Ryan! I was shocked to see this title and excited to read… I had open heart surgery when I was six! Somehow my memories from those 5 days in the hospital are so clear in my brain (except, of course, when I was actually in surgery😂) despite my young age. Heart surgery isn’t something you forget. Do you mind me asking what your heart issue was?
Hey Emma, thanks for reading! I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I was lucky to be seen by an awesome doctor in Boston who's had a lot of success repairing (rather than replacing) valves in the past. All is well now--hoping that the repair lasts as long as possible, but I likely will need another intervention down the line. I can't imagine having open heart surgery at such a young age, must've made you very strong. What was yours for?
Of course! That’s great, I’m glad you were able to find someone who’s great at what they do. It’s scary having your body opened up like that, so knowing you’ve got someone who knows what they’re doing means the world. My doctor was the top heart surgeon for the procedure I needed done, so I’m very grateful to have had him. I had cor triatriatum, so basically I was born with extra tissue covering most of one of my atria. The blood couldn’t pump through fast enough and my heart was enlarging from the back-up. They “screened over it” when I was born so it’s thanks to God they found it when they did, I would’ve been gone by 10.
Yes, you're very right about that! I'm glad to hear you guys found the right doctor--it's truly a blessing. That's interesting, I've not heard of that condition before. But it is certainly good they were able to take a look preemptively. Were you able to make a full recovery? And, if I may ask, how's the scar now? I'm sure, since you were so young when you had surgery, that it's changed quite a bit.
Yes! I'm so grateful - I should have no future health conditions or issues. I had a lung collapse during the surgery, but that was also taken care of and all should be well moving forward. Thanks for asking. 😊 And of course - it's more faded than when I was six of course, but still very clear. I actually have three scars because of the lung collapse, as they put a tube in. I have the surgery scar, a smaller horizontal one below that, and a very small one under my right armpit. My parents religiously applied Vitamin E oil as instructed so I'm blessed to have a less colored or obvious scar, especially as a woman. But I'm proud of them, they remind me of how God spared my life. I shouldn't be here, and yet I am! It reminds me every day that I must be here for a reason. I do appreciate you asking so respectfully. :)
That's awesome! Not the lung collapse obviously, but everything else lol. That's interesting you mention the vitamin E oil . . . My neighbor told me I should try it out. I've had a couple other surgeries but never heard of using vitamin E oil. It is amazing that we live in a time that these congenital problems can be solved so routinely. A blessing indeed!
Ryan! I was shocked to see this title and excited to read… I had open heart surgery when I was six! Somehow my memories from those 5 days in the hospital are so clear in my brain (except, of course, when I was actually in surgery😂) despite my young age. Heart surgery isn’t something you forget. Do you mind me asking what your heart issue was?
Hey Emma, thanks for reading! I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I was lucky to be seen by an awesome doctor in Boston who's had a lot of success repairing (rather than replacing) valves in the past. All is well now--hoping that the repair lasts as long as possible, but I likely will need another intervention down the line. I can't imagine having open heart surgery at such a young age, must've made you very strong. What was yours for?
Of course! That’s great, I’m glad you were able to find someone who’s great at what they do. It’s scary having your body opened up like that, so knowing you’ve got someone who knows what they’re doing means the world. My doctor was the top heart surgeon for the procedure I needed done, so I’m very grateful to have had him. I had cor triatriatum, so basically I was born with extra tissue covering most of one of my atria. The blood couldn’t pump through fast enough and my heart was enlarging from the back-up. They “screened over it” when I was born so it’s thanks to God they found it when they did, I would’ve been gone by 10.
Yes, you're very right about that! I'm glad to hear you guys found the right doctor--it's truly a blessing. That's interesting, I've not heard of that condition before. But it is certainly good they were able to take a look preemptively. Were you able to make a full recovery? And, if I may ask, how's the scar now? I'm sure, since you were so young when you had surgery, that it's changed quite a bit.
Yes! I'm so grateful - I should have no future health conditions or issues. I had a lung collapse during the surgery, but that was also taken care of and all should be well moving forward. Thanks for asking. 😊 And of course - it's more faded than when I was six of course, but still very clear. I actually have three scars because of the lung collapse, as they put a tube in. I have the surgery scar, a smaller horizontal one below that, and a very small one under my right armpit. My parents religiously applied Vitamin E oil as instructed so I'm blessed to have a less colored or obvious scar, especially as a woman. But I'm proud of them, they remind me of how God spared my life. I shouldn't be here, and yet I am! It reminds me every day that I must be here for a reason. I do appreciate you asking so respectfully. :)
That's awesome! Not the lung collapse obviously, but everything else lol. That's interesting you mention the vitamin E oil . . . My neighbor told me I should try it out. I've had a couple other surgeries but never heard of using vitamin E oil. It is amazing that we live in a time that these congenital problems can be solved so routinely. A blessing indeed!
For sure :)!