Wow, it’s been a long ass time since I updated this–I am a 45 year old, 27+ year survivor of aortic dissections, open heart surgery and strokes. I have an ACTA2 genetic defect which has proven to be pretty nasty in a fairly stress-filled life as I have led.

This blog has been many things over the years but consistent, maybe not so much–those big horrendous surgeries I went through 17 years ago I wasn’t in a place to document the same way because I lost a lot of my memory with it. Now–I am a big believer in science and I credit my doctors fully with my survival during these surgeries I had. Their education, whatever they want credit, all is good, but I give them the credit for saving me, as well as some of my own interventions–the blood clot in my leg I corrected, hopefully some of this pre-surgery preparation. Now this is being updated most recently in April of 2022 before I have one last open heart surgery–my plan of course is not to be a sad, dead gimmick in the end. You can follow some of my tips, keep some of my ideas in mind, I don’t really care–this blog isn’t about trying to sell anything anymore and YES, I promise I will finish reformatting this pre-surgery–but I am just out here with my own perspective, based on my OWN experiences, so take that as you will. I am certainly no fucking Doctor, never presented as such. I just know enough about my own physiology and issues to be considered my own expert.

One thing you might discover about me is I am not a person of extremes–I don’t really believe in them and certainly have been able to live a pretty healthy life–certainly I do not do anything stupid except maybe smoke a little weed and drink a little too much wine as a historical fact though now I am not drinking and smoking very little weed if any. I would never do cocaine or any illicit drug at all, I don’t eat fast food or pre-packaged anything–everything I do is with some consciousness, but you will never take a fresh made creampuff out of my hands, no chance. I don’t drink soda a lot, not anymore as of this week, I try not to eat too much sugar–everything I do I try to be cognizant of without depriving myself. For example–if I wanted a milkshake–I’d get one, but I wouldn’t even do that once a week most months.

So that is my level of expertise. I have tried acupuncture, Reiki, massage, reflexology, tai chi, lots of healing opportunities and supplements–omg so many. I have read a million books. I’ve tried a million supplements but right now all I count on is heart medicine most days plus a hair growth vitamin. I don’t take any antidepressants and I do not feel I have PTSD, mostly likely because if I had it, it was 27 years ago and not a reality I consider at this point at all. My reality is heart surgery and aortic dissections. I feel comfortable in hospitals because they have made me well. There’s not a lot I haven’t tried in my searches through this life, so I guess I should share it all. With that. All love, Deanna