NOTE: Please comment, heart and share on this caring bridge site, however, Janiece prefers not to have any posts about this surgery to her public Facebook or Social Media Profiles. - Also, Janiece would like to be clear, we are not soliciting donations, instead she prefers to receive cards and messages of support (PO Box 2221, Bloomington, IN 47403).
Janiece's Story: Janiece lives just south of Bloomington in the rolling hills of southern Indiana on five acres of gorgeous land; when friends visit they can feel the vibrations of magic. On this land she spends her days with her friend Shay tending to the flower and food gardens. During the summer of 2022, Janiece noticed that she could not keep up with the gardening like she was accustomed to. Sometimes when she was pulling weeds, she had to sit down on the grass. She kept thinking she was out of shape. In May 2021, she fell and broke a rib and was in recovery for months. She couldn't do much work in the garden. Then, in December 2021 her ribs were re-injured in an abrupt car accident when she was visiting her daughter in Washington, DC. These two events masked her symptoms... she thought she was out of shape and she didn't realize that her heart was in trouble. In August 2022, Janiece's PCP suggested that she get an Echo Stress test due to a congenital (a condition present from birth) heart murmur. During the visit, the technician saw the shape of the aortic valve and conferred with a cardiologist who said, "do not put her on the treadmill". She immediately knew something was wrong. By the time they caught it, the diagnosis was severe stenosis of the aortic valve. To put it plainly, the aortic valve pumps blood through the body and should be the size of a garden hose and for Janiece, it is the size of a drinking straw. Janiece said, "So my poor little heart has been working overtime for me to keep my body going." The only cure for this condition is open heart valve replacement surgery. Fortunately, she was able to see cardiologist, Dr. Jim Calli, who referred her to one of the top surgeons for valve replacement heart surgery, who happens to be in Indianapolis. "So here I go...", Janiece said, while facing the surgery with courage and loving support from her peers, and loved ones.
Janiece if very fortunate that this surgery is happening around Thanksgiving so that her family can be around for support. She is also aware of all of the prayers, chanting, reiki, healing energy, and loving thoughts coming her way from her wonderful friends.
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