Natasha, it's good to hear your re-cap of the past few days....what a scary time it is, both for the family and the patient. I tried not to think about it as they were wheeling me away and I waved to my family! Glad to hear Tom has made it and out of the ICU, you're right, it is a scary place. Will be anxious to hear Tom's side of the story, and will continue to pray for healing and recovery, each day will get better and hope you are home soon!
Holly P

Hi Tom, Just found out about your surgery from Brian when he got back from his honeymoon on Thursday. So happy to hear that it went well and you're on your way back to full recovery. I've read Natasha's and your accounts and can feel the anxiety and fear you all must have gone through. I'm glad you have a wonderful family including a great wife and daughter to support and love you during this difficult time. All our best wishes and hope to see you again in top form soon.
You're in our thoughts and prayers.
Dan and Chris Bates

Hi Tom, so relieved to hear all went well and that you are on the road to recovery. My surgery is May 29th at CCF with Dr. Roselli and I too will have a mitral valve repair. Take care and God bless you in your recovery. Denise K

Lookin' good Tom...you give new meaning to the song, "Deep in the heart of Texas"!

Tom Smeal

I am so glad you're doing okay---I bet you and your family are relieved to be on the other side, with the surgery behind you. Barb

Hi Tom. Glad everything is going good for you. Good luck in your recovery.
For the long haul
Linda H

Good morning Tom-

It sounds as if things are progressing well.

I take it the fluid retention went down? Do you remember them taking your breathing tube out?

Do you remember your family there when you awoke in ICU or was it all just a blur and today is the first day you are alert?

Just curious as my surgery is sched for next Friday so this time next week I hope to be progressing just as you are and counting the days to get home.

I bet it was great to see your wife and daughter after the surgery.

Keep up the good work.

Karen

Thomas, Glad to hear from you, really good to hear everything went so well, wish you a speedy recovery, look forward tohearing from hearing from, keep us up tospeed with your recovery progress. Don L

So glad to read you are doing well! I was a little worried after reading about the excessive fluid drainage and the breathing tube being in for so long. Sounds like you are on the right track now. I hope you got to see your little girl.....she is a cutie!
All good wishes for a full and speedy recovery!
Deb Z

Way to go, Tom! Great to hear from you. Heal quickly!!!!

Nancy B

P.S. Again...guess you noticed the torch was passed to you...you are now the "Patient in the Spotlight"!!!!!!
Linda Dixon

Great news Thomas, I was beginning to worry a little, although I knew you were in great hands! Welcome to the other side of the mountain! If you are on J6, tell everyone I said hello!
P.S. If you have Carl Bally as your CNP, tell him my daughter thought he was really hot!!
God bless!

Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Ttboy. I'm glad to hear everything went well. It was good to see you and Natasha at fish's wedding and I hope to see you guys in the near future with your new superhuman powers. Take care. Lay off the Russian talk for at least 3 weeks. Steder

Tom, just checking in to see how you are doing. Hope you are progressing well and back on HVJ soon!

Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Tom,
You were on my mind today, Peace be with you, hope to talk soon, Art

Gunner,

Our prayers are with you and your family. I am happy to hear you are out of surgury and are recovering. Hope to talk to you soon.
The Aherns

Tommy Boy,

Just think of this as the back nine on the golf course, you always start off shaky and then make a huge come back and silently woop on me, Donger and Hamilton and then snicker as we empty our wallets. I know everything will work out fine for you. Can't wait to hear those cheesy jokes of yours after you get out.

All my best, Neuman

Gunner,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I can't wait to get you back out on the golf course for a round - and I promise not to take any 3 foot gimmes! Talk to you soon buddy.

Johnny

Thomas & Family,
My prayers are with you, please keep us updated.

Don L

Thomas, Natasha and family-

You will be close in my thoughts and prayers today. I'll look forward to seeing updates of Tom's progress.

Great pics by the way!

Karen

Natasha and Thomas, my prayers are with you today, waiting is so hard for the family, and I'm glad you have someone with you. Looking forward to the updates, and praying everything goes as planned!
Holly P

Hey Tommy,

I'm with you and the family all the way today.

love,
Christina

I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Soon you'll be on your way to recovery.
Deb A

My thoughts and prayers are with you Thomas. God bless you and your family.

Denise K

Go get 'em Thomas! Soon you will be on the other side of this mountain! Thinking of and praying for you today. You will do great...the wait is almost over!

Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

My thoughts will be with Tom, Natasha and family today. Will be anxiously awaiting the 'he's out and doing great' message.

