My sweetie's open-heart surgery Aug 9

[SkinnyG]

Hey y'all,

If you're prayin' folk, I would appreciate your prayers - I'm currently in Vancouver with my sweetie. She goes on the table for an aortic valve replacement first thing in the morning. The prospects for success look good, and the surgical procedure is routine, however, I ~am~ a bit anxious about it all.

I'll be back in a bit

[DAZE752]

My prayers are with you and your family.

[JunYa]

Will be praying for yall. Hope all goes well and a quick recovery.

[92flatblackhb]

you got my prayers roadie. best wishes

[jshaw1988]

Def got my prayers. I know I would be worried sick too. Keep us posted

[$krap_IN_flesh]

hope all goes well

[d21stepside]

we'll pray for you and your family.. God bless

[tobysan90]

got our prayers too sir, keep us posted

[SkinnyG]

UPDATE: Pam went in around 8am, and just got out of surgery by 3:20pm. Surgery was a success. Apparently the aorta was smaller then expected, so they fitted a 19mm valve - but they weren't happy with an unreasonably high gradient (I'm not a doctor, sorry), so they removed it, opened the area up and installed a 21mm valve. Surgeon says she looks fine. I'm heading down now to visit, and will report back later.

[Nissanguy]

I hate it when my valves stick lol. Im glad to hear shes ok.

[Scrappy]

Yeah glad to hear it went well for her. Hopefully she'll be home soon.

[Foul_Mouth]

Skinny, your website helped me more than you can ever know when I upgraded my suspension. My very best to you and your family.

[Swschz]

Hey Skinny

Hope all went well for you and your Sweetie.My thoughts are with ya

[SkinnyG]

UPDATE:

Pam is recovering slowly. She seems in good spirits, but is quite sleepy (yay pain killers), and appears quite fragile. The nurses assure me that she is doing well, and that some of the issues at the moment are normal. These issues are things you can pray for:

Pam's heart is not pumping on its own (apparently common in this type of surgery). She is currently hooked up to an external pacemaker and will be monitored over the next 48 to 72 hours. If her heart does not regain pumping on its own, she will receive a permanent pacemaker.

Pam has a tear in her right lung (apparently common in this type of surgery). This resulted in an air pocket next to her rib cage and (as I understand it) a collapsed lung. They have her breathing an oxygen-rich mixture in hopes that will help fix it, but if it does not, they will insert a drain to help it (as I understand it).

The nurses tell me that while these two issues are common, it is surprising to have them both on the same patient.

Do note that I am not a Doctor, this is just as I understand it and I may not have all the details correct.

[RedAggie03]

I'm sure she will pull though Skinny, we're all praying for her and it sounds like she's got a loving husband there with her.

[LA QUEEN]

Prayers forwarded to your Sweetie and yourself. Hope she is feeling better. Have faith and she'll recover. :)

[jshaw1988]

Great! Glad to hear things have thus far gone smoothly. My prayers will continue for you both.

[SkinnyG]

Pacemaker is installed, collapsed lung is coming back, and she was moved out of ICU to Cardiac Ward just before lunch today. Probably another 3 to 4 days if things go well. She's looking a lot better, and a lot more animated. She's been very drowsy with pain killers.

[jshaw1988]

So the pacemaker is permanent? Well its not as bad as it could be. Keep praying. God is faithful

[SkinnyG]

Yeah, if this was 100 years ago, she'd be dead four times over.

Our first child was a 9lb baby; she had an 8lb pair of hips. If it weren't for c-section, I would have lost them both.

Our second child, same thing.

If the heart valve didn't get replaced, she'd be dead within 10 years.

Without the pacemaker, she'd be dead. If the pacemaker ever dies, so will she (that kinda scares me).

It may not have gone the way I wanted, but I'm blessed - I still have her with me.

[LA QUEEN]

Enjoy all the moments, but don't lose your faith Skinny. God has provided you with miracles, your child, and continuation of your wife's life. Doctor's can aid us but they can't measure our lifespans..

[jshaw1988]

Agreed. She SHOULD have been gone 4 times now, but God has come through for you and your family 4 times in a BIG way. He wont forsake you. Enjoy every second you have with them. Congrats to you and your family

[SkinnyG]

We were discharged yesterday, stayed the night in Vancouver, and are heading back home within the hour. She's doing ok - on a couple strong pain meds and a wack of heart meds, but is reasonably mobile and on the mend.

Once we get home - it's reminding (and retraining) the kids (4 and 6) on "how to hug mom" (no squeezing, always gentle).

[pugz]

glad it was a success