Yesterday – October 10, 2013 – was the 13^th anniversary of my aortic heart valve replacement surgery.  As regards the date, you may quickly realize that the new valve was 10 years old on 10/10/10!

The decision when you have the valve replaced is between a mechanical (graphite) or animal (pig or cow) version.  The mechanical lasts longer but requires taking blood thinners for the rest of your life.  I chose mechanical mainly because my father-in-law Tom had one; we could compare notes on the operation, the click of the valve, and levels of Coumadin. I also hoped to live longer than the 10-12 year life expectancy of an animal valve and did not want to have another such surgery.

My best man Glenn and my brother Scott both decided to have animal valves.  Glenn had lupus, and the doctors did not want him taking Coumadin.  He had to have his replaced twice!  After the second surgery he sent a note saying everything was fine and he had no side effects, and he included a picture of himself with a pig snout!  No side effects, indeed!

Scott’s doctor told him a piece of information that was new to me – aortic valve replacement is the most common hereditary valve problem… hereditary fits us, anyway.

My friend Dave also has a mechanical valve.  He is the only person I know (besides me) who has a cool plastic card that identifies the serial number, model number, and “heart valve implant” date.  My other friend Bob also had his valve replaced, along with three or four by-passes; I don’t know what version he decided on.

Two things I do know – this valve of mine keeps on ticking (literally), and it is comforting to know it will keep ticking until God wants it to stop.