Pre-op Testing is Over!!

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I am excited that I was released from the neurosurgery department at Johns Hopkins today, so it is a GO for next Wednesday. Talked to a lovely woman at Hopkins who said that she would contact Dr. Smith and then she texted me to let me know that she had reached him because she knew that I was feeling anxious.

I celebrated by going to La Famille with Jane and Dana for a nice lunch. Dana worked many years as a nurse, so was a great person to ask questions about the upcoming procedure.

Jane and Dana

Lovely flowers were on the table. I used an app to make the photo look like a watercolor.

Flowers at La Famille

We also ran into Barb Cram, who is associated with my art group Falls Church Arts, and she boosted my mood with her cheerfulness. She was working on the flower boxes outside of La Famille, which is in the same building as Falls Church Arts.

Barb Cram of Falls Church Arts

Great phone call with Gin Barrett Shanley

Thank you to Martha Dudley Keller for connecting me with Gin Shanley, who went to Camp Atahi and Roland Park Country School with me, as she had a similar surgery many year ago at the Mayo Clinic. She was driving to Baltimore from a town on the Finger Lakes of New York, so we had plenty of time to catch up and talk about heart surgery. What great suggestions she gave me! I also found out that she went to Happy Hollow Camp one year when I was there.

More signs!

I have mentioned that I am always looking for signs. I have a few new ones for this surgery:

  1. My surgery will be on 6/5, which is my friend Linda Johnson’s birthday. My aneurysm surgery was on 4/25/17, which was my sister’s birthday and that turned out so well. Birthdays seem to be lucky, or so I am hoping!
  2. The name Daisy. When I was at the hospital they kept telling me that I would be sitting in the back seat for several weeks after surgery, like “Driving Miss Daisy”. In addition, the book that Dancy Bruce’s mother Betty Melville-Leslie wrote, “Raising Daisy Rothschild”, is on the way to me from Dancy! My friend Peg’s real name is Marguerite, which is French for daisy. She will be with me while I am in the hospital. When I am lying in bed there I will be visualizing a field of daisies!
Field of Daisies

Look what came in the mail today!

British Edition Published 1978

Also, Al reminded me that many cows are named Daisy and I probably will be getting Bovine valves. What more convincing do I need, right?

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Published by ktylerconk

I am the Team Leader for Team ProDanza. I am raising money for the ProDanza Ballet Academy in Havana, Cuba, a school founded by Laura Alonso. They have wonderful teachers and eager students, but lack the funds to buy ballet gear, office supplies and other necessary equipment for the school.

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12 thoughts on “Pre-op Testing is Over!!”

  1. Hi Kathleen, thinking of u and hope all goes as planned. Best of luck, sending thoughts, prayers and speedy recovery wishes. 🙏❤️🙏

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  3. So thrilled to hear that Hopkins has cleared you and all systems are a “GO” for Wednesday June 5 in NYC with Dr Smith. I see God’s hand all over this experience and guiding your journey. Sending continued love and prayers to you my RPCS friend xoxoxo Valerie

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  4. Hooray! So glad you are cleared for Wednesday with Dr. Smith! On another good daisy note, our friend, Carrie Rastelli had a field of beautiful daisies at her home on Shawan Rd. Sending much love, many prayers, and good wishes, Kathy. Looking forward to hearing from Peg that your surgery is over and you are on the mend! Nancy xoxo

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  7. Such great news, and a wonderful blog entry to boot. You must be relieved that your surgeon is being so thorough! I am, at least!! Adding to your daisy chain: when I was in first grade I had to sing a duet on stage at our school’s annual spring show with a boy in my class; the Gay 90s classic began, “Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do. I’m half crazy all for the love of you.”

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  8. that is an amazing video of replacement of that aortic valve! Love this post, Kathleen. I think the signs are encouraging and I’m glad you found them. Will be thinking of you all day, and sending my love and best wishes out into the universe. Just imagine how much better you will feel after your recovery period — it will be like a new you! Love to Peg and Jane — what an awesome support team you have.

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