March 7 will be my one year anniversary. One year ago, I was nervously pacing the house waiting for my aortic valve replacement and ascending aorta graft. My friend flew up to Wisconsin from Arizona to be by my side. I was making sure to tell all my family and dearest friends how much they meant to me just in case I didn't make it out alive. Today, as I shoveled snow, I thought about how much has changed in the past year. Yes, I have a diagnosis of the "deadly cousin" to Marfan's. But so far I've beaten the average lifespan of 27 by a decade! I have a noisy friend in my chest (click, click, click) and a dacron graft going all the way up to the arch (so the surgeon didn't have to repeat the surgery in a few years). I had a turmultous recovery from OHS, including six weeks on a wound vacuum to close my incision. Then when it felt like life may go back to normal, I was down-sized out of my job that I loved on my first full day back to work. So after spending a good chunk of 2011 on disability, I got to spend the second half of it on unemployment. Then in October, I had the pleasure of having my gallbladder removed. (WAY more painfaul than OHS!) After a 2 night stay in the hospital and 2 week recovery at home, I finally found employment. (Not my dream job but it's a paycheck.) I was glad to bring 2011 to a close after all the ups and downs!
This year as I reflect on everything that has changed in my life, I am thankful that I have my health and am able to shovel snow (as long as it's not too heavy). I am thankful to have my loved ones by my side through everything and will be celebrating my valversary with some of them. I struggled over the year about whether I wanted to just ignore it and pretend everything is "normal" or celebrate life. I will be celebrating life with great friends and a good bottle of wine!
This year as I reflect on everything that has changed in my life, I am thankful that I have my health and am able to shovel snow (as long as it's not too heavy). I am thankful to have my loved ones by my side through everything and will be celebrating my valversary with some of them. I struggled over the year about whether I wanted to just ignore it and pretend everything is "normal" or celebrate life. I will be celebrating life with great friends and a good bottle of wine!
here's to all the others 