Nancy B

Hey Thomas,
I hope you are able to sleep tonight. I am praying that God will give you His peace and strength for your surgery tomorrow and your recovery in the days ahead. You will do great!
Godspeed and good luck!
Deb Z

You're on a roll! Trust all goes well. Peace -- DVB

Wow! You have a lot going on in just a few days! Are they going to use the same site as your heart cath for the by-pass? Did you decide to go with the robotic surgery? Best of luck and prayers being sent your way the rest of the week, try to sleep when you can, it's rare in the hospital!! I was able to be extubated before going to the ICU, and don't remember any of it, hope the same for you!
Holly

Hi Thomas,

Glad to hear all your testing went well. I forgot to tell you, when you go to your TCI appointment (To Come In), you can request a time for your surgery. So, if you want to be the first one of the day, be sure to tell them that....they will try to honor it. Otherwise, they will just assign you a time. It might also be a good idea to ask for a "room with a view" in the step down unit. I have no idea if it will do any good, but the rooms on one side of the hallway have an awesome view of downtown and are very bright, and the rooms on the other side of the hallway look at a wall about 10 feet away. I had the wall, and while it wasn't a big deal, I really wish I had a room with a view after being in there for 9 days. Like I said, I have no idea if it will do any good, but it might be worth asking. Isn't it a cool hospital???
Keep us posted on how you are doing and have a great night.

Deb Z.

Hello Texans! And welcome to Cleveland !! I live in a western suburb heer and will be having my pre-op testing this Thursday and then meet with Dr. Pettersson on Friday. My AVR job is June 6th.

Looks like you're all set for your surgery so hang in there, breath deep and relax...somehow.

Tom

Hi Tom,
Wow, that's a lot of testing for one day. Take it easy after the cath, you don't want to spring a leak in your groin (it could get messy :))
I wonder why they did the cardiac cath and the CT angiogram? I thought you got all the info from the cath that you get from a CTA plus more? My ins. Wouldn't pay for the CTA. At first I thought it must be more expensive than a cardiac cath, but it's not. There's got to be another reason I don't know about.
best of luck. I'll be looking for info and support from you...I'll be up to bat in 20 days.

Nancy B

You are in my thoughts and prayers... Barb

Thomas, I had the robotic mitral valve repair on April 25th at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. It will be 3 weeks on Wednesday, and I am doing great! My insurance paid for my CT scan, which for some reason they say is necessary to make that final decision for robotic repair. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I will be following you and praying for you as your day arrives, There is quite a bit of pain after the surgery, but the recovery is much quicker! Try to sleep when you can, and stay strong!
Holly P

Hi Thomas,

I did not have Cigna........I had Anthem Blue Cross. I have to say they were great about paying for EVERYTHING except the CT scan (all $119,000.00 of it). I didn't have to pay a cent for my whole surgery because my deductible had been met. I'm sure Dr. Gillinov will get you clearance since you are having it done robotically.

I have no doubt you will be able to see your daughter before she has to leave. It will be a real incentive for you to get out of ICU! I think it will be a happy distraction to have her there.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers this week. Testing day is a long one, but your meeting with Dr. Gillinov will be very calming.
He is really great.

Stay strong....

Deb Z

Thomas,

Nothing better than the home stretch! You are going to do great!

If you get a chance, please let Dr. Gillinov know that I say, "Hi!".

:)

Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick

Hi Thomas,
Best of luck to you; I will add you to my prayers. I know how it feels to have a little one .. it will be great to have them welcome us home after it's over with! :) Best wishes to your family.. as my 89 year old friend (and someone who had a valve replacement 9 years ago) tells me.. "Be tough!" and it will be over before you know it! I'm trying hard to follow his great advice. Kate Rooney

Hi Tom,
I think it's wise to not let your daughter see you when you're wired and tubed. I'm not really sure it's necessary to bring her to the hospital at all, but I supposes it teaches empathy and shows her how much mommy and daddy love each other. I remember when I was a kid, my mother was in the hospital. I missed her incredibly and was not allowed to visit her. I was so relieved when she was home..of course that was for totally selfish reasons as I was just a kid.
Best of luck with your surgery..may you fly through!

Nancy B

Hi Tom,
Looks like you are ready to go! I had the same trouble with insurance not wanting to pay for my CT scan, and in the end I ended up not having it, but only because Dr. Gillinov said I didn't really need it because he knew I wasn't a candidate for robotic surgery ( I had two valves to repair). CCF told me the only way insurance would approve the scan is if Dr. Gillinov would personally call the insurance company and explain why it is needed. Apparently he doesn't do that unless it is necessary.
The Intercontinental Suites is a great place to stay......especially if there are several people in your group. It is very close to the hospital and very nice and accommodating (not that I was there much, but my husband and daughter said they were super nice). You got a GREAT price! We had to pay $137 a night, and we were there a long time.

