Serendipity! That's how I conclude 2016!

I took a break from my full-time job in Jan 2016, in my mind, I had planned a one year break! I had no clue, how this year was going to revive me!

I had decided to gift this year to me! To relax, to read, to spend quality time with my family and to live a healthy life!  

Boy! what a year it was!

I was diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis!

I drove to the hospital and did a 2D Echo after a passing out episode at home, two days back. It was Feb 10th and the next day was my birthday!  And I found myself closer to the other side of life, that day!

The young cardiologist told me that I suffer from Severe Aortic Stenosis! 

I had never heard of this medical condition before! 

So what should we do?, I asked.,

He said, “You need to  undergo an open heart surgery and replace your aortic valve”

He continued, “There is no medicine for this, you don’t need to come back here…please  consult a heart surgeon!”

I asked how him how grave  it was…

“Do it as early as possible, don’t wait for long….not even six months..”

I came back home! Told my folks and friends…We started researching on Aortic Stenosis..it is the calcification of aortic valves…

I came to know another interesting thing! 

I was bicuspid by birth. I had a congenital heart disease, instead of 3 petals, my aortic valve had only 2 petals.  Around 2% of the population are born bicuspid! 

My mom wondered aloud, “you were always the slowest wherever we went…not very active…but we never knew that you had heart problem."  I was happy with all the attention! 

You generally live a smooth life till around 40 and aortic stenosis sets in by 41 or 42.

Once we met Dr. Ramakant Panda, we were relaxed. We decided to go for the Valve Replacement  Surgery at Asian Heart Hospital.

Just followed the process from there on….

There was a lot of emotion, pain, day to day struggles…

It was a difficult time for  my mom, husband and son….they were there through thick and thin…I am not a very easy person to be with..I can be nasty and highly demanding at times…I love them for tolerating me and  putting my interest and pain before theirs…

I was overwhelmed by the love and prayers that poured in..... It is a beautiful world. 

I watched Television, loads of it….read…slept, walked, exercised, and lost around 14 kgs. 

I also had a Dengue attack by October end , 2016! Survived it…it was tiring…platelet count dipping to 17000…

I was back on  track in 12 days…The mighty mosquito could slow me down only so much. 

I taught around 120 hours in the last 3 months of 2016! My entire teaching load of the year 2015!

At the end of 2016!  I live a healthy life, lost around 14 kgs, read, relax and follow my health routine and of course, I work!

My moment of serendipity came with a heart condition! And, It revived me! 

Happy to be back on track! Welcome 2017!