Maggie Gunter

First post: Apr 3, 2017 Latest post: Apr 3, 2017
Hello and Welcome to Maggie's Caringbridge.com page. We hope to be able to provide you with information and updates surrounding Maggie's upcoming surgery (April 3) and post-surgery recovery.

 In 2008, Maggie persevered through a massive aortic dissection which extended from her Thoracic (chest) region to her Abdomen. Over the years we have monitored her Aorta very closely with a Vascular Surgery Team at UNC. During this time, Maggie had developed another aneurysm in her Thoracic region, which required surgical intervention. In March 2017 Maggie underwent a fairly low-invasive procedure, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), whereby a stent was inserted intravenously through her heart and to the site of the aneurysm,  in order to correct and reverse the enlargement of her Aorta  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endovascular_aneurysm_repair). The surgery was successful in correcting the aneurysm, unfortunately it created a larger, more aggressive, aneurysm directly below the surgical site. Maggie will now undergo another surgery, called Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Repair, which is a major heart and vascular surgery (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_aortic_surgery).  This is approximately a 10-11 hour surgery more similar to the surgery from 2008, and will require a longer recovery period, anywhere from 6 months to a year.

We thank all for the flowers, cards, notes, texts and phones calls over the last 2 months, and ask that you continue to keep Maggie in your prayers. (Please note that flowers are not allowed in ICU, and she will be in ICU for at least a few weeks.) We know that God will be working through the Heart and Vascular Surgeons tomorrow during the surgery, and through the nurses and hospital personnel that will be helping her along the way. Maggie is confident in her faith, and knows that God is a Healer. We have been blessed through this entire process, and remain faithful.

I will update this page at least daily, or as I receive updates on her status. Please leave comments, as we will read them as she recovers and will surely find inspiration in your words of encouragement.

Pre-op is around 6am, and the surgery is likely to begin around 11, again I will update you as I receive updates.

Love,

Tiffany












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