Thank you all so much. Your good wishes and prayers are greatly appreciated. I feel (finally) I have accepted what is happening, I am confident about my choice of hospital and surgeon, my friends have shown me much love and I know my DH will see I have the best care possible.
I have found the peace you all mention. I think it may have taken me longer than some others but we all move at our own pace. I had much trouble reconciling my healthy life style and serious good health efforts with my heart enlarging to the extent this damage is so extreme to my valve. I had a serious case of denial for some time period.
I teased with my surgeon that a second OHS means the good news is I have some fair idea what to expect; the bad new is I have some fair idea what to expect.
Until they find a way to make it easier on us, it is tough stuff that we all find our personal ways to navigate on our course to recovery and good health. We are the lucky ones. They can fix us. So many other horrible ailments from which others suffer have no 'fix'.
I sincerely thank you all for the incredible information I have found here, the confidence you all have conveyed to me and the prayers and good wishes. I bring all your strength and wisdom with me to MGH on Wednesday/Thursday.
God Bless you All.
(I'll post as soon as I am able. DH and I have decided to not bring a laptop with us. I don't think MGH has computers available for family/patients but I might be wrong.....
wouldn't be the first time.
