Linda's Journal

Hi everyone. I just saw Sherry's post on here and discovered I missed my birthday in September when I was introduced to my new friend Elsie, who is keeping me alive today. Last time I saw my heart doctor he said I was still doing good. What he doesn't know is that the rest of me is having other issues. On my 70th birthday I was in the doctors office supporting a walker cause my back went out. Ouch. Well that is getting better but my left knee has really been troublesome. I can hardly walk on it. I thought it was the cool water In the pool at the Y but it is not getting better, so now I am getting a little worried. I have read so many time on here the heart goes then the knees seem to follow. My right knee does have arthritis in it, but right now it is doing ok . Its not fun getting older. I wish there was a pill to take for that. There seems to be one for everything else lol I keep in touch with some of you on facebook, like Mitch, Linda, Janis, Jimmy and some others and of course Adam. This has been such a wonderful site. I am so happy that I did find it, and I have meant so many wonderful people world wide. Its just like we are one big family but as time goes on we kind of grow away from it. But I do keep up with the posts that come along so thanks Sherry. I hope everyone has a wonderful day and remember God is so good to all of us. Linda and Elsie AVR 9/19/12

I am posting on here for a friend of my daughters and a sweet little 2 year old boy named Gabriel Reck. His mother, Amanda is reaching out for prayers for her sweet little boy. One year ago he had a heart transplant. He has a blog on Facebook called Gabriels Heart Journey. Right now he is fighting for his life with a nerovirus and another one as well. He has lost 6 pounds since February. This is very dangerous to him. He is in Charlottesville Hospital VA. So please send lots of love and lots and lots of prayers to him and his family. We have been watching this miracle of his life change so much and now we have to help him. I have never meant him but I love him. Thanks and God bless everyone. Linda and Elsie

Yesterday I celebrated 3 years out from my open heart surgery. I can say that when I started this out, I was told that I would probably have about 3 years to live if I didn't have the surgery for my aortic stenois and anneursym. So now it is 3 years out and I thank God for my new lease on life. I have meant a lot of very nice people on here as well and I don't know what I would have done without this site and Adams book. It is what helped me get thru all of this and with a lot of prayer. Thank you Adam for doing this for all of us. You are a blessing. I don't post on here any more but I do watch and see what is going on, and I still do keep everyone in my prayers. For everyone that is going into surgery, don't worry God will take good care of you. I do have a cow valve and still feel like mowing when I see cow. I still do have a little pain not going to lie, I think it is just those little wires. I still go to the YMCA. It helps a lot to stay active. When I miss a week I can really tell. So I am going for now but I will be watching all of you out there. You all take care. Still love you all. Linda and Elsie AVR 9/19/2012

Hi All, Just updating for Adam.. My surgery will be 3 years ago on Sept 19, 2012. I had my aortic valve replaced with a cow valve I named Elsie and also had an annuerisym with my aortic root being replaced with a 3 inch Dacron graft. My heart is doing real well no problems. Doctors all say it sounds great. Unfortunetly I have gained some of my weight back but I do feel good. I still go to the YMCA and that helps a lot. When I miss a week or two I really know it. I also walk my dog, sometimes she walks me everyday. So keep up with all the excerise.. Hope everyone is doing good keeping you all in my prayers.

I just saw on facebook Gabriel was taken into surgery at 930am . At 1219pm his new hero heart was put in and beating on its own. The last update was he was taken off bypass and about another hour to go before Angel Gabriel starts a whole new life. God is so good. So everyone waiting out there for surgery God will take care of it all. He is the best healer he does have angel doctors working on us. Im sure the family thanks everyone for all of their prayers as well and the prayers of the donor family also. That is a mighty big gift from God. Everyone have a wonderful day. Linda and Elsie

