About Me (In My Own Words)
Hello Friends and Family,
This is your conduit to find out how I, and my family, are doing for the next few months. On Tuesday, March 6, I will be undergoing open heart surgery. My aortic valve is being replaced with a mechanical one, and one coronary artery will be bypassed. It has been a challenge for my surgeon, Dr. Marc Gerdisch , since my genetic condition of PXE (pseudo xanthoma elasticum) is both complicated and rare. We both believe we have made the best decisions for me.
Right now I have essentially no symptoms other than shortness of breath on exertion. Which by the way, is when I am mucking horse stalls or lugging 55# bales of hay! Which makes it funny that I am being told I’ll be doing about what I do now in about 4-6 weeks. Thankfully ,I am not THAT much of an optimist!
My two immediate goals are to be riding on Memorial Day with friends and to hug everyone I can at the Scecina High School Band Reunion in early June. I’ll let you know how it goes!
I’m not sure how regularly I will be able to post here, but I assure you I will have one of the kids post after surgery so you will know how things went. Additionally, I will try to post some of my recovery journey. I am already dreading my diet change that will regulate my favorite healthy (aka Vitamin K rich) foods, But, the alternative I was presented with (biological calves) gave me 1-3 years before the valve fails, which motivated me to accept the challenge!
Thank you for your prayers and support. I know myself, and I am one of those people who don’t enjoy visitors when I feel (and look!) like crap. All I will want to do is sleep! When I have recovered sufficiently (or when Dick has had enough of me) I will let you know. Then feel free to visit at will! Until then…
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Fountaintown
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My surgery date is:
March 6, 2018
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
Pulmonary Stenosis
Coronary Artery Disease
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
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My hospital is:
Franciscan Health South Indianaplis
