Getting better!

Feeling better and better everyday. I've got a ways to go but everyday is a little bit better. Everyone has been so nice and supportive. I have gotten some beautiful flowers that I am really enjoying. My dad is getting me a membership at his gym so I can go there and walk and eventually ride the bike and workout and get back into shape. I think we are going to go down tomorrow so I can walk on the treadmill for awhile (it's just to cold for me to get my walks in outside right now).

I'm HOME!

YAY YaY YAY!
I was released from the hospital around noon on Sunday and made it home a couple of hours later. I still feel like a mammoth stomped on my chest but it is so so so so so much better being home and so nice having my kitty by my side again (even though I keep having to block him from stepping on my chest (he's trying to lick my face!)). My biggest struggle right now is trying to sleep. It's really hard to get comfortable and the pain meds im taking keep making me have hot flashes and chills. I've also been having some really whacky dreams.

Helloooooooooooooooooo

Hey everyone!

This is Rebecca updating on my own for my first time since surgery! I'm doing pretty good, other than feeling like i got kicked really hard in the chest by a really pissed off horse with really big feet. They took out the last chest tube earlier today and I feel a lot better with those gone. I am going to be getting a blood transfusion tonight because my blood counts are kinda low- I should feel alot better after that. I will be getting a chest x-ray tomorrow morning and if that goes well then hopefully I will be released tomorrow afternoon! I haven't had a chance to read all the comments and such yet but thanks for your support everyone. hope you are all doing well.

Boo Dilaudid! part II

ok.....I had written a nice long account and it wouldn't publish so here is the edited version:
D made her barf,better now on percocet,never get to update this because they never give you a minutes peace here,B is the color of weak lemonade and will get 2 units of blood today,...here they come again...
more later from Momja

Boo Dilaudid!

May be going home tommorrow

Yea dilaudid!

The Beja is doing better all the time. Today,the neck line was removed which seems to be a very big deal,and precipitated a brief return to dilaudid. Percocet now. She is walking a little and eating a very little and barfing a bit. But,keeps getting better and better. We are on track to go home this weekend if nothing unexpected happens.
Most importantly,the loot is rolling in with a special bear she is now hugging to her incision.

She is not quite phoneworthy but wants me to thank those of you who have been so supportive. She will be in touch soon. I am reading your posts to her. Momja

good news

Wed 11:15 from Momja:
great news! Beja is soooo much better! Last night we finally got to see her in ICU and they said she was doing really well.....she didn't look it,to me. Late last night she was extubated and this morning is sitting propped up in her own room(out of the ICU!) and sipping a little juice. She is not yet phone or blog worthy but will be soon and I know wants to keep in touch with all her friends and family.
She is in Emory University Hospital ,room B459
1525 Clifton Rd, NE
Atlanta.GA 30322

the longest day

from Momja:
After arriving at the hospital at 5:30 am,as ordered,
Beja was made to wait until 1:45 to be taken to the OR.
This,along with needles and IV's etc,was pretty tortuous.
Finally at 3-ish we have received word that the surgery has been under
way for about an hour and things are going well.
Beja has had a very tough day. Most importantly,things are going well! More in a few hours when she is out of surgery.......

Afternoon update...

This is Crash's (aka Rebecca's) brother Matt. After some scheduling errors and minor difficulty with putting in IVs she entered the operating room at around 1:45. The surgery before hers (which had the doctor informed us there was a surgery before hers we wouldn't have showed up at 5am...) took longer than expected. The surgery is supposed to take about 4 hours, and then it will probably be another hour or two after that until we get to see her. Sorry my writing is not as amusing/clever/funny as crash's blogging...she got all the creative genes. I'll post with updated we get from the OR.

still waiting...

uncle Jeff, Cousin Emily and I

me and my padre. He didnt even know his computer had a webcam.




my bracelet says i am a "fall risk"










X Marks the spot! My doctor drew an x on my chest so he would know where to cut...how hard could it be....











Here is a picutre of me and my mom in the waiting room.

more waiting

So apparently there was some kind of "emergency" and my surgery got bumped to Dr. Kogon's 2nd spot. He came by and talked to us and expects it to start around Noon. lame lame lame. I am hungry. Im really tired of waiting. really really.

My valve.

So my doctor is going to be using a porcine (pig) valve made by St. Jude medical. It's called "The Epic" hahaha....that amuses me for some reason.

here is the valve : http://www.sjm.com/devices/device.aspx?name=SJM+Epic+Valve&type=20&location=in

I think you might have to copy and paste the link.

I asked him what happened to the rest of the pig...he seemed taken aback...apparently no one had asked that question before. I am still trying to find the answer.

Pre-op is over

Just got home from my pre-op appointment at Emory. I met with my surgeon and his nurse and another nurse and some anesthesia people and another nurse and physicians assistant and...ok I think that was it.
It's all good to go.
I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am Tuesday morning.

They have decided to bypass my right coronary artery but it should add only about 30 minutes to the surgery so we are looking at 4-5 hours total.

A new president, heart valve, and coronary artery all in one day! what more could I want?

here we go

One week and counting.
Pre-op on Friday.