My Mother Went In For Open Heart Surgery

It has been a long 4 months for our family.

On November 1 2006 my mother checked into out local hospital due to chest pain, no energy and no appetite.  It turns out that she had endocarditis.

The infection was originated in her gums and when she lost a tooth it went into the blood stream and cause an infection on her heart valve.

So she ended up having to be on IV Drip, at home, to kill the infection on the heart valve for a total of 6-weeks. 

But that wasn't the only problem...

Since the infection was cause by her mouth she would need to get all of her teeth removed and then get her valve repair or replaced. 

Last month (January) she went to the hospital and the plan was to have all the teeth pulled and get the heart valve fixed.  But they found a clogged artery so they decided to pull the teeth and put a stent in the artery and wait a month to have the heart valve repaired or replaced.

So we waited a LONG month and she finally went into surgery on February 22 2006. 

The doctor was able to repair the valve and she is doing well but she will not be coming home until Tuesday (02/27/2007) or Wednesday (02/28/2007).

There was still some infection on the valve but the germs aren't doing any damage.  So she will be on antibiotic IV at home for at least a couple of weeks in order to get rid of the infection once and for all.

So if you have been wonder if this podcast will continue?

The plan is yes but family must come first.