Everett's Journal

As I reflect on what has happened since my heart attack on January 28th, 2019, I am overwhelmed by the amount of support that I have received. I am blessed to have a wife, Jeanne, of 62+ years who has become my primary caregiver. She has gone way over and above that marriage vow, "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health". I know that I am probably speaking for others as well, but our primary caregivers need to be encouraged as they are also taking this trip with us every step of the way. In addition to Jeanne, I know that I have so many other friends, neighbors and family members that have my back in thought and prayer. I thank you all!!!

Well after ignoring several signs over, several weeks that I might be having heart problems, I finally ended up on January 28, 2019 in the Emergency Room with a heart attack. I was blessed to be taken to the closest hospital, and discovered that there was a cardiac surgeon on duty and they had a fully equipped cath-lab where it was determined that the major cause was a 90&% blockage in left circumflex artery and some additional blockage in the Left anterior descending artery. They stented the left circumflex but left the left anterior for future work. After being released from the hospital and at several subsequent cardiologist visits I was told that I needed my aortic valve replaced, my mitral valve repaired and one or two surgical bypasses and that this would require open heart surgery. Up to this point I had been preparing/hoping for the TAVR procedure and catheter stenting to take care of these issues. I am now preparing for my surgery on May 17th, 2019. I have just completed Adam's book, The Paitient's Guide to Heart Valve Surgery, and found it very enlightening, and encouraging. I know, because of my faith in my God, and confidence in my surgical team, that I will be much better after this surgery than I am now, Although I realize, even more now after reading Adam's book, that there will be some hurdles, I will make it over them all.