Update on the Surgery

Evie had the operation to replace her aortic valve on Friday.

From the beginning, she was determined to get to the best surgeon she could get to. She did research and discovered that a surgeon at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania hospital was considered to the the best, for her issue at least, in the state of Pennsylvania, and, in fact, one of the best in the country.

She got a referral to him from her local cardiologist but had to wait a long time to see him and then a long time again to have the surgery.

As it turns out, she couldn't have waited much longer.

The surgery was successful.

When he met with the family after the procedure, the doctor showed us some pictures they took during the procedure, and he explained what we were seeing.

The aortic valve was in very bad shape. And, the defect in it, the fusing of two of the three "lips," was extreme.

In addition, we knew, from testing, that there was calcification around the valve. One of the pictures showed how much of it there was. We couldn't have known, but he said that it was a large amount.

The surgeon was clearly extremely pleased with how things went...and that is a source of comfort.

However, he cautioned that there's a chance that a piece of loose calcium could move to the brain and that Evie could have a stroke.

This is daunting because that's exactly how Evie's mother died...from a stroke, after otherwise successful heart surgery.

He said that it would be important that she showed no sign of stroke when she woke up.
And, she's fine.

However, Evie's mom's stroke occurred five days after her surgery, so we're holding off the ultimate celebration.

One other complication. Due to the fact that Evie has sleep apnea, her blood chemistry didn't allow the post-op team to give her the strongest pain medication for quite some time. She's experienced a lot of pain and, clearly, she's been in agony.

Still, yesterday, a little more than 24 hours after she left the OR, she was moved from ICU.

She's in what they call a step-down unit.

I'll visit her today...again.

Yesterday, in ICU, she asked me to leave after an hour. She was clearly in pain and wanted peace and solitude. And, I understand.

The drive to the hospital, in the center of Philadelphia, is brutal. Even on Saturday morning, the traffic was jammed. The drive, to and from, is stressful and exhausting.

And, I'll do it again today.

If all goes normally, she'll be released between Wednesday and Friday.

I'm off of work all of this week.

Many people have been praying and continue to pray...for Evie and for me. We are extremely grateful.