Ron De Stefano

 

RON DEE (simplified name)

 
Presently I'm 59 .
 
I'm a retailer own my own store for 34 yrs)
 
Married for 34 yrs. (no children)
 
I was two years old when I was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and a damaged aortic valve. I was given sulpha tablets to try and keep the valve worsening. I was told there was not much they could do with me(according to my mother)--go home, rest -eat properly-get lots of love(Bless my mother) My life as a child was uneventful-ever watching. My live as a teenager-carefully managed(no sports-loss of breath) AS I got to man hood I married a wonderful girl who knew my problem and still cared .
 
As life progressed I smoked like a fool -Jogged-eat poorly -lived the life of Riley.
 
Then while on business one day I was going up hill--Was severely fatigued swelling occurred. Went home-had a echo--found enlargement occurring- an proceeded to ignore it -I had lived with it for 50 years -no one was going to stop me or tell me what to do.
 
Then thunder struck!
I could not walk up a slight grade,  my legs and feet were swollen,
 
 Palpitations where occurring again -I was passing out. Congested heart failure--I was in desperate need of a valve (aortic)--maybe a mitral?  Anyway I waited again! Finally entered the hospital Feb 1997. I WAS- the worst case of Edema they had seen in a long time-My heart was so large it was barely pumping.
 
Well I got the valve done (St. Jude mechanical)--Twelve hrs later had aneurysm the size of a grapefruit occur -opened me again--replaced part of the aortic root--woke up- Was asked by the surgeon how I did all this and still lived--blew kisses --prayed for thanks--had a great experience post operative--went home 6 days later and cried. I lost 55 lbs of excess fluid--in two or three wks--the valve worked-went to rehab-(great experience)---Proceeded to bring the size of my heart to NORMAL size in a year. (unheard of- according to my cardio) elastic bands stay stretched. And I exercised -No breathlessness. I had It figured out again!
 
Then a year and a half after everything-- INR 2.1 (coumadin-3mgs pr day) --I had a hard undissolved Particle-- or a glob of FAT- COME THROUGH MY BRAIN--STROKE.- CAT SCAN SAID--QUOTE MY NEUROLOGIST--I had an irregular brain--so what's new-- I never did anything right anyway. Scary--to say the least!
 
Anyway here I am. They say I'm healthy as a horse-with coumadin (no other pills)- my ticking away (my wife says she is happy to hear it every night) drives me crazy sometimes. (THANK YOU ST. JUDE)
 
I want to thank First- doctor Ron Baigre (My Cardio) He always knew I needed lots of help.
Two- doctor-A MATHUR (he simply saved my life-Twice)
A HOSPITAL CALLED the memorial (they were glad to get rid of me)
I live in a place called SUDBURY, ONTARIO -CANADA.
ONE OF THE FINEST WORKING HOSPITALS-ANYWHERE!
 
THANKS --GOD--FROM HERE ON IN I'LL TRY AND DO IT --RIGHT.