Riding on Bald Tires-A Graceful Retread!

In 2005, I spent a day at the "Mayo Resort", getting poked and prodded and taking my shirt off numerous times (no, I am not a flasher!). I had recently realized that I was a likely candidate for heart valve surgery, and was still pretty nervous about it. I remember thinking 'well, if I have a heart attack right here, at least I'm in a good place for it!' Irrational fear, number 1, and number 2-heart attacks aren't associated with valve disorders...But that was then, this is now. I am soooo far past the panic, the "oh my God I'm going to die!", the "why me"; thankfully!
My Mayo voyage today was solo, peaceful, and interesting. Yes, there was the usually de-shirting, poking, etc.; but there was also a fantastic lunch (complete with heart-healthy red wine), an art tour, an amazing lack of patients, and some great conversations with some of the techs. I also got to meet Dr. Sundt, as well as Dr. Evans and two other cardio docs, and my favorite nurse Beth (who I remember fondly from 05 - she was the disarming woman who came bubbling into the room wearing a brightly colored poncho and carrying a big wicker basket with a giant model of a heart inside, like some kind of oddly misconstrued Easter Bunny...) The Cardio Docs all gathered 'round to listen to my rhythmic ticker (apparently I am a great example of a specific type of murmur) and concurred. Time. No Symptoms? We usually do this at the onset of symptoms, but... As I mentioned, over the years we've measured the speed at which the blood is charging through the damaged, stenotic (stiff) valve. When the measurement hits a 40, most people are having the surgery. My measurement has been well over 40 for YEARS (hence the frequent check-ins); and is in fact up into the 70's. Dr. Evans said I'm "riding on bald tires." The Cardo Docs gape at me like I'm WonderDog. Guess all that working out and eating tofu has perhaps paid off?
We have the conversation about which valve I should get. Dr. Sundt - who is adorable, affable, and professional and DOES look a little bit like Hawkeye (also a little bit like my friend Joel Sipress) wouldn't lead me one way or another on a tissue valve versus a mechanical one. A tissue valve, made from pig or cow, makes no noise, does not require the use of anti-coagulant drugs, and may last about 10 years. A mechancial valve (like the workhorse St. Jude's valve), is made from titanium, clicks a little (bringing new meaning to the term "ticker"), and will outlast the patient.
"With the tissue valve" says Dr. Sundt, "there is an 80% chance we'll see you back here - at least once. But the second surgery is low risk. With the mechanical valve, there is a 95% chance we WON'T see you back here, but you need to take warfarin."
Generally, younger patients get mechanical valves, as you probably don't want to have TOO many valve replacement surgeries in your life! That's what I keep hearing from everyone I've seen, and it seems like the right way to go. Just so long as the "ticking" doesn't make me crazy (insert Edgar Allan Poe image here....)
At any rate, things just fell into place for New Year's Eve -- which worked well with my thought that "it'd be great to get this done over winter break". Did I mention how gracefully God has laid all of this out for me? Which was my one prayer - let it be GENTLE? First the furnace turns out to have a hole in in. (Furnace: Heart of the House...). Then, my car battery dies on the RAV (Battery: HEART of the car...). Then, my car battery dies AGAIN (yes the new one!). Then, I open up School Arts magazine and read the first headline "Opening the Heart of Art". Then I see a semi pass by me at a stoplight, with a huge heart on the side being held up by a penguin. Then, the furnace loan goes through and a I get a magically sudden appointment at Mayo. Then, the surgeon I like happens to be free to do the surgery on the day I thought would work well...and so on!! Did I mention that my colleague and art teacher extraordinaire, Kimberlee, is actually available to be my long-term sub? Or that my principal, Gina, and my curriculum director, Joe, were both wonderfully supportive? I want to say "God, I know we Finnlanders are dense, but I am getting the message!"
So, we're set. It's a little like getting ready for a trip. I'm always excited, and scared, to fly. Excited, because it is a rare experience and kind of thrilling in a way. Scared, because even though it's very likely that all will be fine, if there is a mishap it will be serious. I'm feeling the same exact way about this. Excited, because I will finally be on the "A.V. - After Valve" portion of my life, and I'm amazed at the technology. Scared, because even though it's very likely that will be fine, if there is a mishap it will be serious. In both cases, I have to trust the professionals whose hands I am in, quite literally! And know that God is watching over it all!