Kevin Hornaday - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Kevin Hornadayposted a journal

190 days ago

Yumiko Ishida, Rose Madura reacted to this

Born with a Broken Heart: Kevin Hornaday's Open Heart Surgery Story

https://www.wakemed.org/blog/born-broken-heart-kevin-hornadays-open-heart-surgery-story

Kevin Hornaday knows a lot about matters of the heart — since he's dealt with them all his life. His heart worked overtime even within his mother's womb, resulting in a diagnosis of a cardiac electrical issue at birth. Years later, at the young age of 12, his heart broke in a different way when he was suddenly bereaved of his 44-year-old mother — a loss that doctors attribute to a suspected aneurysm.

Yumiko Ishida That’s an incredible story, Kevin! Thank you for sharing.

Valerie Allen Great story, Kevin!

Kevin Hornadayposted a journal

254 days ago

Rose Madura, Christopher T, Kimberly Eisenhut and 1 other reacted to this

Sadly, I don't do well at updating this, so here I am.

Yesterday, 12/18, was my 8 month "aortaversary". I'm doing very well. I've noticed that ...Read more

Sadly, I don't do well at updating this, so here I am.

Yesterday, 12/18, was my 8 month "aortaversary". I'm doing very well. I've noticed that I'm a little more sensitive to cold weather now (thankfully I live in the mid-Atlantic region!) and I've tried doing push ups, but not quite comfortable with that yet. Otherwise, I'm exercising 6-7 times a week like I was prior to surgery and just enjoying life.

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Rose Madura Great hearing from you Kevin. Sounds like you are doing well!

Suzette Schear Glad you’re back to exercising and enjoying life. 👍🏻

Marie Myers Great report!

Jill Reeder What a hopeful message. I was just complaining this morning that I am frustrated at not being able to ... Read more

Jill Reeder What a hopeful message. I was just complaining this morning that I am frustrated at not being able to do “stuff” at six weeks post-OHS. I will just keep keepin’’ on.

Suzette Schear Hi Jill, I understand the frustration and having to accept not being able to do stuff and when will ... Read more

Suzette Schear Hi Jill, I understand the frustration and having to accept not being able to do stuff and when will I be okay. It took awhile six weeks isn’t that long . In my journey it took a longer than that I had plan for or wanted. It’s tough when one is a doer or independent. Your determination keeping doing will get you there.

Jill Reeder Thanks for the encouragement Suzette!

Kevin Hornadayposted an update

443 days ago

Kristin Vano, Diana Chamblin-Bevirt reacted to this

Coming up on two months post surgery. I'm continuing to progress well. If you're facing OHS, know that before you know it, you'll barely know it happened. ...Read more

Coming up on two months post surgery. I'm continuing to progress well. If you're facing OHS, know that before you know it, you'll barely know it happened. My only symptom at this point is some tenderness in my upper right chest as I'm now doing upper body movements in cardiac rehab.

On another note, I had to miss yesterday's session for an apparent kidney stone. This is my second one although they are having a hard time finding it. I told someone at work that I'm ready for 2025 after all this!

Rose Madura Glad you are doing well! (Other than the kidney stone)

Kevin Hornadayposted a journal

461 days ago

Samidh Singh, Rose Madura, Melissa Gray-Morritt reacted to this

I realized I let one month slip by and I'm a little over five weeks. I'm doing well. I walk about 1.7 miles per day. I started cardiac rehab ...Read more

I realized I let one month slip by and I'm a little over five weeks. I'm doing well. I walk about 1.7 miles per day. I started cardiac rehab on Wednesday. I'm a little sore, but it's a good sore! The therapist has been impressed with my work and they are already talking about an early graduation.

Post op appointment went well on 5/14 and I was released to do everything but heavy lifting. I see my new GP on 5/30. Overall, minus the scar and the occasional bit of soreness, I can barely tell I had OHS! People keep telling me I look good, but I naturally have to wonder did I look ugly before?

Darrell Malone Good news Kevin. Progress is great. Keep moving forward one day at a time.
You look good in your pi... Read more

Darrell Malone Good news Kevin. Progress is great. Keep moving forward one day at a time.
You look good in your picture.

Rose Madura What a great report! And I'm sure you didn't look ugly before! I'm happy you are doing well! ❤️� ... Read more

Rose Madura What a great report! And I'm sure you didn't look ugly before! I'm happy you are doing well! ❤️‍🩹

Klara Čičić Hahaha Kevin, that is funny. You are doing great, congratulations! Take care, it's great you're doing ... Read more

Klara Čičić Hahaha Kevin, that is funny. You are doing great, congratulations! Take care, it's great you're doing cardiac rehab.

