Ivan's Surgery

As some of you may know Ivan's mechanical aortic heart valve that he has had in for 9 1/2 years, has been leaking for some time now. So, we have known that it was going to have to be replaced. Well, this past summer, one of the wires, (that were put in to hold his bone together after the first surgery), came un-twisted. We didn't think too much about it, but went to the cardiac surgeon. He told Ivan that he could put him a little bit under and take out the 3-4 loose wires, or put him all the way under and go on and replace the leaky valve. After praying and fasting about it, we decided that it was time to go on and have a new valve put in. Dr. Robert Salley is the one who performed the surgery. He is very well known, one of the drs. that Ivan consulted with when we lived in Cheyenne, Wy., have heard of Dr. Salley. You couldn't find anything neutral, much less negative, about him. So, on Oct. 17, 2008 he underwent open heart sugery for the second time. The surgery lasted for about 5 1/2 hours, and went well. The dr. said that there were 2 healed bulges/abcesses (no infection at all), and the leak that we already knew about, around the old valve. The old valve was 25 millimeter, and the new one is 29 millimeter, (which is the biggest they make). His cardiologist said that we should notice a big difference in his energy level, etc. He was in ICU until Sunday evening, then in a regular room. I have stayed at the hospital with him for the past 2 nights. He is feeling pretty good, his pain is under control, he is up and walking. He got 2 units of blood yesterday. We should be able to go home tomorrow sometime.

The kids are doing pretty good, being on good behavior for our family who have been watching them. Most of them have been up here to see him. We are so grateful to have family that lives close, and are willing to pitch in and help out, and for all the yummy meals that have been provided for our family. Patrick is the age that Kimball was when Ivan had surgery the first time. I will post another update soon.