Natalie's Photos

Natalie Galpern  Update, 2.5 years post surgery.
Hi All! I haven’t posted on here in 1.5 years, as I’m very active on the Facebook page and find it easier to use and chat with the heart valve community. I just celebrated my 48th birthday and am doing great! Besides some high blood pressure, all of my cardiology appts have been perfect 🙏🏻 with zero valve leakage. I have been very careful during the pandemic (ugh, I hate that word 🤯), and now that I’m fully vaccinated and the CDC has eased up, I have started eating out and seeing more friends. I’m so grateful for science, technology and health care workers! I’m still exercising with long walks a few times a week. I have gained some pandemic weight so am trying to take it off now 🤪. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and update and check in with you all. Hope you’re all doing great! ❤️ PS. I’m trying to upload a pic, but it’s not working 🤷‍♀️

Kirk Bepler  I still post now and again as well, congratulations on hitting you 2.5 years post and good to hear your appointments are coming out with a perfect score! :-)

Susan Lynn  Happy Anniversary!!! Six months is a big milestone and it looks like you're doing great! Continued success!

Louanna Miller  I was tired and had low energy for the first 2 months post OHS. At 2 1/2 months and with Cardiac Rehab, I really started feeling better.

Natalie Galpern  Hi everyone! Just wanted to give an update. My AVR and aneurism repair was 3 weeks and 2 days ago. Overall, I’m doing really well and up to two 20min walks/day (luckily, I live in sunny, warm South Florida)! I am still pretty achy and tired, but each day is a little better than the last. I do get a bit anxious here and there when I feel a weird ache or pain 😬, but it’s to be expected. My blood pressure is a little high (140/95), so the dr started me on a new med to bring it back down. Best of all, my son is home from college for the week, so we are all 4 under one roof (husband and daughter) for now! We are about to go see Bohemian Rhapsody, and it’ll be my first big outing since surgery! I’m wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you enjoy your family and friends! We all have so much to be thankful for!! ❤️❤️❤️ PS. I have to wear this harness 24/7 for 6 full weeks! I am allergic to certain metals, so the surgeon used sutures instead of sternal wires, so I need the extra support. It’s super annoying, but I have less than 3 weeks to go (not that I’m counting 🤣🤣)

Meredith Geneja  WOW!!! Just awesome progress & patience. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Agreed, we have a lot to be grateful for. Thanks for the great update.

  Congratulations Natalie!
Your recovery is going well. Continued best wishes for a complete and total recovery.

David Moore  Magnificent! You have been in inspiration to us as we have watched your journey. Thanks for the research on the Inspiris Valve - our doctor used that one in David as well because we requested he look at it and see if it was a good fit for him - and it was. He said he would put that one in himself. David is 1.5 weeks out from surgery and really struggling with high BP. Cardiologist worked us in today and took him off Metoprolol and put him on Carvedilol. Hope that is OK with the surgeon. I sent them a MyChart message notifying them of that change - just in case. Have a fabulous Thanksgiving as you do what we are doing - giving thanks for a saved life. - Cheryl

James A. Corbett  Hi Natalie, Thank you for sharing your story. I'm still about a month away from my MV repair, Dec. 18th. But it's really nice to read about someone else's surgery and recovery. Keep up the good work. Happy Thanksgiving. Jim :)

Lisa Guinan  Yay! I've been waiting to see a post from you. I just joined the group right as you were signing off before surgery. I get my mitral valve repaired/replaced on Tue. Congrats to you!

Joey Hardee  You just had surgery? Come on! :-)
Looking great! Hope and pray your recovery is quick and you are 100% before you know it. Awesome news!!

Rob Sparling  Looking great! Say hi to Shirley, Mindi and the rest of the nursing staff! They will take great care of you! Congrats! You did it! ❤️💪

Nancy Luth  Do I spy a Gund stuffed bear behind your head? My 32 year old daughter still has hers and its nose looks just the same. Hope he helps speed up your healing!

Dan Vechiola  Yess! Great to see you smiling. We have the same valves and I know I have been saying great things about it to you so I have been waiting to hear your progress. Thanks for sharing with us and keep working hard each day. I am 2 months post op and I told my daughter today that I am at 95%! Take it one day at a time because time now is going to fly by! Congrats on the great work!

Mark Jaycox  Looking great. Just curious what made you go with the new Edwards valve? I'm 57 and am thinking about getting the same valve.

Dee Perez  Natalie, met you on the plane returning to Fl from Cleveland. My mitral valve repair, tricuspid repair and maze were done by Dr. Gillinov. We shared experiences and yes, the best advice to your followers is the lounge chair. I’m walking outside today, feeling much better (being home) and sleeping in the recliner. Best wishes from a 77 yr old who enjoyed meeting you and your husband. Dee Perez

Natalie Galpern  On our way to the Cleveland Clinic. This week is pre-op tests, meet with surgeon Friday, and surgery is in one week, 10/29/18. Big decision to make...mechanical vs Inspiris Resilia, as I am only 45 ❤️

Dan Baltazor  Good luck on your week and tests. It will be nice to have those pre-op tests behind you. You'll move forward and pick a valve type. It's a tough decision for sure. I'm 44 and in the same situation as you.

Meredith Bray  Everyone has their stories about their valve choice. Whichever type you choose will be the perfect one for you. Here's to writing your own story! :)

Meredith
Holiday, FL

Rob Sparling  Totally agree with Meredith! Well said! Good luck and I hope you get all the questions answered! You are in the best hands. Keep us posted.

Susan Lynn  All the best! Keep those great smiles and it'll all be in the rear view mirror before you know it. We'll be here cheering you on!!

John Lant  The choice of either a mechanical valve or the newest generation Resila valve should be desided by you and your doctor. I have had the Resila Aortic Valve replacement on June 25th and i am extreamly happy with it. The mechanical valve will require you to be on Coumadin for life and the mechanical valve is noisy with it's clicking sound. The Resila valve is extreamly quiet and the life span of the Resila valve is hopefully 15 to 20 years or longer. The way heart surgery is progressing by the time my Resila valve wears out TAVAR will most likly be the norm in aortic valve replacement which is a much less invasive procedure. The Resila valve is designed for the valve in valve replacement which will keep you from having major surgery again via a sternotomy. That is why I went with the Resila Aortic Replacement then having the noisy mechanical valve and being on Coumadin with its dangers for life.

Valerie Altman  Aortic valve replacement surgery on Oct 16 for me .....same age as you! I'm nervous but also know it had to be done!

Tracy Fallu  Best wishes for you. Please find peace as the days approach for your surgery. Place full trust in your medical team.

Bradley Dunn  We basically are the same age, issue, Surgery Location and problem. I am just two months ahead of you. If you have questions, let me know.