Today I read from his Mother Amanda Reck, that Gabriel had surgery today, a trachemonty (sp) a gtube and another picc line put in. He did wonderful with that and now tonight she has on facebook or Gabriels HSLS Journal, that he will have his new hero heart late tonight if all goes well. She is asking all the prayer warriors to send lots of prayers and also to the donating family. Gabriel is only 11 months old and I just found out it is Amanda birthday this weekend. What a gift from God. We all know what it is like waiting for heart surgery but this is 10 times worse and I think most of us who have been there know exactly how she feels . I will keep everyone informed when I hear something. Hope everyone is having a good night and the best to all who are waiting. Hugs Linda and Elsie

Just thought I would drop a little line. I just had my annual echo this week and EKG and guess what. I get to live some more. He said my valve was doing excellent even though I have found and it showed a few extra little beats but not to worry. Dr Bittrick was wondering why when I got a cow valve why I didn't get a side of beef to go with it. Good question. Anyway I do have some news to share with all of you. My daughter Stephanie has a good friend in Culpepper Va who has a son, Gabriel who is 11 months old. Little Gabriel was born with a CHD and has HHSL. He has just been placed on a heart transplant list. Amanda is asking everyone to send prayers her way for little Gabriel. For God to place him in his arms and give him a new heart. You might find her on FB Amanda Reck under HHLS Gabriels Journel. So please send lots of prayers out to Gabriel at UVA hospital in Charlottesville Va. I guess that is about it under later. Hope everyone is doing good. I still keep you all in my prayers always and forever. And thanks Adam for the Valentine wish. Your son is so cute.Hugs to all Linda and Elsie

I got up to Cleveland and back. Stephanie had her surgery on Tuesday November 4th. Cleveland Clinic is huge, thought I was in a 5 star resort and not a hospital. Anyway I learned that the second surgery is much worse than the first. She was in much more pain than the first, of course she got a full zipper this time. She got a new type of mechanical valve, top hat valve, hope it does a lot better than the first one. Oh said she didn't enjoy her trip to Hawaii. lol. She left yesterday but not before she took the sheets off the bed. I think she was getting a little bored being there. Anyway I got back ok but not before I had to go thru a bad storm in Beckley Va had rain hail blizzard of leaves. I was a little scared espically after sleeping in the hospital with Stephanie the night before and didn't get a good sleep. Glad to be back home. So everyone out there just remember the waiting is still the worse and after you have been on that side of the fence of having surgery the waiting for your loved one to come out of surgery is even worse. Five hours seemed like 5 years. You just know exactly what is going on. Hope everyone is having a good day and all of you in recovery it takes a while but it is worth it. I enclosed a couple of pics. Thank you Adam for making that better as I could never get any on here before. Hugs to all Linda and Elsie

Left my house this morning at 530am and arrived at this huge amazing hospital at 8pm. It took me 20 minutes to figure out where the garage was. But then being super tired what can I say. Had fun driving thru Va in a truck with high wind warnings out. Hope its better on the return. Having some nice quality time with her before surgery. She wants me to let you all know that the chicken here is really good. When she checked in she thought she was taking a trip to Hawaii. She was told to enjoy the beach and she would show them the pics afterwards, and she would give her husband the peanuts. Bet she not saying this on Wed. Well that's it for now, probably a lot of mistakes here as I cant see to straight right now. But really this is a beautiful hospital. It is like a big resort. So signing off for now. Will keep you all updated on her blog next time. Hugs to all and good night.

