El's Photos

Hi everyone. Today is my one year SAVR anniversary. Life is normal and I’m grateful for each day. I thought I would share surgery scar and scar today. I barely notice it anymore 😃 but more importantly, I know longer worry so much about what happens next. I’m so thankful I found this community before surgery. It helped me understand the surgery to come, it helped me find my surgeon and educated me as I pondered my decision for a year and a half. The wonderful stories of those before me gave me strength to set a surgery date. I hope everyone is doing well and if heading into surgery, I wish you the very best. Here is scar leaving hospital……..Beth

Hi everyone…. some folks have asked about if scar will go away or fade significantly after open heart surgery. I wanted to share my pictures. First is day 3 leaving the hospital. Today is 18 weeks and I expect in time it will almost disappear completely. I hope everyone is doing well. Beth

AVR surgery went well July 9th, out of ICU status very quickly and walking easily on the 10th. After quick hospital shower, home today. I have to tank Dr. Burke, the whole UofWA team staff, incredible!!!! I had no idea how being in a hospital would be. Nothing went unaddressed. My husband stayed over all 4 nights too. I can’t even believe what ICU nurses do and did for me. I really didn’t have to ask for anything. I feel fine but know a lot ahead. The drugs are a bit overwhelming for now as I was lucky to only take a statin, now a lot but many short term.

i want to say that reading Adam’s book a few years back and reading posts helped me so much. The anticipation was stressful and getting ready in prep area for surgery was the hardest part for me. Each person was terrific but it seems such a long time that I was struck with tears and fears. After we rolled I don’t remember much until I was waking and walking. Of course my husband said I was clearly hurting when I got to ICU but was so well taken care, I was fine. I didn’t like chest tubes coming out so nurse said just him and again no problem. So here I am. I can’t wait to see how I progress. If you are in Seattle or WA anywhere, call Dr. Burke. Cheers, Beth