Open Heart

Mom and I have a connective tissue disorder called "Marfan Syndrome." Marfans causes the connective tissue (tendons, joints, skin, veins) to be weak. The aorta is connective tissue and, in someone who has Marfans, wears out much faster at the point at which the aorta connects to the heart. Mom has been at high risk for an aortic dissection (tear) and/or rupture and every six months she has had an echocardiogram to measure the size of her aorta.

Her last tests showed that her aorta was at a size where the risk of rupture outweighs the risks of surgery. She went to Dr. Lars Svensson at Cleveland Clinic for her "David's Reimplantation Procedure" in which they were hoping to be able to repair her aorta as opposed to replacing it. This option would allow her to not have to take blood thinners the rest of her life, as she would have to if they had to completely replace her aorta.

We headed down to Cleveland June 21 for her surgery the following morning. Aunt Janice and Uncle Jack came down, as well as mom's friend Shari, and her friend Suzie drove in all the way from New Hampshire. The night was surprisingly calm as we sat around laughing and reminiscing.

The next day mom went in and the wait was painfully long. The surgery lasted about four hours. I was so nervous when they called us back to speak with the surgeon because we had been told it was a five hour surgery. I didn't like that they were calling us back so early. However, when Dr. Svensson walked in to speak with us, it was all good news! The surgery had been a success! He was able to rebuild her aorta. And she was luckier still. Her aorta had in fact torn (which almost always kills the person - this is what her mom died of), but incredibly had not ripped completely through. I felt... there aren't words for how lucky I felt to stil have my mom. It still overwhelms me.

Her first couple days of recovery were a little rough. She was nauseas from the pain medications, but in incredible pain without them. Over the first couple days she began to improve and the doctors assured her that she was doing wonderfully. The next few days found her taking small walks and sitting up to eat. Every day was better and better.


The nurses and staff at Cleveland Clinic were amazing. They felt like friends. It was so hard for me to say goodbye to some of them, knowing I will likely never see them again. I am eternally grateful for the care they took of my mom, and for the work Dr. Svensson did. I am also so incredibly proud of my mom, and the courage and strength she has shown through all this.

Here are the faces of two very happy people...
To read more about her journey, go to her Carepage.
(You will have to log in/create an account to visit, but it's quick and safe.)

Mom came home six days after her surgery. Though she still gets worn relatively easily, she continues to get stronger every day. Nothing can keep my mumma down!!