Ann Phelps

 Had my aortic valve and root replaced on Sept. 5,  2003, and one week post op, I'm just thinking how much your site had helped me cope with this. Can't even hear my St. Jude valve without a stethoscope. I'm not so computer literate as to feel confident in posting, but the info. in the site had demystified the process, and the practical information helped me so much. The simple hints on how real people cope with all this, and knowing much of what I felt was normal feelings has helped me so much.

I was born with a fused aortic valve, and it lasted for 63 years of active life. Much of that spent at 7,000 feet. I'm glad to be alive and looking forward to hiking a mountain peak in Colo.next spring. My asthma went South on me, and has been kicking me about and the pain of the chest cracking on my muscles is more than I like to deal with, but I'm alive and moving around pretty well.

 Don't care a lot for the blood tests but hey, life has things that poke us, then doesn't it?

 Again thanks for this great site.

 My surgeon says he is only a glorified plumber for the real healer, Almighty God. Well thank God for "heart plumbers." I was dying and now I am living, and when I get over the pains of the chest crack, I'll be living more actively.

 Thanks again for a great site, which really supports those of us who have these unpleasant surgeries.

 Sincerest thanks,

 Ann