Significant Anniversary
Today is a significant day in my life. It is the first anniversary of my surgery to get my aortic valve replaced. On August 2, 2022, I blogged about the surgery before I went to the hospital. It was a TAVR that was minimally invasive, and I would only be in the hospital for two days. Three friends were coming to spend a few days and hang out with me. This trio are friends that would not let me do one thing I was not allowed to do. My surgery was routine until the surgeon pulled out of my groin. He sliced my femoral artery, and a vascular surgeon jumped in to stop the bleeding and save my life. Little did I know how much that would change my life?
I didn’t come home from the hospital until September 30, and my weekend with friends didn’t quite work out. My best friend, Angie Wellman, stayed in town for two weeks after surgery. It was great to have her here and help Terry out. The day after the first surgery, I had another surgery to remove a blood clot from my artery. Three more surgeries followed that in August. The worst was when I started to bleed out and had to be rushed by ambulance from the rehab center to the hospital. The surgeon didn’t think I would live through that surgery. Link to my blog from August 2, 2022: https://www.theoptimisticba.com/blog/the-big-day-has-arrived.
I spent almost 60 days in five different facilities and was on bed rest for about 85% of that time. I had a lot of time to think about life. I realized that life is more fragile than I always thought it was. I had surgery in March when I got a hole in my artery, which was minimally invasive and went precisely as planned. I am still a fighter as I defied all the odds and have gotten to the other side. That side is fully recovered and healthy once again. The TAVR surgery was successful since the doctors could barely hear a heart murmur. I am back at the gym and eating healthy I feel stronger than I have in years.
I believe there is a reason that I have recovered. I have faith that I will figure out what that is. I do know how thankful I am for several things. I owe my husband, Terry, a huge thanks for everything he did for me. It felt like living with a toddler when I first arrived home. I always knew I won the lottery in the husband department, which again confirmed it. I also owe a lot to my best friend, Angie Wellman, for all the time she spent with me at the hospital. Also, for the many phone calls and text messages that followed for several months. She also called me out when it was the drugs talking, and I was so out of it that it was hilarious. I have the best cousins, Carol, John, & Jan were there when I needed things, most of all when they came to visit. Carol is a nurse and was on the TAVR team in the past, so she was a great resource. I also have so many more friends, relatives, IIBA buddies, former work colleagues, and social media friends to thank.
I wish everyone felt as loved as I do. My inner circle of friends knows who they are and how much they mean to me. I am excited to travel to speak at some conferences starting in late September. Fair warning I have not lost an ounce of my sense of humor! Until next time, please enjoy every minute of your life and keep your glass at least half-full.