It's Time!
For those that don't know where the aortic valve is, it is a fleshy flap that sits between the heart and the aorta that prevents the blood pumped by the heart out to the body from coming back into the heart.
In my case, the Aortic Insufficiency was probably caused by a condition known as a bicuspid valve, Rheumatic Fever, or both. As illustrated in the picture above, a bicuspid aortic valve has two flaps rather than the usual three. I've never had the third flap; i.e., I was born that way. According to WebMD, Rheumatic Fever is a complication caused by an untreated strep throat. The antibodies produced to fight the infection also attack joints and heart tissue, like the aortic valve, which is exactly what happened to me while living in Bolivia approximately at age 5.
I remember the episode well. I was very sick. I couldn't get out of bed for a long time. I recall that a physician came to my house periodically to injected what seemed to me at the time like a whole gallon of thick, milk-white penicillin in my ass. Ouch! I vividly recall the doctor reaching into his leather bag and pulling out a metal container and handing it over to my mom or one of the maids with instructions to place the container into boiling water. The doctor's can contained a glass syringe and THE NEEDLES he would use to inject me; surely, the same ones he used to inject the last patient he saw. Yuk! For days after the injection I couldn't move the leg directly beneath the ass cheek the doctor had stabbed with his freshly-boiled, reusable weapon.
Bicuspid valves have a tendency to get damaged. That, coupled with the rheumatic fever, caused irreparable damage to my aortic valve, preventing it from completely closing after the heart has pumped the blood out into the body, which allows some of the blood my heart pumps out to come back into my heart. That backwash is called regurgitation. Consequently, my heart has to work a little harder than normal to adequately maintain my body's demand for oxygenated blood. Since my heart has to work harder, like any other muscle, it grows bigger. That's not good.
Now, 51 years after I made my grand entrance into this world without the third flap and 46 years after the strep throat, I must have the oddly-shaped, damaged valve surgically replace. If I don't, my heart will continue to grow and become so inefficient that it will eventually stop working and then I'll die. I would like to avoid the latter.
December 23, 2008, I have an appointment with the heart surgeon. I will then have more information about the procedure and possibly a date. My hope is to have the operation in the early part of January, 2009.
My plan is to blog my way through this whole period. I will post my own feelings, thoughts, photos, videos, etc. So, check back or subscribe to this blog to stay current.
Teri and I will will keep you in our prayers. We know you will get through this with flying colors (as long as one of those colors isn't a bright, white light down a long, long narrow tunnel-like path)
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Hope not, though that would be much, much better than a red and yellow alternating light at the end of a tunnel where the temperature rises with every step you take.
BTW, for those that don't know it, Glen is my youngest brother.
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Wilhemina - I guess we never knew this previous history about your heart (or I'm so old I can't remember) - all we knew is that your particular heart has ALWAYS been far bigger than most of the folks in this world - you're just the Best! You're also the perfect candidate for this op - you've taken good care of yourself (and Lauren has, too!); God is great and working in your behalf...otherwise, you wouldn't know that you needed this, right? Is a second opionion an option? If so, I would love for you to see the Boca open-heart guys (also, the Best) Drs. Jim Morris and Art Katz. Both are the very top of the game - world renowned for mini-maze procedures and surgeries no one else will touch - and with excellent patient outcomes - they are just excellent heart men. I will get you an immediate appt. w/them if you want, my friend. Needless to say, you are in our prayers and our hearts. Bob is standing over me as I write this because we love you! Here's to you (clink) and onward and upward! Love you, man! We're with you 200%. Love & kisses - us
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Shit!!!
Sorry to hear you are having to go through this. XXX OOO
Steve & Esperanza
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Dear Willie:
As long as I have known you I too never knew the history of your aortic flap. It just goes to show you what all those years of fine rum and singing with the the 3 caballeros will do to deaden the brain cells. Seriously Willy,on behalf of Barbara and myself, we wish you a swift successful resolution and a speedy recovery and many many more happy twilight cruises for you with your bride.
With our love, Jonathan & Barbara
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I guess I didn't know you well enough, this is a total surprise to me (or maybe you told me and, well, Alzheimer's runs in the family?). Didn't even know you were in Bolivia at 5, I thought you were still on the island (idem). The Esteban men are built like stallions, don't forget that. Your heart apparently took this too literally, but I am convinced you will succeed in putting that bitch back in its box. I will be rooting for you! I am impressed by your approach to sharing this; your email was a bit daunting, but the blog is very enlightening.
Un abrazo requete fuerte,
Miguelocotón
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We strongly believe you will successfully overcome this obstacle and will come out even stronger as life constantly demands from us. Hang in there Willy!
Best wishes!
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Hi Uncle Willy! Thanks for letting me know - thanks for posting this informative blog - I didn't know any of this. You are in my prayers - love you!!!! Stacie
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There are certain things impressionable, young children shouldn't know.
I truly apperciate and am thankful for your and everyone else's prayers and well-wishes. I love you, too.
For the rest of you: Stacie, my niece, is a prolific musical entrepreneur. She has and performs in several salsa and jazz bands in and around the Indianapolis area. Meet her at http://www.orquestabravo.com or simply Google using "Stacie Sandoval".
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Mucha suerte Willy. Te trendremos muy presente. Estoy seguro que todo saldrá bien. Me gustó la explicación. Muy didática. Ah, también me recuerdo bien de esas inyecciones reutilizables!!!
Un abrazo.
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Gracias, Quique.
For those following all this stuff, Quique is a good friend, whom I first met in the fourth grade while living in Costa Rica. Recently, after 37 years of knowing nothing about my elementary schoolmates, I found Quique and many of the others over the Internet. Quique and and the rest of the group were, and once again are, very important to me. Why it took 37 years to reunite? Who knows? The fact is that we're together again and I'm not separating from them again.
Here's a photo of Quique, #4; and me #8, along with Olly; shirt and pants; Gamez, #14; Jop, #7; Rivas, #5; Mickey, green shirt with no number; Ferraro, between Mickey and me; and Albonico, to my right. Photo is from 1969 on the day our basketball team played for the first time in Costa Rica's national basketball arena.
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Willy, I always knew you had a big heart and although they say it needs repair, it has always seemed perfect to me. You are and will remain in my prayers. I have faith in your full recovery.
Love from daughter (not the one in Hawaii)
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Thank you, Maria.
Though you are correct in saying you are not my Hawaiian daughter - incidentally, isn't she beautiful? - your surrogate mother and I, from the moment we adopted you when you were still in your early twenties, have always been very proud to have you in our family. We are even prouder today when we see you all grown up and with a beautiful family of your own.
I am, though, saddened when I think back of those early days when I, as a young and inexperienced father, never took the time to change your diapers or give you bath. I hope you can forgive me.
Your loving surrogate dad,
Willy
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