So now that I have the energy to spend the time on my PC I feel like an explanation is in order of whats happened with me this last month for everyone who hasnt had the opportunity to ask me personally. On 6/28 later in the evening I was sitting at my computer when I felt a radiating pain start in the middle of my chest that was really bad. It came just like a pulse and after several minutes of debate I decided it was far from normal and I shouldnt risk trying to suffer through it. I called 911 and my mom and went to the hospital. It turns out this quick decision is part of what saved my life, as with time it wouldve become much, much worse. It was decided there to life flight me to Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, where I would spend the next 18 days. They stabilized me there, and for 10 days they did testing and made plans for my surgery. It was established that I had had an aortic dissection. As I understand it, a false layer in my aortic wall had opened up and blood was leaking into it, hence why it felt like a pulsing pain. If this had been let go it wouldve become a rupture, which wouldve bled into my chest cavity, possibly killing major organs and leading to a coma and possibly death. If not, it wouldve been followed with a host of life long medication and other health problems that Im daily thankful to have avoided. Finally my surgery came. I had open heart surgery for the second time in my life on 7/7 to repair the dissection in my upper aorta. They put in a graft in my aorta and repaired any damage done. I was on the operating table for 12 hours. It took them 5 hours just to get through the scar tissue of my first open heart surgery from when I was 15. I spent a total of 18 days in the hospital, and it felt like an eternity. But I continue to try to put into perspective that most folks who go through what I went through spend much, much longer than I did recovering in the hospital, months sometimes. In some ways its good this happened to me at such a young age. I am afforded all the benefits of youth in the recovery process and it shows. 8 days after my surgery, I was discharged to go home and since have been recovering at my moms house. I will eventually return to my house in Wooster but for now Im taking it easy here and enjoying not being in a hospital bed anymore. Every day since waking up from my surgery has felt like a gift. Life has taken on a very enjoyable but very humble overtone in everything I do. I cant help but be grateful of the time Im still able to enjoy and the friends and family I still get to see. I came within hours of dying and that changes you on a fundamental level. I still have one last surgery to through to repair the dissection in my lower aorta, which has clotted itself off, allowing me to postpone the second surgery. It will be a much less invasive procedure and I will likely spend less than a week in the hospital for that one. Still, Id like to get it done and put it behind me. With proper diet and monitoring my health (especially blood pressure), I will be able to live a full life and be able to do almost everything anybody else could do. I wont be able to work for a couple of years but thankfully paying taxes affords me the right to financial aid in the meantime. Im very fortunate to be alive, and I feel that happiness everyday. I look forward to seeing you all eventually. Message or text me if you feel like visiting, my moms is just a short ride outside of Wooster and Im always up for company.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 16:55:19 +0000
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