April 8th finally came. Upon meeting my surgeon, Dr.Crabtree, I immediately liked his great smile. We talked a bit-chit-chat, and after a few minutes, he said,"I have to tell you that you look much better in person, than you do on paper! I was expecting to see a decreped old woman sitting here. Wow! You are anything but that." That absolutely tickled me pink!! Now the serious matters. My being a high risk candidate, due to lungs being already impaired, and being on oxygen for any exertion, along with the fact that my heart suffers from Cardiomyopathy- severe- it is like being in a constant state of heart failure. Along with that I have a mital valve,and arotic valve regurge-flow back. The left ventricle operates at about 35%. What all this means to me is that I am so blessed to do all the things that I do. Dr.Crabtree said that he would accept my case and my surgery will be on April 23. How long I am in the hospital-will depend how well I do after surgery. Then I told him that I have had a guardian angel since I was three years old , and a diagnosis of Spinal mennongitis. Penicillen had just been approved for distribution. I was very lucky, I made it, but the little baby in my room had suffered for too long and didn't make it. I firmly believe that all little babies go to heaven. Back to business-! After getting home, I went to the Washington Univerity Web Site, for Cardiothoracic Surgery. After viewing the video,I was so empressed with my Doctor's credentials. He has been published many, many times for articles, and has three books published. He is the Assistant Professor of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department. Once again I find myself being very lucky to get such a qualified Surgeon. The end all to this saga, is that I am very confident of gettingt the best of care. For those of you that belive in the power of prayer, I would like to ask you to say a prayer for me
will fill in with my post sugery conditions. I hope that if I share my story, it will help someone or at least give them a smile here and there. Again thanks! Sincerely, Lioness111.
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It's great to hear from you Lioness, and we're looking forward to what you have to say. Glad your surgery went well, and that you're taking a slow but sure approach to your recovery. Take care, Pat
May 1, 2010 - 3:42pmThis Comment
Hello everybody!! I'm back!! Lioness111 has a short report to give you. Of course, the most important thing is that I sailed through the surgery--my guardian angel is still hanging in there. There are many things that I have to tell , but i THINK that I should write it all out first. That way there won't be so many typing errors. ha! Ha! I have really missed reading and writing with all of you. I'll be back with more later. Sincerely,
May 1, 2010 - 1:34pmLioness111
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Lioness,
It's SO very good to hear from you and to hear that you sailed through the surgery!!! I will be looking forward to reading more of your posts about your experience. Take care, and do write soon.
May 3, 2010 - 10:10amThis Comment
Hi Lioness - It's so nice of you to take the time to share what's going on with your surgery when you have so many things on your mind. I saw your other note - that the surgery is April 22 - and it looks like your message got cut off and you were trying to say that you're getting a bit nervous, which is certainly understandable.
Now according to what you've written here you have a surgeon who is highly qualified to care for you, has a great "bedside manner" and is respectful of women. That makes you three for three, and that's pretty darn good. On top of that you've had a guardian angel helping you out for many years now, and there's every reason to believe your angel will be with you again as you go through this surgery. We will also be with you - in spirit - and of course look forward to the great information you're going to give to others after you recover and feel up to writing to us again. We wish you the very, very best Lioness and it comforts us to know that you feel you're in very good hands. We'll talk to you again soon, that's for sure.
April 22, 2010 - 5:42pmAll the best, Pat
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