Malerie Freedman

My name is Malerie Freedman and I am 50 years old. I now live in Florida after living in Canada for 27 years.

My story is as follows: After having dental work and not taking the right amount of antibiotics (due to a heart murmur), I was never informed how important it is to take your antibiotics as prescribed, I was soon to find out that I had gotten sub-acute bacteria enocarditis (bacteria infection). My symptoms were severe uncontrollable shakes and very high fever (around 105). I was immediately sent to the hospital and after having several blood cultures taken I was diagnosed with this infection. Having stayed in hospital for 6 weeks to be treated with IM antibiotics (every two days they had to change the location of the IV due to very small veins and being the last straw - they had to put the IV into my neck) I was discharged soon to find out that the infection left damage on my valve, I then had to have the valve replaced (I had chosen at that time a tissue value). After 7 years I had gotten the bacteria endocarditis once again (medical doctors not sure how I had gotten this again but was told could be due to my many nose bleeds) I was once again in hospital for 6 weeks - this time with very high fever of 106 and stiffness in my joints and completely numb from the neck down. A few months after this episode (the infection left damage on the tissue value) I was once again faced with having to have the tissue valve replaced with a mechanical valve. I have been on Coumadin for the past 10 years. My blood is checked for its Protime every month, but now having to have it checked every two weeks because it cannot get adjusted quite right. Ten days after surgery I was told that I must have a pacemaker. The story does not end.... The pacemaker model that I have now had a recall several years back (the atrial lead wire that is joined in a "J" like fashion is not welded properly and can break). Every 6 months I now have to have fluroscopies (x-ray picture that shows the status of the wire). All of this took place at the Toronto General Hospital (a wonderful hospital with wonderful caring staff). My surgeon was Dr. Weisel. I now have to take IM antibiotics whenever I have any kind of dental work or surgeries, due to my many bouts of endocarditis.

Malerie Freedman

marnie@bellsouth.net