Personal Stories: Tony Penland
My name is Tony Penland I am 35 years old, on September 11th of this year{08} I was taken to Duke University Hospital, thinking maybe I was having a heart attack. I had passed out 2 times in our bathroom here at home and my wife called 911 as soon as possible. Now I don’t really remember much after the ride to the hospital only hearing my wife and mother and sisters talking in the emergency room.
I woke up in the ICU department 4 days later having no idea what had happened. My surgeon came in with my family and told me what had taken place. I had an aortic dissection surgery. He told me that in the aorta there are 3 leaflets that come off of it, well I was born with only 2, so over time the back flow and pressure build up caused the dissection. It was still a few days later until I realized exactly how serious this procedure really is. During the week in the hospital the diabetic doctors that were working with me came in and thanked me for letting them work on my case, because there was no reason for her to be standing there talking to me.
Well that’s when it sat in that I was blessed by the hand of god. I don’t think I have to describe the emotions that I felt, I’m sure you guys understand what I’m talking about. I am extremely thankful to my surgeon Dr. Jeffery Gaca and his team, there are no words to describe how i fell about these people, I owe this man more than he could ever know.
I know that there are so many life changes that I have to make, I have to find a whole new line of work to be in, and the meds I will be on for the rest of my life, but compared to the alternative I think I can handle it. I am so thank full to find this site, it is like another blessing in my life. Look forward to talking with all of you in the future. Thanks for letting me tell my story.
UPDATE: 8/19/2010:
Well I have actually posted my story on here and you can read it in the Ascending Dissection by age under the thirties age group. I just wanted to come on and let everyone know that I celebrated my 2 yr. anniversary of my dissection surgery this past week. Sorry I didn’t start off this message with my name, but I am Tony Penland and I live in the triangle area of North Carolina. We are smack in the middle of what most people who are sports fans call ‘Tobacco Road’. I live Hillsborough NC which is about 15 minutes from UNC’s campus and about 20 minutes From Duke University…..GO BLUE DEVILS!!!! Like I said it has been 2 years since I had my surgery at Duke hospital, where my ascending dissection was corrected and had a mechanical aortic valve put in.
I have had a few trips back in the hospital because my blood pressure will go crazy on me sometimes and they have to admit me to get it under control. The first time this happened i did have some pain in my chest and back, which freaked me out, but after ct scans and other tests everything was fine. I just want to tell Brian how much I appreciate this site and everything he does for the people on here. It is a wonderful felling to know that I can come to this site and talk with others who have been through the traumatic experience that I have. I still thank God everyday for giving me a second chance at life, and also for giving my surgeon Dr. Gaza at Duke the skills he needed to successfully complete my surgery with no complications, ya know 9 and a half hours is a pretty long time perform surgery, but he would have stayed in there if it had taken 20. If anyone ever needs to talk to someone or an needs anything you can email me at tonypenland@yahoo.com and i will send you my number.
Thanks again Brian, and to everyone on here…..Live life to the fullest, don’t take any day for granted, be happy, love your family, but don’t forget to thank God for all of these blessings he has given us. Thanks…
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