I think you will be fine to see your daughter as soon as you get out of ICU. All your tubes will be gone and you will feel pretty good.

Godspeed and good luck.....

Deb Ziegler

Ah, another May repair. I'm down for May 11 at Mt. Sinai, with Dr. Adams. We plan a mini-sternotomy so it will be interesting to compare notes on our individual recoveries (though it looks from your picture like I've got about 30 years on ya!) Just in case you haven't seen it yet, Dr. A has another informative website: mitralvalverepair.org. Lots of videos there, too.
Best,
Selma Kaplan

Thomas, welcome to the HVJ! Glad you came out of hiding! Just wanted to let you know I had aortic valve replacement on 3/13/12 at CCF done by Dr. Gillinov, in my opinion the world's greatest heart surgeon. He is amazing! I'm not at all surprised at how quickly he responded to your email. He makes himself available to his patients! I could not have been more pleased with everything at CCF, especially my surgery. It could not have gone any better! I go to my local cardiologist (I live in SC) today, hopefully will be released to drive! I did have a mini sternotomy, my incision is only about 4 inches and looks great! Keep us updated on your wait and remember...this really is the hardest part...the wait!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/2012

Hi Thomas,
Sorry to hear you won't get your video tape, but better to be safe.
Dr. Gillinov ALWAYS returns phone calls and emails immediately. He told me that unless he is in surgery or driving a car, he will respond right away, and he has been true to his word with me. It is a really nice feature when you live far away. In fact, all the doctors at CCF will give you their business cards and tell you to call if you have any questions. Dr. Gillinov is the best at getting back to you though.
As for getting back to work in a month, You will probably feel good enough to go at least part time barring any complications. I had a mini sternotomy, but I was amazed at how much energy I had just a few weeks out. You will still be sore though. One thing about recovery......it isn't really a gradual thing. There will be bumps in the road, but you just deal with them as they come up.
Peace to you as you wait.......
Deb Ziegler

Love you, brudder :) maybe this isn't the forum for that but I'm super proud of you for being so open about this and I think you and the other people sharing on this site are so admirable for sharing your stories. See you in 4 weeks!!

Hey Thomas,

I forgot to ask.....if you have your surgery done robotically, will you be able to see anything if it is videotaped? Just curious:)
Happy Easter!
Deb Ziegler

Hey Thomas,

Welcome to HVJ!

If ever to come out of hiding, now is the time and this is the place.

:)

Thanks for the kind words about this project.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. If you need anything, please let me know.

Keep on tickin!

Adam Pick

Hi Thomas,

I had my mitral and tricuspid valves repaired by Dr. Gillinov last October. He is an amazing doctor and human being, and after meeting with him, you will feel very confident all will go well. I think your idea of asking for a video tape is GREAT! I will be interested to hear if they will do it. It makes sense for medical reasons, and to satisfy your own curiosity. I wish I would have asked!
The surgery really isn't bad.....the waiting is way worse.
Godspeed and good luck!
Deb Ziegler

I thought about asking about a videotape but figured for liability reasons, they would never allow it. So I never asked. Lily Cardlin

Glad you decided to come out of hiding :) and you already know what a great site this is so you are already a step ahead. I think the idea of having the procedure taped is kinda cool, I have to admit in my research I went on youtube and sure enough they had video's there so I of course watched a view. I'll be having the Ross Procedure on May 7th here in San Antonio I gave some thought to going to New York, was struggling with thinking that was the only place to go if I wanted anyone good, but after I met the surgeon down here he put my mind at ease.

Your little one is adorable!! Keep in touch, keep posting and we are all here to help each other out.

Cindy Pastrano

Hello Tom!!!

Welcome to Ohio. I am scheduled at Cleveland Clinic for 5/4, AVR, Dr. Lytle.. As you will learn, clinic tough in preop scheduling. The end results, however, are that you are with the best.

Keep in Touch.
Jack Teeft (Here John Teeftt).

Hi Thomas, Welcome to HVJ. You have come to the right place. You will have a lot of support here. It is wonderful Read a lot of the journals here and it will help. If you have any questions somebody will get back to you. It helps to come out of hiding and talk about it and yes even get emotional.
I dont know about taping your own surgery, that sounds kind of creepy. Everything that has happened will be in your records anyway. That will follow you the rest of your life.
You have a beautiful little daughter. She will take real good care of her Daddy. You take care and good luck to you. Keep us all posted.
For the long haul
Linda H