Dan's Photos

Dan Sinclair  Ok looks like I lost my post that I was trying to do before adding the pic above. A big shout out to Adam, Thank You again for this site, it is a blessing. Thank you to my surgeon Dr. Marc Gillinov, Thank you to my cardiologist Dr Peter Wassmer and the biggest Thank You to my lovely wife Mary, I Love You! Today is the 5th anniversary of my aortic valve replacement. I am celebrating by doing a half marathon this coming Sunday. I will be walking it but at a pace of 15:30 min/mile, Not too bad for a 62-year-old 5 years after Open Heart Surgery, For those of you in the waiting room, “Just Do It. “ It is not a piece of cake for a few weeks or a few months but it is not near as bad as you are imagining. Take Care My Fellow Heart Valve Brothers and Sisters.

Dan Sinclair  On Friday I Celebrated!
Last year on my first anniversary of Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery I did a 14 mile walk, what to do this year? I decided to do a 26 mile bike ride to Fort Desoto. And no it was not a motorized bike as some of my friends have suggested. Well I ended up riding 35 miles, yes, 35 miles, not a lot for some but it was something that I had Never Done. A very good friend of mine heard what I was doing and he decided to join me. Needless to say, I was thrilled to have a friend along for the three hour tour, a three hour tour. We made our way out to Fort Desoto in no time and had logged close to my 26 mile goal, but we had to go back, at least part way before calling our better halves for a ride, perhaps we would go out to St Pete Beach for lunch. We started back and realized that we were now against the wind. This was a little tougher than the way out, hmmm. Ok, we head back to the mainland and go to a marina where my friend kept his boat. We called our wives and they were quick to join us at the boat, we loaded the bikes up in the van and off on the boat for lunch and a beautiful afternoon on Egmont Key. When we returned we headed to Harry's Beach Bar on St Pete Beach for sunset dinner and drinks, Nice.

Sound Good? There is life after Open Heart Surgery!
You can get through this, and it is not as bad as you are imagining. My surgery went well. I came home from Cleveland ready to rest and recuperate. I remember thinking I was making good progress and along the way had a few setbacks. At the time it seemed like it was taking longer than I wanted to recuperate but looking back it all went well.

The Best of Wishes to all of the Heart Valve Surgery Family!

Shout Out to Adam Pick (this site proved to be invaluable), to my surgeon, Dr. Marc Gillinov, The Cleveland Clinic and my cardiologist, Dr. Peter Wassmer and last but not least my lovely wife, Mary.

Lynn Ennis  That looks great! I did not do anything half that adventurous for my 2 year anniversary. I did walk up the mountain yesterday…does that count? So happy to hear all is super well for you Dan. It was a hard experience but it went like clock work and yes, the recovery really was a year but now its like it never happened. I find that incredible …an experience like open heart surgery has become completely forgettable. Wow! It was so much better for me having you and Jim in my class! Long may we live!

Aubrey Jones Jr  Grata dude. Your doing very well and I am happy to say I am doing the same. I really do not think of the surgery very often but can tell there are wires in the sternum. Not painful but tender occasionally. Everything works great and it feels like it made me ten years younger. Hope you have the same or better feeling for years. Your friend Aubrey

Dan Sinclair  Aubrey, Good to hear from you, and I had no doubt that you would be doing super. Coming up on one year soon, and Thank you again for all of your help! Take care brother!

Elaine Foster  That is just wrong!! LOL! My daughter lives in FL and loves to send me pictures like that when those of us in the MIdwest are shoveling snow. Happy for you!! I love the beach and visit my daughter every winter!

Linda Hillman  Love the pillow, my daughter got one just like it. Shes collecting them lol. I still use mine occasionally. Nice to cuddle up to.