Brandy
Greetings Everyone! My
name is Brandy and I
am 22 years old. I
currently work in a
sales support role. I
am contracted with
General Electric. I
currently live with my
sister and her
husband. They are
expecting their first
child this summer. My
mom also resides with
us. I have a niece
from my sister's
previous marriage that
we see every other
week.
It
all began the day I
was born. It was
evident at birth that
I was clearly ill. I
have been diagnosed
with Aortic Stenosis.
I also have had
complications with my
Pulmonary Valve which
have been corrected.
I had my very first
surgery when I was two
years old at
Children's Hospital in
Washington D.C. The
procedure was to patch
a hole that had
developed around my
Aortic Valve. I was
not out of the
hospital for long when
I went into heart
failure. A decision
was made at that point
to replace the Aortic
Valve. At the age of
three, not six months
after my previous
surgery, I received a
St. Jude's #19 valve.
The procedure was also
done at Children's in
Washington. At that
point, I remained
relatively stable
until I was six years
old. At that point I
started showing signs
of congestive heart
failure again. It was
decided that this
time, I would be flown
to the University of
Alabama in
Birmingham. The
surgeon who had
perfected the Kono
procedure would
perform it, Dr.
Pacifico. As the
surgeries happened
when I was young, I do
not recall too much
about the recovery.
All I remember is
spending three months
out of school
recovering.
I
have had four
cardiac catheterizations.
The most recent in
November 2003. Just
yesterday, I had a
Thallium Stress Test
at Inova Hospital's
new Heart and Vascular
Center in Fairfax, VA
(this is my second
Thallium Stress
Test). The results
were not positive. It
appears that not
enough blood is
getting through
again. Keep in mind
that the valve in
place is for a child.
It is at the moment,
proving insufficient
for the job.
Therefore, I may be
going in for surgery
again shortly.
I
am not scared about
this next surgery
(although I'm almost
sure my tune will
change on the day
of). I am excited
about being par with
other adults my age.
I was very happy to
stumble upon this site
and visit other people
who have been in my
shoes. It's awesome
to know I'm not
alone. It's great to
have a support
system. I will have
to keep you all posted
about what is to
come.
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