Ed's Posts

Ten years ago today, I opened my eyes with a bovine artificial aortic valve in my heart. After a 3 hour and thirty minute pause for open heart surgery, my heart beat again and again beating to this day. Despite the weeks of pre-surgery over-the-top anxiety and in-spite of the post-surgery chest pain whenever I coughed or laughed, I still can't help but smile. A big smile! I've been around another ten years to see my spiritual heart soften with gratitude. Thank you Dr. Patrick McCarthy of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago. And thanks to HeartValveSurger.com for your community empathy and guidance.

I'm holding my brown bovine leather wallet. Its corners and edges are folding inward. Inside is what I'm looking for—a stiff plastic wallet card. It reads, Edwards Lifesciences Implanted Device ID Card. I feel thankful for that company; its research team. Implanting Physician: PATRICK MCCARTHY. I remember his face as I awoke after surgery. "You had a bicuspid aortic valve. It's genetic. Be sure to let your children know." He smiled. I drifted off. My replacement valve has a serial number, a model number, a size and device name: PERICARDIAL TISSUE HEART VALVE, Position: AORTIC." Not what I'm looking for. When did I have heart surgery? It was a date etched into my memory, I thought. It was like my birthdate. How could I forget it? The card reads, Implant Date: 05-FEB-2016. That is nine years ago today! My face has a willing smile. I feel the warmth on my face. My heart is grateful for the nine full years since a bovine replacement valve was implanted in my heart. Ironic that both my wallet and my implant device are sourced in cattle.

4,555,200 heart beats. I don't know how many days on earth God plans for me. Since my surgery my artificial aortic valve beats on average, 65 times per minute. That is 1,560 per day. 569,400 in a year. Four million, five-hundred-fifty-five thousand, two hundred heart beats during the last eight years. That's a big deal. I smile. My heart is thankful to God. The pain eight years ago is now a thin scar on my chest. The fear, anxiety and depression are remembered but not over powering. I remember God's grace during that time. That memory gives me resilience when I face today's trials and troubles. In my faith tradition there's a Bible verse that I have found helpful and weight bearing during that time of surgery eight years ago today: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). For if God is strengthening me, He must have a purpose for keeping my heart pumping. In short, simply taking the time to write and post this single paragraph may be by His design for you to read. May you have peace and joy the days to come.