Mitch's Posts

Quick update/check-in: Yesterday was my 10th anniversary. Wow how time flies! I can't believe it. Coincidentally, I had my annual check up today with my cardiologist who confirmed what I "knew." All is still going great with my new parts. I have now turned to endurance events and did a 36 hour endurance challenge last year and signed up again for it this year (hike up a ski mountain, gondola down, repeat until you cover the vertical distance of mt. everest. 36 hour time cap. I failed to make it last year, going for revenge this year). So, yes my heart continues to do great. My issues are rest of my body struggling to keep up. Several sports injuries to report, but that is not the point. The point is to all of you facing surgery or just past it, this is all very manageable and life returns. Stay strong! Repeating what I said 5 years ago: The first step on this road is the hardest. To everyone out there, if I can help in anyway, let me know. Love to you all and, I will never stop saying it, thanks to everyone who helped me through this journey.

In honor of today being NHVDAD (Adam's latest effort to increase awareness...Go Adam!!), I thought I would post. Feb 2 was my 5th anniversary. Amazingly at my annual check up, I was told things have improved since last year. My heart is working better now (gradient has surprisingly improved). Apparently, I misunderstood my doc last year and I don't have any signs of my valve deteriorating. So, uh yeah, never mind on that. Phew! No sports injuries to report. Not running as much, but have taken to cycling (well not in the winter in New York). Feeling great and still working out like a fiend. So, all my fixed parts are working correctly. For those of you who see me on Facebook, you know my life is good. I am happy and in love. The first step on this road is the hardest. To everyone out there, if I can help in anyway, let me know. Love to you all and, I will never stop saying it, thanks to everyone who helped me through this journey.

He's back! Hi everyone. I had my 4th birthday in early February but did not feel much like posting then. I was nursing a new sports injury, heard a bit of news at my annual check-up that jolted me and had some stuff going on with my older daughter. So, let's back up and start where I left off. I did run another half marathon in May. I ran a tad slower than my last half so no PR, but I had a truly great, enjoyable run. Fast forward to January. After a break from running, I decided to get back into it (not a great idea in the dead of winter in NY, but no one ever called me bright). On the day of our biggest snow storm (2 feet plus), at the end of January, I decided not to run and go to the gym to do a bootcamp. Well there I rolled my ankle doing lateral jumps over low hurdles. I badly sprained my ankle with several torn ligaments and even got myself a bone bruise too. 11 weeks later, I am still out of commission. I hope to be back to running in a few weeks. So, my 50+ year old body (52 this year) continues not to be able to keep up with my awesome, fixed heart. I guess that is good news, at least here anyway. At my annual check up, for the most part everything looked great. CT scan showed my repaired aorta was in great shape. No afib and all mostly looked great with my cow parts. However, doc informed me that I have started to show some signs of deterioration of the valve. Specifically, it has narrowed slightly. Doc says all normal and par for the course. He said nothing to be concerned about and no reason to think it won't last just as long as originally expected, but the news still jolted me a bit. I guess I just expected this thing to start wearing out later than my 4th birthday. That said, I am still pleased with my decision to go tissue and have no plans to take it easy as I want to live my life, my way. And whenever it is that I wear out my cow valve, I will cross that bridge when I get there. Obviously I hope it is later than sooner. Also the good news is my heart truly is working great as I have found love again. Been dating an awesome woman for past 15 months. As evidenced by all the little heart emoji's I send her, I guess the heart is working as it should. So that is my update. All fixed things are working properly with no issues. High energy workouts continue so I guess wear and tear are to be expected. I keep my doc informed of all I do, and he is fine with it all. To everyone out there, if I can help in anyway, let me know. Love to you all and, I will never stop saying it, thanks to everyone who helped me through this journey.