum! One of the best things I read on this site was: "I have made it through 100% of my worst days". You can and will do it. Be as easy on yourself as if you had found a wounded bird. A little compassion, care and time and you will be fine. So happy you have come this far.

Hi Stephanie, for whatever reason I can't comment on your post (web glitch, not you), so... Keep writing! I've recently started writing actual handwritten letters to old friends, and it is SOOOOO therapeutic! It's relaxing - thinking about what I'm going to write, sitting quietly while writing, using my best penmanship to address the letter, and the excitement of waiting for a response :) I've rekindled some lost friendships this way too, which is an extra bonus. So don't stop writing!