Introduction (sorry if it is long)

[sloperut]

Hello, my name is Jeff and I am an ACHD and leukemia survivor. I just turned 52. My first open heart surgery was in 1962 at UCLA. It was to correct my TOF (Tetrology of Fallot) defect. I was 5 years old.

I had a fairly normal childhood after that and was basically let loose to be a kid. My mother said it was Dr.'s orders. I lived in California and ended up surfing for over 30 years, getting married and having two kids of my own.

In 2002 (40 years after the 1st surgery) I started to suffer heart failure in addition to TIAs - so off to surgery again. This time I had my pulmonary valve replaced with a pig valve and an atrial septal defect repaired. The atrial septial defect was never detected prior to this and was the cause of the TIAs.

This 2nd surgery was performed at Primary Children's and I spent my initial recovery in the children’s ICU. The staff had a field day poking fun at their rather large and hairy patient.:D By the way, the staff at Primary is the best I have ever had.

I am glad to find this forum and hope it becomes a great resource for CHD'ers in the Intermountain area.


Jeff

[Heart Mommy]

Welcome to the group Jeff!!!!

We are so happy to have you! What a hero! I am glad that at this point you are doing so well.

Welcome welcome

Brynn Homer,

IHH Sec.

[sloperut]

Hi Brynn, good to meet you. :)

[cmooredavis]

It is good to read your introduction. My son was born with TGA (Transposition) and my nephew with TOF. I always love hearing from adults with CHD's. It reassures me that I do not need to worry so much :) . I sure having you at Primary's was fun for the staff!

[AngelMom]

Jeff,
I am so glad that you posted and it was great to be able to talk with you today. I am hoping that you will get more replys from our other Adult members.
Just talking with you today, I really appreciate the wonderful outlook you have as you will be a wonderful addition to the group!
Welcome and I hope you find many wonderful friendship within the group.:D


Carolyn Quigley
President, IHH
www.picturetrail.com/littlemisshope
www.quigleyhappenings.blogspot.com

[BraveHeart]

Hi Jeff and welcome:), I just have a question...what is TIAs that you mentioned in your post?

[4Hursties]

I am glad you joined the group. It is nice to see the adult perspective when I am seeing my little one through the same thing. My baby is having her TOF surgery in May. You are a great inspiration for me! She will be just over 6 months at the time of surgery.


Amy
Mom of Triston HH 7 years and Emma 5 mnths TOF

[sloperut]

Hi Mike, TIA's are Transient Ischemic Attacks, or mini strokes. From how I understand it, the ASD I had was causing small clots which were going to my brain. Yes, they were frightining:eek:

Amy, all the best to you and Emma. Happy to be of help.

Carolyn, yes it was nice to talk. I will check the message boards often.

cmooredavis, hello. Wow it must be scary to have a child and a relative with CHD. I can only imagine what my parents went through.

Cheers to all.

Jeff

[BraveHeart]

Thanks Jeff for the clarification on TIA's I had never heard of that before, I would have never imagined that small clots would come from having an untreated ASD. My daughter had a pig valve placed on her last surgery in 2007 and at the time she had an ASD that was left on purpose and they called it a popoff. From what I understand it was to give the pressure between in the Atriums some where to go... Thanks again!

[gourleyfam]

Welcome to the group Jeff! What a wonderful addition and we are grateful to have you here! My husband is 28 and also sees the cardiologists at Primary's, due to be being born with a coarctation of the aorta (which was repaired when he was 2, and again when he was 13!). When our son was born, I used to tease him that if he had to have surgery, he and Ryker could room side by side (our son Ryker was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome but passed away at seven weeks at Primary's.) Welcome and thank-you for sharing your story!
Emily and Mike Gourley