About Me (In My Own Words)
My name is Cassie and I am currently 37 years old. I am married with two daughters, ages 8 and 5. In August 1997, on my dad's 40th birthday, I found out I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After 6 months of AVBD chemo and 30 days of radiation, I was and have been in remission for the past sixteen years. I have always seemed to amaze my doctors and done better than expected. Didn't lose all my hair, just thinned out. Stayed positive despite having to drop out of my sophomore year of college. Even had two daughters after the doctors told me I would not be able to have kids because the chemo would affect my fertility.
Now about my heart...I had a tumor the size of a softball on the left side of my body near my heart and lungs. After the chemo, the doctors still thought there was a little of the tumor left so they "zapped" it with radiation for 30 days. That "zapping" is what has caused damage to my heart. I had problems getting the additional blood/water off my body after each daughter so they told me after my second child that my husband and I shouldn't have any more children. Every time I went on lasix after each daughter's birth and lost about 50 lbs of water weight. Each time my heart valves got a little worse and ended up with congestive heart failure after giving birth, first it was only the mitral valve...mild to moderate regurgitation and then moderate to severe after my second child that put me in the hospital for five days after her birth until my heart pumped all the water off with the help of lasix shots. (The strong stuff that makes you go urinate every 15 minutes...no lie!)
This summer I was having bad monthly cycles and my primary doctor put me on birth control pills. After two months I went back to her with very swollen legs. After a blood test revealed that I had mild congestive heart failure, my primary doctor sent me for an ultrasound of the heart. It confirmed that the mitral valve has severe regurgitation and needs to be replaced. It even has affected my aortic valve to the point it has moderate to severe regurgitation and my tricuspid valve has moderate regurgititation. I had a partial hystorectomy in December 2013 because of my anemia. Now on to heart surgery!
On February 4th, 2014, I had an angiogram done as a precaution because of the radiation to my heart. The cardiac surgeon wanted to make sure that I didn't have other damage. I am so glad that he ordered that test. The cardiologist found a 50% blocked/damaged artery that will need a bypass as well.
My cardiac surgeon is Dr. J. Kent Thorne and my cardiologist is Dr. Steve Rokeach. Both have been HIGHLY recommended to me and I did alot of research on both of them. In fact, my husband's cousin is a cardiologist and we went to him first to have him interpret my heart ultrasound. He referred us to Dr. Rokeach. It was so nice to have a family member tell us straight up what was going on and explain everything to my husband and I clearly. It was definately clear that I needed valve replacement surgery.
Long story short, my bypass and double valve replacement will be this Wednesday, February 19th, 2014. Luckily, I already bought and read Adam's book and feel empowered knowing everything that is going to happen. I loved how his book explained everything to me.
T-Minus 36 hours (give or take an hour) and I will have my surgery. Looking forward to having a better heart afterwards.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Draper, Utah