Last summer sits in my memory as a stretch of time that changed more than I expected. In July of 2025, I began a cycle of hospital stays that lasted almost two months. I came home a few times, but only for a day or two. Most of that time was spent in a hospital room, trying to breathe and hoping each new test would explain why everything felt so wrong.
By September, the answer finally surfaced. My mitral valve had failed, and the only way forward was open heart surgery. September 18 is the day they replaced it. It’s the day the uncertainty stopped. I woke up with a new valve and a long scar, and I understood that life had moved into a different chapter.
The year that followed wasn’t simple. My breathing improved, then dipped again. The shortness of breath returned in smaller ways. My endurance didn’t come back the way I hoped. The new valve is leaking now, and we’re watching it. There’s chest wall pain from the scar tissue around the wires that hold my sternum together. Some days it’s sharp. Other days it’s just part of the background. It may mean more surgery someday, but that’s a bridge I’ll cross when I reach it.
Even with all of that, the year wasn’t defined by difficulty. There were quiet moments that reminded me I was still moving forward. When I had the energy, I wrote. I spent time with the people I love and let their presence settle me. I followed the pace my body allowed and moved through the day without forcing anything.
Today marks one year since the surgery. I’m looking at the distance between then and now and noticing the parts of the journey that feel lighter. I’m not trying to make the year sound better or worse than it was. It was a year of learning how to live in the after, and I’m doing that in the ways I can.
Thank you for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting. You are important!
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33 comments
We’re so sorry, Kymber. Healing Pawkisses and purrayers that it’s getting better effurry day🐾😽💞
More health to you. I have been through similar experiences and last year was not easy at all. Hope you will gain more strength and power in days to come.
Oh my goodness, one year already? I remember last year and the updates we received from one of your friends. We were worried and praying for you. You made it, and it’s wonderful that you’re celebrating life. God bless you!
Hugs and prayers for your total recovery.
I’m so sorry for what you went through, Kymber. The fear and uncertainty when you were so unwell and struggling to breathe, let alone then finding out you needed open heart surgery. It’s a long time to spend in hospital and a huge, huge thing to go through.
I always hate the way some medical leaflets and magazine articles and the like make it sound like recovery from different things – heart attacks, heart surgeries, cancer – is almost an upwards linear pattern. You start feeling gradually better and then you’re good as new! It’s so often not the case. It sounds like a hard slog afterwards with many points of probably feeling a bit disheartened.
I really do hope that you’ve got the time and space you need to take things a bit easier and be kind to yourself. I love that you’re finding the good (or at least less awful) from the last year beyond the difficulty. I think you’re doing brilliantly to keep blogging and sharing your experience here.
Now please behave yourself and stay out of hospital! 😁
You are so loved here online. You can see that instantly with all the replies to this post. I’m struggling to put words together today so I’ve rewritten this a dozen times and it still sucks. I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you. Sending lots of love and all my best wishes 💜💐
Caz xxxxxx
PS. I still can’t comment directly on your blog so I’ve tried to do this via the WP reader. Hope you get this message okay xx
Kudos to you Kymber. Your family, WP followers and hoards of others are the beneficiaries of your faith and determination. Never give up.
I am sorry you had to have such a big surgery and I am also sorry you are still having troubles. I will be praying for you. XO
It’s comforting to read about your experience. Because you get to tell it. I am so glad we are fortunate enough to have you on this side of after. The experience was no doubt intense for you to endure.
Much love, Heidi💜
My Dear Friend, what a journey this past year has been. I’m thankful you’re here to share your story, and I pray God Continues to give you Strength, Peace, and better days ahead. 🙏
You are to be celebrated! Your strength and outlook are awesome. Here’s to more one years!
Wow, what an intense experience! I am glad you’re doing better now. Wishing you continued healing ❤️🩹
A big challenge and a difficult time but in the end it was a successful and now you are here and that is wonderful. September 18 is certainly a big day to remember, and I will not forget it either.
<3 Thankful you returned to blogging so we could know your story and cheer you on!
That’s it in a nutshell, “the After”. I’d never heard that term before but it perfectly encompasses surgery/recovery/resumption of life. Nicely written. xx
good deal
just like my three pace makers
life from death or non functionality
It’s in our suffering and overcoming them, we look at life a little more gently. Prayers for a full recovery and a healthy life thereafter, Kymber. You are a fighter! We’re all with you…in prayers and good wishes 😊
The Kymber that has endured to write so many positive and thoughtful posts continues to inspire us. We do not see the struggle behind the words that brighten our day. I always look forward to the deep rest anesthesia gives me, I know the other side of that deep sleep is often a long struggle with daily compromise between what we want to do and what we can do. Nothing teaches us better about the miracle and beauty of life than those things that would take it from us. You are a beautiful example of courage facing adversity and when I grow up I want to be just like you and Binkie.
Some years certainly present their challenges. Wishing you all the best.
Keeping you in my prayers, Kymber. “Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
❤️&🙏, c.a.
Thoughts are with you Kymber. You can only take each day as it comes., Glad you are still blogging.
Prayers and hoping you will get a total healing 🙏
Sending hugs 🫂
Sending prayers for your strength to increase and for total healing, Kymber.
I truly admire your courage and positivity, dear friend. Thank you for sharing your journey this past year.
I’m so glad you are with us in the after, Kymber.
I’m very glad that you are here in the after, as I’m sure we all are. So many of us were worried and praying for your recovery. Much appreciated was your friend who gave updates once in awhile, too. 🙂
I knew you were having health issues, but didn’t know it was this complicated. I’m glad you’re here to tell us about this difficult time in your life.
Have a fabulous day and weekend, Kymber. Love and healing hugs. ♥
Praying 🙏 that they fix the problem and it’s smooth sailing ⛵ afterwards!
Oh, my. I thought you were beyond this. More prayers…
What a tough year you had, and I hope your health will continue to improve. 🌹 The leaky valve sounds concerning… 😬
Sending a gentle hug. Maggie
Heart surgery is big surgery for sure. I’m sorry to know that the year that followed it wasn’t more comfortable for you. Wishing you much more comfort in this next chapter of your life journey. May the angelic realm guide your next steps, and keep you warm and serene with their healing wings 💖
I am stoked to be able to say HAPPY ANIVERSARY SISTER! This is a major holidays for us, ‘your readers, followers and friends. Your strength is amazing and hopefully you just keep getting healthier Kymber. On a side note, wear that scar proudly, it is a sexy statement od endurance and survival. 💗💗💗
Wow… that’s a LOT. I hope things start going easier for you!
I’m so sorry to hear that the valve is leaking. I hope the surgery goes smoothly, and that you get better soon. 🙏