Mark's Journal

Rose Madura  I wanted to simply enjoy my retirement. I retired when I found out I needed surgery.  It was 2 months sooner than my initial retirement plan.  And I had a rough recovery. I finally started enjoying retirement when my company called me and asked me to come out of retirement for six months to help train some new people so I did.  Then, after I re-retired, I found my reason for being which is doing volunteer work for my church. It has been very fulfilling.  And I strongly feel like this is what God wants me to do.  I also have a desire to write a book someday.

Heidi Donohue  Life is too short not to play it forward even in the smallest of ways and simply try to make it a part of our everyday lives.  I have learned a lot from this site and how kind people can be with words and all the thoughts of encouragement.  We are stronger together.  May we keep other hearts inspired just one beat a time.

Mindi Wieseman  Mark, this is truly one of the main ingredients I'm experiencing in this new chapter of my life! Actually, we had planned a huge change before we even knew about my heart issue, and were in the stages of moving to another state. It was a blessing that we didn't yet put our house on the market last year before we knew anything about my heart! Our plans were to sell our home and live in our rv for a year or two before we moved to Indiana to be with family. I know God was watching over me when I didn't work faster to get the house ready to sell! If I did, I wouldn't be recovering at home. I might not have even gone to my cardiologist to find out why I was out of breath often! That was the only symptom I had. There are small miracles happening all the time that we don't necessarily see right away, or ever I suppose. So just to finish up, we are concentrating on my recovery, but perhaps in 3 months or so, plan to pick up where we left off in regards to traveling and moving. I don't know specifically what I want to do after settling down in Indiana, or wherever it is meant to be, but with time and healing and discovering myself again, it'll be shown to me.

Greg Lewis  Hi Mark! If there was ever a time to think deep, this is it!! So, your good! 
Honestly, I don't know where the Lord is taking my wife and I. ...My surgery, and recovery were not what we thought would happen, at all, creating hurdle after hurdle! God kept me alive, and sustains me. My PVCs may be back, so a bit scared right now, but God is looking after it.  It is becoming pretty likely that I won't be going back to my old job, or anything physical like it. Retirement maybe a few years early.  My wife's dad is going in for a Quadruple bypass. And our son is being tested for MS.  In all of this, I also see God's hand working amazing things in our lives! Absolutely amazing! ...my wife and I are closer to each other, and closer to God than ever!  We have met 2  new christian couples, that are helping us so much. It's amazing. 
So. Will we get to complete some of our plans from before this new life? Maybe not. Don't care. Unimportant. 
We are being reminded of what is important in life. And that is that it's not complicated. Love your family, and love God. Do your best to navigate the hurdles! 
Do what makes you happy! 
PS...I was able to get a guitar I have had my eye on for awhile! As Andy would say...it is sic!! 😃
Cheers!!

Sheila Sellars  I kinda think of this new valve as what will be my 63rd birthday present,and lease renewal from Our Creator,I dont know the outcome exactly,but I swore to tell my whole testimony to whomever needs it,Greg, my oldest daughter has MS since 2009 and She is the strongest woman I know,so dont think that the diagnosis is the end .Mark thank you for asking us to ponder that question.

Susan Jones  Glad to see Mark put in words one of my thoughts about my future. Seems for one reason or another my life plans have kept getting pushed back another month ,another year. Wanted to retire at 60 Didn't happen. Don't know where I'm headed most days anymore. Trying to take it one day at a time knowing God has a plan. It always seem to be working out. I've always felt " if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans" My team - God, my husband and I - have this heart thing covered.

Rose Madura  Sounds like a reasonable plan Susan.  Life doesn't always go the way we had hoped but we just have to roll with the punches.  God bless you!

Klara Čičić  Thank you Mark for your thoughtful post. All I know is that I truly appreciate life more after the surgery and am thankful for each day. Every evening I say to my kids: for what are you grateful today? And they say sometimes very funny things only a 3 and 6-year old can say (like "I am grateful for not going to sleep" my 3 year old says, when she's already in her pj, light is out, and she knows very well we're about to go to sleep) , but sometimes anwser is so deep that it astonishes me "I am grateful for Simon" (Simon is younger, 1 year old brother)... Those are the things so fulfilling... After the surgery even more. 

Ana Brusso  Wow Mark, awesome message. It is full of positivity and gratefulness. I’m thankful for all the amazing medical teams whose passion and jobs are to provide us with the most advanced technologies and best care for a successful outcome. God bless them and us. 👍🙏❤️

Rose Madura  Very well said Mark. I've often felt much gratitude and thanks for the heart technology we have in this day and age.  And I thank the many heart pioneers one from Dayton, Ohio, Richard Dewall.  I was friends in high school with his daughter.  He was a pioneer heart surgeon and prolific inventor, DeWall created the first workable, portable bubble oxygenator in 1955. The DeWall Bubble Oxygenator soon became the model used around the world for open-heart surgery. Without people like this, none of us would live the fulfilling lives we live.  I'm humbled and grateful for all of them.

Mindi Wieseman  A wonderful reminder! I'm grateful I've come back here 2 weeks post surgery and read your post, Mark. 

Steven Methot  Can you get two for the price of one?  All kidding aside, it's good that you're in the know about what's up with those valves.  I dislike heart catheterization, but each time I've had one I've felt like I came out ahead.

Mark Buttell  That's a good one! I did ask if the 5th one was free. This is open heart number 5 on the horizon. The newer caths are much different than the past.

Danielle Elizabeth  Please keep us posted! The only thing that keeps me sane with my own heart health is hearing about how others have had surgeries multiple times and come out in better health. Sending you good thoughts for the consult with your medical team! 

Deena Elani  Mark, you are a MEGA  heart gladiator, thank god each time your heart could be mended. This next time will be no exception. Godspeed.

Klara Čičić  Yes Mark, a heart gladiator is the word! Hang in there!!! And Danielle, I completely agree with what you said. This page is keeping me sane as it puts things into perspective.

Greg Lewis  At this point, Mark, you are now a doctor! 😁  my wife always says to me, " what are you, the doctor "  so now it's a joke in our house, that I am a doctor. BUT...you gotta be getting darn close!  
I wish you all the best! No.5! You can do this standing on your head!!

Danielle Elizabeth  Yes Klara! I can’t Google anymore because the issues are too specific. I will likely need another surgery when I’m around 50, and then who know what. Reading these stories def puts it in perspective. I hope your repaired Mitral lasts for decades. Greg, it’s amazing how much there is to learn about our own specific cases and what we learn from these posts. I first learned of angiograms from another patient in cardiac rehab and he said they’re difficult. I don’t know first hand. 

Rose Madura  Wow Mark. You are a testament to the great things the doctors can do in this day and age. Finally a positive message for my daily saying, "It's the world we live in ". 

Mark Buttell  I firmly believe that each and every one of you are still writing these posts because your mission isn’t quite done. It’s that one more chance to accomplish a dream or gift you haven’t exposed to the world. You’re all miracle’s in your own right. By my pic you will see an image on my hoodie and an organization that I  founded only because of my disease. It’s a mission I will continue until I’m fully accomplished. Adam has blessed us with his mission of this sight that we can relay our stories and give hope to others through our procedures. Stay strong all you heart Warriors!