Christine Maiorano Great news! Keep it up😊

Valerie Allen People are always telling me I look good too 😂

Suelynn Hanegraaf Glad you are doing good, Kevin! To Valerie: Same here. I am now 7 weeks post-SAVR. I often think wh ... Read more

Suelynn Hanegraaf Glad you are doing good, Kevin! To Valerie: Same here. I am now 7 weeks post-SAVR. I often think when well-meaning people say “you’re looking great” . . . if you only saw my long, healing incision! 😅

Robert Miller "People keep telling me I look good, but I naturally have to wonder did I look ugly before?" LOL

Th... Read more

Robert Miller "People keep telling me I look good, but I naturally have to wonder did I look ugly before?" LOL

The thing is, people don't see what you went through. And the quicker you recover, the more they thin, oh, it was just a surgery. Little do they know about the saw to cut up your chest, the heart that was stopped, the lungs that were collapsed, etc, etc. It's amazing what medicine can do these days.

Suelynn Hanegraaf Yes! Couldn’t agree more, Robert. Happy Memorial Day to you & all! 🇺🇸

Rose Madura Well said Robert!

Kevin Hornadayposted a journal

482 days ago

Rose Madura, Kimberly Eisenhut, Yumiko Ishida reacted to this

Post-op day 17 - They finally traced the horrible pain to a moderate case of pleurisy. Treating with a short course of steroids and I felt better within ...Read more

Post-op day 17 - They finally traced the horrible pain to a moderate case of pleurisy. Treating with a short course of steroids and I felt better within a day. I walked a mile and a half total yesterday and hope to work up to two miles total (one mile x2) by the end of this week. Other than some soreness in the incision area, all is well. Thank you for so many messages and good thoughts!

Valerie Allen So glad it was figured out and resolved so quickly after that.

Kevin Hornadayposted a journal

489 days ago

Rebecca J, Lacresia Falls, Kimberly Eisenhut reacted to this

Ten days post-op. All went well (so I thought) until a sharp pain started just below my left underarm last Thursday (one week post-op). I dismissed ...Read more

Ten days post-op. All went well (so I thought) until a sharp pain started just below my left underarm last Thursday (one week post-op). I dismissed this as a muscle strain until today, since it won't go away. On call PA believes it is pericarditis and gave me Colchicine. If it doesn't resolve by tomorrow morning (highly unlikely) I have to make arrangements to get to the surgeon's office/hospital.

My luck never ends...

Marie Myers A pothole in the Road of Recovery… Hopefully the colchicine will do the trick. Hang in there!

Grace Mason Just your bump in the road to recovery Kevin. Hope you can find answers to your symptoms and get back ... Read more

Grace Mason Just your bump in the road to recovery Kevin. Hope you can find answers to your symptoms and get back on your path to recovery ❤️

Rebecca J Kevin that’s tough. Seems we’re susceptible to having recovery being up and down, especially thes ... Read more

Rebecca J Kevin that’s tough. Seems we’re susceptible to having recovery being up and down, especially these early days. Hang in there.

Valerie Allen Sorry to hear that, Kevin. In the long run it will be a blip but doesn’t seem that way now.

Deena Z Kevin, you got through the hardest part. This is temporary. Hang in there!

J Alexander Lassally Also did this with Colchicine for the same reason. It really does help, so my best wishes.

Patricia Miller I was diagnosed w/ pericarditis after my first OHS. Unfortunately, my treatment was delayed because ... Read more

Patricia Miller I was diagnosed w/ pericarditis after my first OHS. Unfortunately, my treatment was delayed because my symptoms were dismissed. Colchicine x 3 mos. without any trouble. Tolerated it well. Hopefully your pain will fade as the colchicine does it's job. It is frustrating. You've been through a lot.

Rose Madura So sorry Kevin. Recovery does have its ups and downs. Remember , you are a warrior now! Praying you ... Read more

Rose Madura So sorry Kevin. Recovery does have its ups and downs. Remember , you are a warrior now! Praying you feel better soon and don't have to go to the hospital. 🙏🪖❤️‍🩹

Sue Maize I was wondering how you were doing Kevin—really sorry to hear about this setback, but you’re hear ... Read more

Sue Maize I was wondering how you were doing Kevin—really sorry to hear about this setback, but you’re hearing from those who’ve been there and understand. Not nice at the time though. Keep reaching out, the support is here and we’re all with you! Praying for you! 🙏🏻❤️‍🩹

Kevin Hornadayposted a journal

500 days ago

T-minus one day. To add to my stress, my HVAC (which is in my attic) has a drain line that leaked onto my ceiling. Fortunately, I have a friend ...Read more

T-minus one day. To add to my stress, my HVAC (which is in my attic) has a drain line that leaked onto my ceiling. Fortunately, I have a friend coming today to at least stop additional damage, but I'll have to jump on getting someone out as soon as I get back home.

Sue Maize Do you live alone? I know what that’s like, and it’s hard to get everything arranged so you can j ... Read more

Sue Maize Do you live alone? I know what that’s like, and it’s hard to get everything arranged so you can just focus on your surgery. I pray no more of these pesky complications and that this one will get resolved quickly. Try not to stress—the ONLY thing that matters is your health right now. Let the other stuff go, as hard as I know that is. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Rose Madura Because it's always something! 😖