You too?

A word of encouragement to anyone who has searched or stumbled onto this page:

Maybe...
You are facing open heart surgery.
Know this:
You are not alone.

You have undergone open heart surgery.
You are not alone.

You are not as old as the brochures depict.
You are not alone.

You are active, fit, and strong.
You are not alone.

You're in pain, or have doubts.
You are not alone.

You wonder if there's anyone else.
You are not alone.

You don't know where to turn.
You are not alone.

Questions.
Questions.
Questions.

Don't you dare, for one second, believe the lie that you're facing something that hasn't been felt by another person, with a heartbeat similar to yours.

We beat two beats at a time.
We beat two and a half beats sometimes.
We beat beats that time can't count.

We beat a symphony united by heartbeats.

We.

We were facing "game over",
but got a chance to hit "reset".
We are together in this game.

You are not alone.

If you are facing open heart (mitral) valve replacement surgery, if you have seen the light of day post-op where your sternum is healing, if you have felt the rush of oxygen into your lungs after the chest tubes have been removed, if you hear the ticking in the silence of the darkest night, please know:

You are not alone.

Reach out.
Say hello.
If you have questions, if you have friends, if you have family that are facing similar.. reach out. We are here.

You are not alone.

(Keep going)