What a trip this has been. I never thought for one minute that I would be joining on the other side of this journal and caring for my daughter Stephanie Spencer. So tonight I have started that little walk for her as her computer isn't working at the moment. So on Sunday I will be getting into my husband truck and driving the 600 plus miles to Cleveland. And guess what there is snow yes I said snow predicted here in SC. The thing I have been dreading. I have two ways to go over those mountains so I have elected to go by the way of Charlotte. Ashville is suppose to get 1=3 inches and it is still October. Then I have to go in a truck. It is a nice truck but my car is better lol. He says its better cause of 4 wheel drive ok. Anyway I will be able to have a little quality time with her as she is being admitted on Sunday and surgery is on Tues. I have had so many wonderful people helping me get to be with my daughter. All of you sending best wishes and prayers thank you and my wonderful church family gave me such a very nice gift of money to help me get there. God really does get things done every way possible. He is such a loving God and he will be there for everyone of us. I still keep you all in my prayers for all the surgeries and recoveries. Bless every one of you. Ok Im going for now see you on Stephanie Spencers space. Pray that all of the snow will be gone by Sunday Please. Hugs to all Linda and Elsie

Hi All, I never thought this would be happening to me. As you all know my daughter Stephanie Spencer is going to have her heart surgery very soon. So I will be posting for her until she either gets her computer back running as she is having issues with it. Please keep her in your prayers and I am going to attempt to write for her in her journal for her as she is having a few little minor set backs. So here goes.

I had my surgery 2 years ago, but now I see what my daughter Stephanie Spencer is going through and now I have questions. It makes me wonder of what if... 1. I always thought scar tissue happened while you are healing not five years after surgery. Do we keep adding scar tissue around any of our scars for all of these years or for life? 2. Can living with stress all the time make for more scar tissue to build up. I know stress is a killer but can I add that to the list? Im always stressed out for something . Hope someone can find those answers for all of us to change our lives even more and for the better. Hope everyone is having a good day. I still do keep you all in my prayer list. Oh my how it is growing wow. But God is so good to us and I thank him all the time. I know he is going to take good care of my daughter once again and now I am so thankful that she will be at the big Cleveland Clinic.

Hi all, I have told you about my daughter Stephanie Spencer. She had OHS 5 years ago for Aortic Stenois and had a valve put in at the age of 29. Now 5 years later she is facing the same thing. She just called me today and said she had her echo done and the doctor was waiting this time for her. He hated to tell her that she had to have surgery once again after just getting over a hysterectomy. Her St Jude valve is not working. It is not opening or shutting and will have her surgery at the end of this month. I have told her she needs to get back on HVJ so please look for her and send her lots of prayers.

HI Everyone, I am happy to say that today I am celebrating my 2 year birthday. My doctor said I am doing great heart sound perfect. Glad to hear that. All thou I still have that annoying pain that turns out to be the wires. I figured that when I got a beautiful German Shepherd puppy who wants to be a lap dog at about 50 plus pounds. She knows right where to get me so I have to protect myself from all of her loving. Otherwise I feel real good except you get your heart all fixed up and then the ole knee starts going out with Arthur. So it is hard to walk sometimes. I am still going to the YMCA. When I miss a week I do feel it. So guess I will be going there for a long time. It really does help. I still keep everyone in my prayers. It is wonderful what the doctors with the awesome power of God leading the way can do. I am so thankful for having such a God. He will get all of you through this as well. I also want to give a special thanks to Adam for having this site. I don't know what I would have done without it and his book. And also to all the wonderful people I have meant on here and now share some of you on Facebook. So hear is to another year. Hope everyone stays healthy and is going to be healthier in there new life. Oh my daughter Stephanie Spencer might be facing OHS again after 5 years. The good thing is she wont be on cumadian any more and then we can moo together. Please keep her in your prayers. She needs to get on here and get going again. Hugs to all. Linda and Elsie

I just had my 6 month check up a few days ago. Its been awhile since I have been on here. But I do check on here every once in a while. I still send all my prayers out to everyone. Anyway he said everything was perfect. My heart sounded perfect, but I told him I still hurt a little. I told him that I now have a puppy who loves to love and maul me. Of course she likes to put her paws right where I don't want them to be. So I have discovered that what I am feeling is the wires. If I turn a certain way it feels like a pinch. He agreed that is what I am feeling and I will have to put up with it. I do try and ignore it but when it gets on my nerves I just take my buddy Tramadol. That is probably one every 2-3 months. Going to the YMCA still helps. All those stretch exercises helps a .lot. I still worry about doing things like lifting heavy things. Afraid something might unravel lol. I guess the mind does strange things after you have been thru all of this. Meanwhile I hope everyone is doing great. If you are headed for surgery, it will be ok and your life will change for the better, it is worth it, better than the alternative of hearing you only have 3 years to live. For all in recovery it is long but you can do it. So until next month I will say good night

