Trent my prayers go out to you and your family.

Christi Clement

Fortunately we are in a world of modern medicine....may your recover be brief and your heart glad. Post op you will inevitably never take family and love for granted and that maybe the best gift you ever receive...we should all be as fortunate. Godspeed my friend.

Good luck on the surgery Trent. We are praying for you. Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress.

Trent I am praying that God is guiding your surgeon today and that you have a speedy recovery.

Pat

Good morning Trent and good luck today.
We will look forward to receiving our first update from Amanda. I'm sure you'll do great.

Karen Campo

Got you in my prayers Trent...go get 'em! See you on the downside of that mountain!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Will pray for you this morning Trent. Wishing you many blessings today in the coming days.

Ellen

I'll be thinking of you and your family. I look forward to your "road to recovery" updates.
Debbie
AVR 4/2/12

My best to you and your family and watching for updates. ...Vicki D.

Trent, I know you will come through your surgery with "flying colors"! You are young and strong and certainly going into this with the best attitude. With all the "prayer warriors" you have behind you, how could you not have a great recovery. You will soon be coming home with a well and "happy" heart! May God bless you and yours. Shelia Poole

Good luck and our prayers will be with you and your family Trent. Thanks for the kind words in your journal; it was great to finally meet you and hear about someone in a nearly identical situation. Can't wait to hear those first positive updates post-surgery. You've done your homework and Dr. Ryan will do a great job. Hope you can get some sleep tonight and Happy Father's Day!

-Thomas H.

Trent,
My thoughts & prayers are with you my friend. This is no challenge for a heart as kind & thoughtful as yours.
~ Misty

Trent

I will be thinking about you and praying for a speedy recovery. Will lift up your family in my prayers also. If u need anything
Please don't hesitate to let me know.

Tracy.

Trent,

You have done your research and you have done all the preparation you can. Now you need to relax, focus on you and having a smooth procedure and recovery.

I know you are a stubborn goat, but listen to your doctors (and Amanda), follow their instructions and don't push yourself in your recovery.

I will be thinking about you and your family tomorrow and look forward to sharing coconut cream pie as soon as you are up for it.

Amy Leaf

Trent,
We've been praying for weeks and now the time is here! Stay tough and I hope you have a speedy recovery. I can't wait to talk with you after it's all over. Love ya man! Richard Jones

You will be fine!!! You are at one the best hospitals!! Don't really know the doc, but you did your research and you seem confident about him!! Will keep you in my prayers and will pray for a smooth recovery!!

Heather Polley

You'll do great! I'm praying for you and your family.

Tiffany Little

You will be in my thoughts and prayers all day tomorrow..

Will be thinking about you and your family tomorrow!
Brandi Mann

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow Trent! I will definitely be thinking of you!

Best of luck Trent. I'll be thinking about you as I go through my pre-op testing tomorrow.

Chris Hanson

Ok, I need to proof read better.... I should of wrote.... May God guide the hands of your surgeon..... Though he is My God! Best Wishes Trent.... Tomorrow we'll have a new lease on life!!! Donna

Good Luck tomorrow..... I'll be thinking of you as I too will be having my surgery tomorrow.
Enjoy your Father's Day with your loved ones. I'm spending the day at home working on the last few things i need to do... My God guide the hands of your surgeon and bless you with a speedy recovery.
All the best, Donna

Hi Trent,
I underwent mitral valve replacement surgery16 months ago and am doing just fine. Not sure if you are opting for the robotic method of surgery or not, but I did and recovery was almost completely "painless", or at least not as bad as I thought it might be. Good luck tomorrow. You will be back in the swing of things in no time!
Shari Shoufler, Mason, OH

Trent, Dr. Ryan did my mitral valve repair on Nov. 30th, 2010. I totally agree with Tammy - he is a rock star and the best mitral valve repair surgeon in the area. You are in good hands. I totally trusted his skills. God bless you & Happy Father's Day. Maria Williams, Ft. Worth, TX

Trent, Dr. Ryan did my mitral valve repair one year ago almost exactly. He is a rock star for sure. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. We will all be rooting for you! - Tammy Golchert, Aubrey, Tx

Trent, Just5 stopping by to wish you the best of luck on your big day. I hope you have a speedy recovery. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us all posted.
For the long haul
Linda h

Hi Trent
Dr Ryan just repaired my MV 5 weeks ago.
I had a severe leak...everything went great.
I'm feeling almost 100%...Ryan is the go to guy...
Best Wishes.. I sure all will go well.
John Antioco
Athens Texas

Good luck. Had mitral valve repair three years ago. Had a heart problem for 35 years but complicated with an arrhythmia had to have surgery. Craig Smith from Colombia did it. In two months i wah hiking again and feel great. By the way, I am 70. Keep a positive attitude. Beeeee well. Bill

lots of positive thoughts coming your way. get it behind you and get back to those beautiful little boys!

Trent,

You are going to do great. We are all thinking great thoughts for you.

http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2012/06/15/trent-viavattene-mitral-valve-regurgitation/

If you get a chance, let Dr. Ryan know that I say hi. Many, many, many patients from our community have had excellent results with Dr. Ryan.

Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick

Best of luck to you, Trent! You will do fine. You sound prepared. You're in good hands with Dr Ryan. He fixed me up - I hit my 3 month post-op yesterday! Trust in the nurses and great staff at the Heart Hospital, do everything they ask of you, and thank them every chance you get. Keep a positive attitude and you will be home in no time. Looking forward to seeing your first post-op journal entry.

Chris B.

Hi Trent - I will be praying for you as your surgery date approaches. I am now 2 1/2 weeks post surgery and feeling a little better each day. You will do well! Take care. Denise K

Trent,

Great to hear you connected with Thomas. Amazing how our community is coming together online and offline. Thanks for inspiring me.

As for your surgery, I'm sending healthy, heart-pumping thoughts your way.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

Trent,
You will do terrfic, wish you a speedy recovery. If you need me to bring you some cost models to review while off just let me know.... hahahaha..... take advantage of the time off....
Kevin.

Here's to having a great relaxing weekend with family, and praying for you as you prepare to climb your mountain next week! Happy Father's Day! Plan on many more in the future!! You can do this.
Holly P

I so know what you mean about wondering how to get out of the surgery.
I think you are more prepared than you realize. You've got the recovery necessities covered: new TV, chair.... Those things are important :)
I will be thinking of you on the 18th and saying a prayer. You're going to be just fine!
The sooner you do it and get it behind you, the sooner you will heal, grow strong and enjoy your family. From what I hear attitude is huge. Stay strong!

Trent,

You seem to be managing your expectations very well - - which is very good.

I discovered that this approach was useful for me. In fact, about 10 days prior to surgery, I got comfortable with my circumstance and began to view it as an "adventure" that would unfold and my role was to just "be with it". I continue to view things that way and 5 weeks later, I now have a repaired Mitral Valve, a chest scare and a great story to tell. In addition, I discovered how much my family cares for me.

I look forward to reading about how your "adventure" unfolds.

Wes P.
MVR 5/9/12

and yeah....you are now the featured patient taking that away from me after many weeks of being in the spotlight :)

Karen

healthy snacks...? a big screen?
Honestly I haven't watched much tv(maybe late at night when I can't sleep) or read too much. How was your anniversary weekend in NYC? Smoked beef tenderloin sounds good. Do you need an actual smoker? Being in TX this is prob all the norm but here in CT not all that familiar with it. Our Shop Rite has beef tenderloin on sale this week but I usually buy pork. I am glad your day is almost here and will watch for your pre-op and post-op updates. I am tired and struggling with low BP and am told I will be starting cardiac rehab. Enjoy the weekend with your family. Karen

Ok Trent, pretty radical way to get a new TV, lol!!!! Did you get a new chair also??? Seriously, my thoughts and prayers will be with you as you have your surgery and begin the road to recovery. You will be fine, you seem to have your "mind on straight" (as much as possible). Please keep us updated.
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12

Once you need it, better to do it when you are strong. And then there's the 1/2% or so risk per month of just letting time pass without fixing it. That's not so good either. I'm glad I did my MV repair at the earliest opportunity. I feel more solid and stronger than in years. If you can find a path toward excitement about the surgery, that's a good path to follow - it will get you to a good spot. Stay strong, live long -- DVB

Trent,
I tried to respond to your journal but I think it posted on my journal. I'm still new to this and a little inept in my computer skills.
So your surgery is scheduled for the 18th?
I know what you mean about thinking, hmm..could I put this off a little longer? I think you are wise to do it now. I am thinking of you and trying to keep all of these dear heart patients in my prayers. Happy Anniversary!

Enjoy the weekend. Happy Anniversary.
Kare

Thinking of you as you go through this process. It's a time full of doubts, anxiety, anticipation...... Get everything done that you want to now while you feel like it, then you will be able to "relax" after surgery!!! You will do fine.
Holly P

Good morning Trent-
I found the final week to go very fast. It sounds as if you are moving in the right direction getting plans in place for the kids, etc so you won't be overwhelmed at the last minute. Congrats on the 5 year anniversary. I hope you enjoy NYC. We keep saying we would like to go. We are so close in proximity, but I think It's been 20+ years since I went in for a Yankee game. Hopefully you will be able to really enjoy the getaway and make some good memories. Karen Campo

Hi Trent,
Had MV Repair in September both leaflets were repaired. I ended up getting a BP machine post surgery from the local drugstore ~$35-$40 because the beta blocker medicine lowered my blood pressure so much that it created severe dizzy spells. The dr. used the BP readings to adjust the beta blocker doses.

Best wishes to you and your beautiful family! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions!

Debby T.

Trent,

Would be happy to meet up. I am already driving, so meeting for lunch wouldn't be a problem. In fact it is looking like I'll have to work half-time next week as some things have come up that I can't postpone, so maybe this Friday would be best. Feel free to send me your contact info to tom8hunt@yahoo.com.

-Thomas H.

Hi Trent. Just reading your last few updates. With your 2nd opinion comes clarity. Now you can focus without any residual doubt on what you need to do. That right there is huge and will help give you peace and purpose. All the best to you, my man -- DVB

Trent, I did need to take and document my BP for a while after getting home. I purchased a "wrist type" from Walmart. If I remember correctly it was around $35-$40. It also shows your heart rate which is good. Do you have a travel pillow? That was a life saver for me, really takes the pressure off of your head and shoulders and shoulder discomfort appears to be a very common "side effect" of OHS. Will let you know if I think of anything else.

Linda Dixon, AVR 33/13/12