Heart felt

On Friday 10th August 2012 I will turned 12.
Yes 12.

I started counting again after my 4th open heart surgery in 2000, at Prince Charles Hopsital in Brisbane.
I owe my life to God (He had ample opportunity to take me home) and the very skilled hands of Dr Bruce Garlick… (Which followed on from the excellent medical care of Dr Wayne Stafford.)
As well as his great team including Dr Hart…yes really.
All the other theatre staff, ICU staff and ward nurses, physios and specialist doctors called in.

I had also prepared myself as much as possible. Positive visualisation, postive thinking, weight loss etc.

All of these people, and more, who cared for me, and motivated me. Thanks to all my visitors and those that sent cards, flowers and made thoughtful caring gestures. I seem to recall huge choc dipped strawberries, a bag of mandarins, a beautiful single daffodil and much more. An apple to ensure I would return home and a bowl of hand made paper stars…to invoke chinese good fortune.

Dr Garlick replaced the mitral valve, which had been replaced twice before. The 1st pigs valve had cracked after 9 years and this one split ( I seem to recall?)

This time an artifical valve was inserted and also the same brand for the aortic vlave, thus ending my long-term joke about the only thing incompetent about me was my aortic valve, I had been diagnosed with AI way back when they found the Mitral Stenosis. Some 30 years ago.

My new valves tick. Or rather they click as they open and close, metal on metal. It took me some 2 years to not hear them, though 6 months is usual. I get migraines from repetitive sound so I’d been worried about that. When I travel I can go through the screening processes okay. However if the plane is quiet or the engines not yet running, I worry that the passenger next to me might hear me ticking. It is quite audible to people close to me. So I talk to them, as truely the last thing you want to hear these days when you are on a plane is something ticking…let alone someone.

Rhumatic fever as a child is what caused the damage, and though it remained undiagnosed until I was pregnant with my 1st child, the affects were present right thought my childhood and teen years. The damage is physical for sure, but has a huge impact emotionally. It also effected my entire family, and can impact others around a patient.

It had taken my wonderful mother and I decades until we resolved the spin off issues from my illnesses.
Menigitus at 6 months had added to the pressures and general health damage.

Thus I delight in being 12!!!  I can truely say I am young at heart.

I have some medically directed limitations: 1.no bunging jumping (hmm like I’d want to )
2. No deep sea diving…can probably live without that.

I am genreally very well. I have learnt the fine art of health maintainence and resting. I have learnt to apply wisdom about pushing beyond my known limits and when not to.

I still loathe being cotton-wool-ed, or hovered over, fussed about and silent whispering with ‘knowing’ looks. As the rest of me gets older, I am learning that some things are a struggle.  My committment to self management is high. And yes, I confess I have been know to argue with Drs, but really I am listening to a higher source. . We usually talk it through.

Looks like I am going to get new knees. They will be even younger than my heart. 

Several GPs have assisted me in on going medical management, also the staff of the clinics I have attended. .

I have many dear and special friends who keep in touch, act as cheer squads, give me space or render me active care and support in times of illness.  You all know who you are and I love you dearly.

Meet my Surgeon.