I'm a 40-something congenital heart defect (CHD) survivor, writer, teacher, follower of Jesus, aspiring runner, and American Heart Association National Heart Valve Ambassador. I've been married to my handsome hubby, Mike, for almost 20 awesome years!
I decided to create a blog about my heart valve journey to share my experiences. In doing so, coming up with an appropriate name for my blog was a challenge. As I joked with friends over my three heart valve surgeries (a repair, tissue replacement, and mechanical replacement in 2006, 2016, and 2017 respectively), I said that I "bellied up to the heart valve buffet." Now, in 2022, I'm expecting a fourth valve surgery soon. As an English teacher, I love multi-layered meanings and pondered what exactly "buffet" literally means--one definition is to make your way through difficult circumstances. I've struggled with my particular CHD since 2006, and I want to share the realities of life as such. Hence, the Heart Valve Buffet: the joys and struggles of my journey.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in my blog are solely my own and are not a substitute for medical advice and/or treatment. If you are experiencing any life-threatening emergency, dial 911 immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.