Andrew.

You have my prayers.

My daughter went thru this a few years ago to replace her Aortic valve.

Her prayers were heard.

I'll pray for her and her hubby.

Make sure you tell her to have a pillow for him to hold against his chest after surgery . It's the best way to protect the chest cavity. Usually they give heart shaped pillows to the patients. Helps when they cough etc.

Tell her I'm praying for them.

Laura

This post was edited by loveplants2 on Thu, Aug 8, 13 at 20:25

I'm so sorry to hear that. I knew he was having heart problems but hate that he may have to have surgery. Prayers for both Bud and Nikki.

Andrew - (how is your back?) you are such a sweetie and make friends everywhere you go. But, we miss seeing you post here on a regular basis. (Coming from someone that has been MIA quite a bit lately. :)

Sending prayers. I do know Bud met him a couple of times before he married Nicki. He came over to my house and bought some plants from me. He is a very nice guy and enjoyed the talks we had. Best wishes from CA. Barb

Hi Laura. Thanks for your response. I knew I could count on you! Some people don't gulf understand the power of prayer. I am just hoping that God will comfort the family no matter what happens. I swear Laura, even at 35 1/2 I feel like dimentia is settling in. I remember you telling me about your daughter but totally forgot until now.

Hi Moonie! I am sorry for not posting here as often as I usually do. I also want to apologize for seeing how my own thread lead to some heated debates! I really do enjoy coming here to see every ones pictures. Seeing the success really does put a smile on my face! I also love reading other peoples experiences, good or bad. I really do learn from them. I just hate seeing conflict on the plumeria forum. I always thought this page was safe from that! Sorry to get off topic, but I felt I had to say something.

I really appreciate you asking me about my back! It has been a very slow recovery, and I will admit, I have had some rough bouts of depression because of it, but I feel like I am getting a grasp on that. Next week, I will be seeing my neurosurgeon, and I also will be going in with an x ray that I will be having done next week. My main concern is that I am having pain in my foot and toes, and also in the back. When this happened last time, I found out that 2 titanium screws had broke, and I am just scared that this may have happened again. The surgeon did say though that if that were to happen, the screws and cage could be removed 6 months after the surgery. There main purpose was to stabilize the fusion. Now, the 6 months have passed and they could remove the rods, screws, and cage.

Plumeria wise, this has been by far the most disappointing year I have ever had with them. I had(and Laura knew from our phone calls) 20+ trees with inflos that grew from late winter to spring. Due to my recovering from major surgery at the end of January, I was having a harder time with watering, and trying to keep the trees pest free. Thanks to Laura, she gave me many different tips and pointers on how I could safely care for not only my plumeria but all my other trees,and houseplants.

With a lot of help, over a period of 4 to 5 days, I was able to move all my plumeria, my trees, and all my houseplants out of my apartment. My back was still pretty sore even with me only moving my 1 gal, and smaller plants. Laura gave me the idea of leaving large buckets in my front and back yard so when they filled with rain water, I didn't have to move them back and forth to my large blue drums that I collect my rain water in. When all the smaller buckets were empty, I half filled them with the rain water from the drums. I know I could use the hose but the water from the hose is treated, and I have always had the mentality that rain water is 10x's better.

I can say that 4 out of 5 celadines bloomed but that was in spring. DSP bloomed, along with Thai Super Round, but my buddy broke both inflos off of Thai Super Round. I had maybe 2 others bloom but that was it. My Inca Gold from Wendy Machala had a nice inflo but I accidently broke it off. Right now I only have 2 plumeria with inflos. My DSP with 1, which is really sad because usually it has around a dozen or so! The other is a new plumeria that I bought from Sonia Hangs. She calls it Green/Yellow pagoda(referring to the shape of the flower).

In general, I am still having some issues with my back. I still swell up around the incision, I have a significant problem with numbness in my right leg which can be quite frustrating. The worst for me is that I have a really hard time going up or down a stair with my right leg and foot. I also get itching in my toes that will last for a few seconds but then it feels like I have needles going into my toes!

I am hopeful that it will improve once I can start doing P.T. I also will start working with a pain management doc the end of the month.

Andrew

Thank you Barb, and everyone for there positive thoughts and prayers! I know Nikki, Bud, and there children will appreciate it :0)

Andrew

You have my prayers! :-).

Chuy

Thank you very much Chuy. It really does mean a lot. They truly are very kind, generous people who would do anything to tie a help in hand.

Andrew

And those kind of people deserve every prayer answered possible! ;)

Chuy

Well it looks like our prayers have been answered....somewhat that is. Bud will require valve replacement surgery but at this point in time, they won't be doing it. The specialists do not feel it is necessary but it could happen anytime between 6 months from now, and the next 5 years. I guess one reason is that if the valve is replaced now, it would have to be replaced after 15 years.

I will try to keep you all updated if possible, but thanks for the prayers!

Andrew

Good news Andrew!!!

My daughter has to have hers replaced in 6 years.. It a bio valve ( cow)

Mechanical last a lifetime...

Prayers....

Laura

I remember you telling me that when she had it put in. Man, time just flies right by doesn't it! Nikki was saying that certain situations like infection would cause Bud to have to have it replaced.

Andrew

Andrew, Thanks for passing on the good news. Barb

Your welcome Barb. It's the least I can do!

Andrew

Great to hear Andrew!! ;). Keep us posted please.

Chuy

Andrew, good to hear from you, and thank you for passing on the news!

I'm glad to know the news is somewhat good for Bud. Sorry to hear you're still having so many issues! We can feel your frustration at both your back and your plumies! Growing them in NY brings a lot of difficulties many of us don't have to face, especially your shorter growing season. You'll just have to move south ASAP!

I hope you and Bud have a much better second half of the year!

I have no doubt he will do fine being attended to by a highly trained medical staff. As an ICU/OR nurse I know the right attitude by the patient makes more of a difference than anything. Heart valves are pretty routine now and prognosis is excellent.
Here`s to a speedy recovery!!
Glad to hear you are progressing yourself, slow but steady. Keep up the good work.
Tally HO!

Such good news for Bud! And I'm with Tally... these days many procedures that were once difficult, have become so routine.

Andrew - I am so sorry that even after your surgery that you continue to have problems. Maybe your Dr. will choose to remove all the rods and such and that will make all the difference. Even when I don't see you post regularly, you are still on my mind from time to time. Hopefully the day isn't too far off when you can say how great you are doing.

You certainly aren't alone with having a slow bloom season. The weather has been so weird this summer. Really, I shouldn't complain because it has made working at the plant farm so much more pleasant, yet.......... well, ya know! :)

Oh yeah... please don't feel like you should carry any responsibility for some of the "debates" around here. Someone could post that the sky is blue and it would turn into a discussion on why you are wrong about that. Or maybe be asked to post evidence that it is true. Whatever, right? Don't let that kind of stuff keep you away. We need you here! :)