I am here for you

Hello everyone on Pacemaker Club! I haven't been on in a while but I want to make an effort to come on more often to chat with my peers about anything.

Just a little background of my conditions

I obviously have a pacemaker which I received at the young age of 9 back in 1996 (wow I feel old saying that) and have had multiple new ones since.

I also have a few heart disease, I have double outlet right ventricle, pulmonary valve stenosis and transposition of the great arteries. It sounds like a lot...because it is haha. It's a lot of medical jargon so I myself had to google what these were because as a kid i was always in the dark until i got old enough to understand and know what i know now I can be more educated and help educate others. 

Growing up with these conditions I always thought I was the oddball and that I could never be good enough in sports or any type of physical activity. But i was wrong. My family raised me to not let these conditions define who I am and what I can and cannot do. So throughout the years I learned to be more active whether through basketball, surfing or skateboarding. I learned to live with my conditions and not let it consume me or use it as an excuse. I embrace what I have and I know it's easy for me to say now but growing up it was tough. But it does get better, especially in this day and age, with websites like this it makes it easier to reach out to people like one another to chat and share stories and feelings. In the early 90's we didn't have this crazy internet we have today so it was hard for me to relate to anyone. But I am glad websites like this are here.

Long story long, I just wanted to write this post to let anyone on this forum know that if they ever need anybody to talk to about anything, whether it's related to their medical condition, advice or just to shoot the shit feel free to reach out to me. Growing up I wish I had friends or acquaintances with my similar conditions but I didn't and now it's nice to possibly help anyone newcomers or even vets out there with coping or advice or anything. 

Anyways i hope to talk to some of you sometime. 

Jeffrey :)

3 Comments

Good for you

by crustyg - 2019-08-25 13:24:16

And thanks for sharing and offering.  A lot of the kids with serious congenital heart plumbing problems who have been operated on at famous hospitals for kids keep in touch - but there's a lot to cover in the later years.

thanks

by dwelch - 2019-08-25 14:41:37

There have been some parents and some teens here recently.   We are both a little old to relate to a teenager, but there may still be something you know that most of us here dont.

Myself started at 19 years old in 1994.

Will be nice to have you around.

 

 

fyi

by ROBO Pop - 2019-08-25 15:01:54

There are a few of us here who are on death's doorstep. The last words we want to hear from a stranger are ..."I am here for you"

Come to think of it those probably are the last words we'll ever hear

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

Member Quotes

I feel so blessed to have this little gem implanted in me. When I think of the alternative it is quite overwhelming sometimes.