Hi All, I promised I would get on here after seeing my doctor. He likes to keep in touch every 6 months. I don't mind, makes me feel safe. Well I haven't had an EKG for a while so was surprised with that. He said everything is looking good and I said well? Why do I still have some pain? It is just the nerves and muscles, and my incision is still a little pink. His answer was, most people get over the pain in a year, but some don't and some never do. Thanks. I just take a Tramadol when it gets on my nerves. I just try and ignore it most of the time. He said that was fine. I took one a week ago and it helped my knee more than what I was aiming. Good old Arthur and the cold we are having here. I did get some Cocoa Butter cream and I think it is helping a lot. Im still going to the Y and doing swimming having a hard time when it is in the 40's and swimming. Still doing Silver Sneakers and Balance and Stretch. We call it almost balance as we all sway in the wind. I think Elsie was a water cow as the water feels pretty good when it is warm. Sometimes it is a little to cool and she don't like it neither do I. I'm good for another 6 months and then another echo after that. Then Elsie and then Elsie and I can see eye to eye again and smile. So glad that Rachel is going to be getting out. She is quite a trooper what a story. Would love to meet her. Sorry the Broncos didn't win the Super Bowl. Oh well maybe next year, but they are still my champions. Hope everyone waiting gets along amazing and with the best recovery. Your life will be so much better. Keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers. Still love ya'all. Linda H and Elsie

Ok I have been thinking about putting a post on here and then Jim Jones asked me to put something on here. So here goes. Since I am 15 months post surgery, what a difference the holidays were. My doctor said I would be fine last year and I was BUT it was so much better this year. Last year I over did just a little and it let me know. This year I put the tree together all 71/2 feet if it. I got that top on all by myself which was a little heavy, with no problem other than being a little to short. I got the whole house dressed for the holidays and really enjoyed the season, while all the time I was thinking of the past years and how much different it was this year. Wow. It did come with a few little problems like gaining a little weight. But that was because I baked this year which I did not do for the last several as I was getting ready for surgery. Also went thru two Thanksgiving dinners, two Christmas dinners and a party with lots of food at all of them. I even managed to get it all put away but I did call in my husband to help. Think it kinda caught up. We did go thru some unhappy times with all of this. My neighbor at 39 years old passed away with an aortic annuersym. Made me feel how lucky I am to be living. Also have a friend who has cancer that she is fighting. And my Uncle passing away with cancer. With all of that makes me feel like I was lucky to have the heart problem that has made my life so blessed. I am finding that reading all the posts on here, men do go thru this much better than women. I still have some nerve and muscle pain, not bad, I just kinda ignore it for the most part. I really notice it when I haven't gone to the YMCA, it really does help. I think Elsie is a water cow cause swimming sure does feel good. This has made my life so much different, I feel so blessed and cant thank God enough for it. He is wonderful. I have been on here peaking at whats going on espically our friend Rachel. I wish the best for her and hope she gets her new heart very soon. Her and her family are amazing holding out this long. For all of you in waiting it will be ok. Life will be so much better for you. The recovery is long but the wait is even worse. I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year and a very healthy one. So until later, probably around January when I see my doctor again. Take care all. Hugs Linda H and Elsie

I just wanted to take this moment to thank everyone for all their prayers for my Uncle. Last night he went to be with God his brothers and sisters and parents. He was the last of my Dads family. RIP Uncle Raymond Raygor

