A New Journey...of the heart

Saw my Dr last Tuesday & he didn't like the sound of my heart. Had an echocardiogram on Thursday & expected a report "in 2 business days". Instead, my Dr called 1.5 Hrs later. Seems I have an aortic valve that needs replacing ASAP! I was reeling. PM'd our lovely i!zzie, who was  awesome, as usual!!!
Seeing a lawyer @ 9am & cardiologist @ 10am today. It's important to have living wills & power of attorney, since we have signed a contract on our house & are about to actually "close" on the house Jan 7th. We are renting a house w/our daughter & family on Dec 1st. We sign the lease today, if I make it out of the Dr's office. (Bag packed in case) As usual, life has "great timing"...huh?
 I am surrounded by loving family & friends. On Saturday, I did my last gig for a while. My husband & my young friend, Sara did all the physical work setting up & taking down @ a school fair. I just sat & painted from 11-5 & enjoyed myself. God, do I love face painting! Sunday, my "LIL Ones" in Sunday School posed for a pic w/me:

Save me a seat in Kammy's Cafe. I'm guessing they'll schedule cardiac cath to verify the findings & r/out CAD...oh, did I mention I'm a retired nurse? I wish I could stop thinking of all the worse case scenarios...typical for people in the medical field! Studies have shown that a positive attitude is important for a successful outcome in any open heart surgery. Please remember me in your prayers, if you pray...&/or send positive energy my way. Will update when possible.

   
Sending you strenght and love and everything you need that can fly over the ocean.

Dear Pat:
I am thinking if you and wishing you a speedy recovery with all my HEART!!!!

xoxo

Sending you my prayers and wishing you the best with everything, I will be thinking aBout you!

Big hug from Holland!

Thinking most excellent thoughts for you during and after your procedure. You'll be back to sparkling in no time!

Hugs and warmth,
Julie

Dearest Pat,

You should pm Michael Magick - he has been in a similar heart shaped boat for a couple of months and I'll bet he has some insight and advice that will help you through this (from the patient's point of view as opposed to a nurse's).

Of course, you should visit the Cafe as much as you can and we'll make sure there is a most comfortable place for you to sit or lay down. Plus, we'll have a big heart shaped pillow to hug to your chest for support!

I, too, am sending both prayers out to you!

Along with positive ju-ju!    

Sending all my hope and prayers for a quick and successful operation and a super speedy recovery! Much love sent your way <3

Send all of my best wishes and lots of positive, glittering and colorful energy!

Dear Pat, you know you're in my thoughts!!
At least every morning when I wake up and every evening before I go to sleep, I have a moment thinking of you, hoping you're doing well.
Go for it, Pat, we'll be holding a comfy chair for you in Kammy's cafe!!
     

(There will be a day in the nearby future, when I have to set my alarmclock earlier, just so I can think of all my lovely friends!
Friends in agony, pain or sorrow, but also all my other friends, who're doing just fine!
Because I love them all!)

Sending best wishes and hope for a fast recovery your way, Pat!

Prayers and well wishes going out to you. Sounds as though you have some wonderful loving people there to support you and help you through this. Stay positive and look toward your sparkling glittering future.
Peace and Love

Sending thoughts and prayers your way!
Having loving family and friends close is the best medicine, take care!

Thank You for all the kind words & healing thoughts. Sitting in a hospital room after my cardiac cath this afternoon. Being a nurse, I arrived NPO, so I met the cardiologist & was headedto the hospital in an HR. my valve does need to be replaced, but no blocked arteries! YAY! Now, will decide which Dr. Trying for one Miami. Its am HR away, but he is the best & fastest...VERY important when you need to be on a"heart/lung" machine. ( fastest pump time to you in the medical field). Thanks again for your good wishes. Nite nite

 You are as I once was, I am as you may become.

My heart is with you my friend. please know that anything you wish to ask me will be answered. I will be praying for you and my thoughts will be on your recovery.  

May you and your family know the peace that comes with victory!

Thank you SO much Mike. We all prayed for you & discovered what a special, magical creature you are in the process. You just brought happy tears. I'm sitting in a hospital bed feeling relieved that its only one thing, not many that need to be corrected. My timing stinks...we. We're planning on cooking for 33 for Thanksgiving & Saturday is out 45th wedding anniversary! I have Ben so tired...now I know why. Mike, between the simple, sweet words you just wrote, the love you showed to your wife & your GREAT choice of music for Kammy, I'm grateful to have you in my world. 👍

I am sure Just knowing that you WILL come out the other side of this is a anniversary gift worthy of day.
and this thanksgiving now has a very strong special reason for your family to share those thanks. they will still have you!

we your friends will be here to hear your tales of the ordeal and share in your victory over this.

Go for it, Pat!!
You can do this!
Love you lots!

Sending warm hugs and good vibes for a speed and total recovery    

OK, so the head cardiologist spent some time before discharging me this morning. He explained that since I've got a small valve & need a large one that won't fit (because I'm so heavy  ) just replacing it won't help me. He asked if I ever heard of "aortic valve mismatch".What I need is a surgeon who can quickly & efficiently, cut a larger hole & place an artificial valve about 4cm bigger. How in the world do they learn these things? He has a patient my age, who also had her valve replaced. It doesn't pump enough blood & her condition is deteriorating. In his research to help her, he found a specialist in this field. He asked if I am able to get on a plane & fly to a doctor. I said I'll "make it so." (Translation: exchange the tiks my daughter bought us to go to a family reunion for Cleveland in the winter. ) I've now faxed & overnighted all medical info to Dr Gostave Pettersson at Cleveland Clinic in OH! SO-O-O, hope he choses me & that's all the serious stuff for now. Carpe Diem. This means on Saturday, I get to go as planned, to a girl's night out, 'cept it's an afternoon, & see the next Catching Fire movie w/family & friends. That evening, Walter & I will celebrate 45 years of marriage. I was only 21 & thought I was so grownup!

keep us in the loop!

All my best wishes to you. 66 is still young and you'll do fine :-)

here is something to get you swaying. blackthorns has the best pints in southie

http://wp.streetwise.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/blackthorn-OUTSIDE.jpg



but lets not forget our boondock saints......

lol this one is funny

Thank you for updating Pat!!
Keeping my fingers crossed everything will turn out well.
Although you're worried and maybe still scared, try to enjoy the weekend with family and friends and CELEBRATE your 45 anniversary!