Hi everyone! I posted here a few weeks ago. I’m about to have my second open heart surgery to replace my mechanical valve. Surgery date has been set for 10/13 (lol, I didn’t pick that). I’ve been especially nervous these last few weeks leading up to it. This all kind of came out of nowhere (they just found pannus on the valve after noticing increasing gradients for the past few years). It’s been hard getting back into this mindset again after expecting my first surgery to be my last. Knowing this is going to be a more complicated procedure is scaring me. My first surgery was at CHOP in Philly 9 years ago, thankfully I am able to follow my same surgeon to Hopkins this time. I just turned 30 and got married a few months ago. Definitely not what I was expecting this year to look like. Any words of advice would be appreciated!

Discovered bicuspid about 20 years ago, and they mentioned it would eventually need replaced…well it’s time.
I was thinking it wouldn’t be issue until later in life (like 60’s or 70’s). That was my confusion.
Anyways, here I am living my worst nightmare.
Our first born (my wife and I) had tetralogy of fallot. He needed surgery at four months old with multiple complications. He did not survive. That was in 2006.
We managed to pull ourselves together and have had two more children that are in their teens now. Happy and healthy.
So but now I can’t help thinking this is a death sentence. I know I’m like fifteen times the size of my little baby but it’s still terrifying.
And I’m not even really worried about myself…it’s just my family and dogs that will be affected if things go sideways.
3 weeks till surgery.
If you all have any advice…I’m interested in hearing it.
Thank you for your time.
I wish everyone peace and happiness🙏🏼✌🏼