Tom's Journal

Adam Pick  Hi Tom, Great to meet you and welcome to our community! I'm hopeful that the educational information and people at our website will help you along your journey. If you need anything, please let me know. Many of our patients have had great surgical results with Dr. Glower. Keep on tickin! Adam (patient & website founder)

Tom Hahn  Thanks for the note! I've been reading your book and it is hard to put down. Very fast read and great information. It is helping me set my expectations, especially about the pain. My wife will dive into it next.
Tom

  Hi Tom Glad your here haven't had surgery yet but will know more after next Echo on Nov 3rd. Yep understand about courage. I was hypnotized in 91 for a surgery I needed ,but put off now I fly through most of the surgeries after that. lol I understand that fear. I also listen to mediation tapes.

Nancy D  Wishing you well, and hoping you get your repair done. I had my MV replaced ( wanted repair but after a lifetime of prolapse it was not repairable) on August 20th. Now that you have your who (surgeon) where (which hospital) and when (surgery date) and have Adam's book and all of us here to answer questions or just for support the courage will come! The waiting time is the hardest, at least for me it was, afterwards is the work to get better, but it is forward progress. Keep posting with questions, you are bound to get some great answers and with knowledge comes courage....... Take good care!!

Tom Hahn  Thanks Nancy. I've spent months researching and evaluating my choices. I'm as prepared as I can at this point. I just don't know what I don't know. Allmost all the landmark points in time have come and gone. Now it's time to pack up and head to my hospital!

Terrie Syvertsen  Tom- Have one suggestion as you are readying yourself for your big day. Most people ask or say they don't know what is best for the moments heading into surgery so I have to suggest to you this: First, think the days prior to heading for the hospital (and talk it over with your wife!) of the most enjoyable moments of your life and think in terms of something that is one thing as you are rolling on your gurney to the surgical room that one thing that stands out as special or even two or three things that you can have in mind that will bring you a calmness
and peace. For me it was this photograph of my husband and I kayaking in the center of Whiskey town Lake together. (see my photos Terrie Syvertsen) and you will see my last image before my surgery). A sunny and warm day with ripples of water where the sun danced over the top of the water and where dragonflies came face to face with me and danced along the tip of the water. The love I felt for the man I have loved over half of my life and the joy of those moments of freedom and peace sharing a day paddling together for hours. I took the image of
photos of my husband in his kayak and wearing his "Tillie" kayaking hat
as they pulled back the doors to surgery and will remember the peace that accompanied me on that morning and the fact that I remembered almost nothing from then on until waking up and knowing that I was awake and the surgery was over and a new life with my mended heart awaited.
I wish and pray for you the next few days you will be able to focus on these types of thoughts to carry you too, into your surgery where your
"Team" will be waiting for you to make changes to your heart that will give you many more years to dream even bigger dreams and years to go forward with Theresa and experience all that your healthier heart has to offer. Tom, you do have the courage within. Take care.

John Noriega  Tom I am lifting you, your surgical team and family up in prayer. Just think about this - tomorrow is the start of a new life - all will be well!
Onward & Upward!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Tom, Just want you to know that I, too, will be lifting you up in prayer for tomorrow as will so many others. You are doing the right thing, and God, who has been so faithful in listening to and answering our prayers will have His hand on you and your surgical team and the staff. You will be fine. Hugs, Ginger

Tom Hahn  Thanks everybody for such great ideas and so many prayers and positive thoughts. Sometimes I think this isn't such a big deal, but maybe that's my way of dealing with it. Our bodies have an amazing way of recovering from such abuse and I'm counting on that working for me again. 6 hours to go then I'm out! Until later, Cheers!