Michael's Photos

Adam Pick  Congrats! I couldn't agree more. For me, cardiac rehab was a "game changer" in my physical and mental healing. :)

Karen Miller  Hi Michael, I just came across your story I'm so glad you are doing well. I'm having my surgery 1-11-22 I have a bicuspid valve with severe stenosis they are not sure about the aneurysm until they get in there. I'm trying to stay positive by reading all of the success stories because my anxiety is getting the best of me. I know I will be ok I have a great surgeon who said I should do well.

Adam Pick  You just brought back a great memory of when I started cardiac rehab. For me, it was a definite turning point in my recovery. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! If anybody out there has questions about cardiac rehab, here are some links for you to check out.

Adam Pick  https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2010/12/03/cardiac-rehabilitation-program-interview-ram-dandillaya/

Adam Pick  https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2010/02/19/start-cardiac-rehabilitation-begin/

Deena Elani  Michael, I am starting week 3 of rehab. It's very gradual, so have patience with the first two weeks. I definitely get the value. This is my comparison....it's to driving a Prius. I never really measured my gas efficiency and how my driving made it worse or better. But the Prius forced me to. Every time I turned off my car, a message would light up and score my gas efficiency against my driving mode and it would tell me how I could drive better, such as decrease my acceleration. I no longer have the Prius, but when I got my next car, while there were no messages telling me how well I performed with gas efficiency, I still think about it all the time when I drive. Cardiac rehab does this, and more! Dig in!

Patsy Stewart  Good for you! You are going to rock rehab! You too, Deena!
If you do better listening to music, get a set of earbuds that are compatible with your phone or watch. Without them, my mind would take a trip and I couldn’t get some thoughts to go away which made it harder for me. I only used one in my right ear. That way you can hear when someone is talking to you.

Sue Cortner  Not a scar from OHS but unfortunately for you looks similar to scar I’ve got after my liver cyst removal and gall bladder surgery! And that was 40 years ago.

Civita Fahey  yes, that's what mine looked like, maybe even worse because I let it go as I didn't think there was something "wrong' with it.

Mike Tontillo  Hey Michael, I'm just a few days behind you. I can start driving again on Thursday in 2 days. Can't wait. Had a few quick questions as we have a lot of similarities. I too had an Inspiris Resilia put in just one day after you. Are you on any medication? I am still on amiodarone and blood pressure beta blockers probably for another 6 weeks. Also, it looked like you had a full sternotomy. Did you have an option of having a smaller minimally invasive mini sternotomy? Thanks and I am glad everything is going well.

Julie M  Congrats, Michael, I know that feeling! After my April 2019 OHS (mitral valve replacement, tricuspid repair), I jumped back into things on the first day I was cleared to do them!... Driving the car, mowing the lawn... And I celebrated my one-year-to-the-day post-surgery by getting up on the roof of my house to take down a limb that drove me crazy for months (and to sweep off leaves and debris). (I'd been told it takes a year for the sternum to be totally healed.) Being able to do that at 68 years old was glorious, and after OHS, even more glorious! All best for your continued recovery.

Lynn Loudermilk  Michael wow, very cool. I never had training but I was a cook for many years. I am going to try to start cooling dinners again next weeek.

Fred Earls  Ok, you upped the challenge on this one! That looks delicious. I'll do my best to fry an egg after surgery.

Deena Elani  Home made sauce, Michael, you're killin' me. The presentation in the pasta plate has the look of a pro. (Bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rose instead:)

Hector Romero  That looks delicious how are you doing Mike I had my surgery April 13 it's now the 25 the of April and starting to feel much better I got the resillia valve I feel great let me know how everything is Mike

Richard Munson  Wow, that looks good. Making me look longingly at my last can of dinty moore beef stew as my wife has banned salt.

Marshall Rader  Looking great 😉 My journey just beginning !! I'm sure your mind is somewhat at ease now ? Your pictures relaxes my anxiety !!

Adam Pick  Michael, You just made my day.... No my month... No my year with this picture. To see you smiling, after surgery, wearing an HVS hat has brought a boundary-less joy to my heart. Thanks so much for letting me and our community be a part of your journey to a healthy heart!!! Keep on tickin!

Deena Elani  Michael- so glad to see you doing well. It’s over!!!!! And you are inspiring others already as they near their own day for a stronger heart.

Patsy Stewart  I see the smile in your eyes! I wish you great success with all of the preparations for your surgery in the morning. Prayers coming your way. Go, Michael!!

Sue Cortner  Nice mask darling! You have really hood taste (in masks and teams). Praying hard that all turns out well. Mom

Thomas Brusstar  That’s a cool image! Very helpful to see exactly what they are talking about. What is that? Some kind of CT scan?

Michael Morrison  Yes had a CT last week, and this was one of the views that it generated. I got a video of him spinning it around in 3D as well. There were other "cool" views of navigating through the "slices" from head-down perspective, that I wish I had gotten video of, as it really showed just how big that sucker really is!