I’ve always been compelled to share my story as I want to help others – even more so now that so many amazing people have helped me over the past year.
Let me start at the beginning. I was only three days old when a heart murmur was discovered. Testing was done on my heart and a Bicuspid value defect was confirmed. Nothing needed to be done at the time, but they kept a close eye on it and as I grew, continued to see a heart specialist on a yearly basis. It could be scary as a child, but my parents were the best and always made the visits special.
Over the years I had minimal procedures and never any major surgeries. I was told that I would need to avoid certain sports and that was when I knew I was a bit different and began to think about the risks and my heart.
The one thing that I kept hearing though was the longer I could wait the more options I would have due to research and advances in technology. So, each year that passed without surgical intervention was a win-win in my book.
As I got older, I understood the options and it became a waiting game.
When it was time to start my family, I had two options to consider. If I had my value replaced prior to having children, one type of valve was recommended and after having a child there would be other choices. I opted to wait and had a healthy pregnancy in 2015 with my defective valve. I am beyond grateful because I had a pretty normal pregnancy.
Then I had another successful pregnancy in 2019 again closely monitored. After having my two girls my valve did deteriorate but the main thing to watch for was symptoms. So, I kept plugging along raising my two girls.
Fast forward to almost one year ago today I began having dizzy spells which would then spiral into pure panic. I knew I had a bad valve but wasn’t sure that was the cause.
Two visits to the emergency department and testing showed nothing. Was it in my head or was there something wrong that they didn’t, see?
Symptoms continued with shortness of breath while reading to my kids, but I thought, yeah that must be in my head too. At the time I did not have a cardiologist due to a job change but was able to see one with my dad’s help within a week.
I made my way to meet my new cardiology providers, and they told me that I was not insane!
I had a monitoring and testing, and it was discovered that my value had progressed- it was getting worse and in fact, I was symptomatic and probably had been for a while.
It wasn’t urgent, but it was something that would need to be addressed soon. I was relieved that it was going to be resolved and I was ready.
The week before Christmas I was finally feeling a little more like myself since I was starting to get answers. I met with the cardiac surgeon and my surgery was scheduled less than one month out.
I prepared my kids and family. I was nervous but ready for the next phase of my life.
Surgery day arrived and everything went well. I gradually built up my strength and started my life again – although a bit different. It took me weeks to get back to life – shout out to my cardiac rehab team! – but as it turned out – instead of going back to my 14-hour days as an RN, by fate I ended up being a nurse in the cardiac surgery office! It was the best thing I ever did.
I am now working in a place where I can give back to so many others that have been in or are in similar shoes to what I once experienced. They help me as much as I help them, and it is a true blessing. I feel extremely fulfilled when I can ease someone’s mind in any way possible. Though everyone’s outcome is not the same – it is a gift being able to talk to someone that has been through what you’re about to go through.
This year I am truly grateful for this second chance in life, for all those who cared for me during my time of need, and for all the advances that have been made by the American Heart Association.
-Katie