I haven't been on here very much as everything is pretty much back to normal now. I am still having a little of the nerve pain, but I have changed my way of sleeping from the right side to the left. I think it is helping a little. My doctor said it take a long time to get all of those nerves and muscles back in shape. And considering I had two scars well I guess that's why. Yesterday we took a nice ride to the mountains for all the leaves. Got out and walked a little and I was feeling so happy and bragging how I was walking up a little hill and climbing on some big rocks how I did not run out of breath. But on the other hand I have some arthritis in my knee and that is slowing me down. Get one thing fixed and something else goes. Not fair. A week ago we just lost our neighbor who was 39 years old to a rupture of an aortic anuersym. Sure did make me feel so lucky to be living. Please keep your prayers going for my uncle who I just got word of a severe stroke. He is the last of my Dads family and needs all the prayers he can get. Also keep prayers going for the coach Fox of the Broncos. I am a big Broncos fan and hope for them to be going to the Super Bowl this year. Well I guess t hat is it for now. Hope everyone going into surgery comes out with flying colors. God will be with you and all in the recovery it is all worth it. Take care all and God bless you all. Linda H and Elsie

Well here it is, my 1st birthday with Elsie tomorrow. Just can\'t believe this year has gone by so fast and so healthy. Thank you God. First of all I feel like I have a lot of people to thank for being there. Thanks Adam for making this site. It is so wonderful and so helpful for all of us. And the book to. Then comes all of my doctors, Dr Casey for starting this journey and getting me all started in the right way. Dr Bittrick for getting things done and thinking that I was not all that old lol. And Dr Mazeriez also known as Dr YumYum for fixing me all up and making me a new person again. He is wonderful and good looking. All the nuses and techs at Greenwood rehab and of course at the YMCA that I am still going to. All the the wonderful people that I have meant on here. Ricki Shine ( still have the orchid) Linda Dixon, Mitch Friedman for watching, Chuck Holmgreen, Jimmy Johnson, Janis K, all who have become friends on facebook now. Don my surgery partner, Happy Birthday to you also. Connie T., Sara, Christine Kline and of course Ernie and Toro who is on the mend. There are a lot of others also not to mention my family and close friends and neighbors. Pastor Justin who got to Greenville in such early hours of the morning along with Betty and Bill and the rest of my church family, oh and of course everyone at Weight Watchers who helped my get to my new weight for pre surgery. And last but least my husband. Don\'t know how I would have managed without him taking care of me. He is wonderful and makes a good nurse. Thanks. I feel like I just got an emmy. A little of what is happening now that I have reached my 1 year goal. I am now telling everyone 14 years to go and I can start thinking about this again. NOT. I\'m not worried when I will be 81 years old then. Folks it really does take a full year to recover from all of this no joke. I still do have a little pain ( nerve pain) but I do think it is getting better. It feels a little different. To help I just keep stretching myself out with chest movements and putting my head back a little. It helps along with all the stuff I do at the Y like swimming. I think Elsie is a water cow, cause it feels so good to be in the water, getting out is what sucks. when I went in for my echo in July the doctor said everything was looking good. Asked him if I could get off bp meds. He said try it and see. Well my bp went up a little but not bad but Elsie was thumping so hard I thought I was drilling for water. It didn\'t hurt just was annoying so I got back on my bp meds and now all is ok. Guess she likes her drugs. lol. Last week at chuch somebody blew the speakers so loud we all jumped I thought Elsie was coming up. Don\'t want to do that again. Otherwise life is wonderful. I keep thinking of all the things in my past that was due to my heart and didn\'t really know it. Just like everyone else, I haven\'t been on much lately but I do keep track of everyone, see how you all are doing. If you are waiting for surgery, just like everyone before me the surgery is rough but the waiting is rougher. The recovery is a long hard one but you can do it. God will be there for each and everyone of you waiting and he will help in the recovery as well. So all of my friends. I love each and everyone of you we are family. Linda H and Elsie AVR 9/19/12