Mark Wagner
Well-known member
On Monday, the day after my story landed in the newspaper, I got a call from the reporter who interviewed me. A lady named Mary Phelps had called the paper, and wanted me to call her back if I would.
That evening I called her, and she told me about her husband whom had aortic valve surgery in the late 1960s. He had 4 open heart surgeries in a 22 month period, but lost the battle on the final surgery. The first valve she keeps in a chest of memories. She described the valve as a ball valve that would open and shut. His heart was so calcified around the valve that it just would not fit, the technology was new and not close to what it is today. He insisted that if he died they would open him up, so that those whom would come after him could benefit from his illness. My article came out on Thanksgiving weekend, and she became very choked up as she remembered that that was the weekend he came home from the hospital, and if I remember right, she said, for around 4 months before the next surgery. She said is was such a beautiful memory. I thanked her for her husband, and those that have gone before us, whom have allowed us to enjoy the lifestyles we now take part in. I just thought I would share this. I was truly moved.
That evening I called her, and she told me about her husband whom had aortic valve surgery in the late 1960s. He had 4 open heart surgeries in a 22 month period, but lost the battle on the final surgery. The first valve she keeps in a chest of memories. She described the valve as a ball valve that would open and shut. His heart was so calcified around the valve that it just would not fit, the technology was new and not close to what it is today. He insisted that if he died they would open him up, so that those whom would come after him could benefit from his illness. My article came out on Thanksgiving weekend, and she became very choked up as she remembered that that was the weekend he came home from the hospital, and if I remember right, she said, for around 4 months before the next surgery. She said is was such a beautiful memory. I thanked her for her husband, and those that have gone before us, whom have allowed us to enjoy the lifestyles we now take part in. I just thought I would share this. I was truly moved.