The Tricuspid Miracle: My Journey to Health and Advocacy
- Nov 6, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 25
I underwent the EVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement, on Monday, January 11th 2021. After 833 days of fighting for my life, I finally won this battle. The procedure was a complete success—I am now a proud recipient of the EVOQUE tricuspid valve #127-023, "The Tricuspid Miracle.”
Four days later, on January 15th, I was discharged from OHSU and made the 4.5-hour drive home with my daughter and granddaughter. The first six months of recovery were a rollercoaster, involving several trips to the Emergency Department and multiple medication adjustments. Finally, in mid-September 2021, I noticed slight but positive changes: my dry weight decreased, I had more energy, and I could feel my body beginning to kick into gear. My hope for living a meaningful life was reignited.
As the rest of 2021 unfolded and we entered into 2022 , my health continued to improve. Medications were adjusted and some were even removed altogether. I began incorporating yoga and resistance band exercises into my routine. I walked on the treadmill whenever my body allowed it. Listening to my body made a huge difference.
In May 2023, I connected with Edwards Lifesciences, the company behind the artificial tricuspid valve, EVOQUE, which is keeping me alive. They made a mini-documentary about how my life changed post-procedure. This experience was incredibly cleansing not just for me, but for my entire family, as the disease impacted all of us.
I participated in a Zoom session, meeting the engineers who created the EVOQUE. I can’t tell you how good it felt for me to look them in the eyes, when I told them how their efforts rippled through my life changing it for the better.
In September 2023, I was invited to speak at their Tech Gala Awards Dinner to share my story. There, I met the team in person and gave them HEART TO HEART hugs. I also learned about my "BIG heart" and the significance of my story. The R&D Team had nicknamed my file “Mrs. Avocado” because my heart is shaped like an avocado.
May 2024 We were invited back again to Edwards Lifesciences. This time it was to celebrate 50 patients and our care partners! Two full days of celebrating our journeys getting here. It was amazing to meet other patients who had the same valve as I. Our stories were all the same but so very different. I learned every voice matters in this movement.
This journey has inspired me to advocate for change. Living out loud about surviving a terminal illness, I believe everyone deserves a fair chance at health and happiness. Health isn't a privilege; it's a fundamental human right. My contributions to clinical research and now my role as a patient advocate aim to continue this progress, ensuring all women receive the care we deserve.
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