Martha's Journal

Not ready to submit journal, but wanted to say that I don't think enough hospitals use a committee approach to decide whether to do aortic valve surgery. My husband never would have had aortic valve replacement if this had been done. He was NOT a good candidate for it, and the result was 2 1/2 petty miserable years for him and me, his caregiver. I wrote to you as "concerned housewife in late 2103, I think that was the year. You wrote back and said you were referring my Question to a specialist in that area. He wrote back with a comment on my question as to whethr seriously increased dementia could have resulted from the aortic valve surgery. He said yes and offered his sympathy about my husband's problem. I also heard from a number of your readers. The response I got from you and the specialist and readers of your blog was not good news but at least it was honest! I was happy to be part of your community of readers, heart patients and their caregives. I will be working on my Journal again when I find the time. Martha